Brian Kapp, Guest Blogger, discusses Music in Our Liturgy and Faith

Sing With All Your Heart!

Today, November 22, is the feast day of St. Cecilia, the patroness of musicians. Concerts, recitals, festivals, prayer services, and masses have been held on this day for centuries, dating back to 1570 in Normandy. The celebration of God’s gift of music to us gives me an overwhelming sense of gratitude every day. This language of music gifts to us something that not many things do in this world… a chance to connect with our own feelings and faith, a chance to connect with others standing next to us, a chance to connect with our ancestors who sang the same songs and made the same music.

In a way, that is what we do in the Sacraments of Word and Eucharist every week at Mass. We partake in the reception of God’s Word and in the ‘Word Became Flesh.’ Our ancestors did the same thing… going back 2000 years!

One thing is different. We partake in Sacrament and make music in a different way than they did, from a different perspective. That is the gift of faith and of music. Every time we partake of Christ in the Mass and every time a song is sung or played, a new aspect appears. Each act of faith and each musical act is unique within itself. Just as in faith we are called to give everything we have, the language of music asks the same of us. Giving all we have at the Supper of the Lamb produces the healing presence of God’s Spirit in our lives.

Music, in many ways, offers a wonderful metaphor for the bigger picture of faith. I’ll end with a partial quote from the hymn text, His Eye Is on the Sparrow (text written by Civilla D. Martin):

“… I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free;
For his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”
Happy Solemnity of Christ the King!

Brian Kapp is Director of Music and Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, MN. He studied keyboard performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Liturgical Music at St. John's School of Theology-Seminary in Collegeville, MN. He has worked in music ministry in various capacities for the past 11 years.