Singing in Harmony with Heaven Paul Jernberg

Above, the hosts of angels sing praise; below, men form choirs in the churches and imitate them by singing the same doxology... The inhabitants of heaven and earth are brought together in a common assembly; there is one thanksgiving, one shout of delight, one joyful chorus. (St. John Chrysostom) How can we participate fully and harmoniously in this "joyful chorus" when we cannot easily perceive the angels with our physical senses?

Are we aware of the depth and breadth of meaning in the words "Lord, have mercy" as we recite or sing them in the Mass? Studying the use of the word "mercy" in the Old and New Testaments, in Church Tradition, and in the great Liturgical traditions of the East, opens up new vistas in which we see that this not only a plea for the forgiveness of our sins, but also for God's gracious help in all dimensions of our lives and in the the lives of all people.

Outside of the world of opera, isn’t there something fundamentally incompatible between sincere penitence and singing? How then has the Liturgy brought these two seemingly contradictory acts into harmony with one another?

Do the liturgical musical settings we use in the Mass correspond to the description given by the Second Vatican Council – that they are to be a “new part in the musical heritage of the Church, not unworthy of its past”? Do they radiate the holiness, beauty, and universality which have characterized this heritage?

Because our seminarians and priests have typically been strongly influenced by the music of our secular culture, and cut off from an authentic living tradition of priestly chant, they are often in need of discernment and/or re-education in this important aspect of their formation.

When we read the words “opening the celebration” in the GIRM, it is crucial to remember that the Sacred Liturgy is no ordinary celebration. It is one of transcendent dignity, instituted by Christ, handed down through the Apostles and their successors, in which heaven and earth are meant to meet.