Worship the Lord in Song
By Lisa Janusa
“Sing to the mountains, sing to the sea. Raise your voices, lift your hearts. This is the day the Lord has made. Let all the earth rejoice!”
These lyrics taken from Psalm 118 in the Old Testament and put to music are an example of praise and worship which is an essential component in the Catholic Church.
In 1988, Pope John Paul II said that “Sacred music as a manifestation of the human spirit performs a function which is noble, unique and irreplaceable. When it is truly beautiful and inspired, it speaks to us more than all the other arts of goodness, virtue, peace, of matters holy and divine. For good reason it has always been, and it will always be, an essential part of the liturgy.”
So why is this important to our Catholic families? Music is something that can bless us in many ways. It brings people together. It communicates God’s abundant love for each of his children.
How can parents encourage their child’s participation? When you attend Mass with your family invite them to find the hymn in the hymnal. Sing with them and let them know that this is one important way for them to participate more fully with the whole liturgy.
Share with your children how much God loves the praise on their lips. Perhaps they can join a choir or band at school. Some children can benefit from private vocal or musical instrument lessons to develop their particular gift(s).
Of course, not everyone has a talent in these areas, but God is looking at their hearts and not so much at their performance. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is” (Psalm 100).
