Liturgical Music Ministry

The call to ministry comes from our Baptism; many people in the church do many things because they belong to the people of God – they witness to Christ in their workplaces, in their neighbourhoods, in their homes…this is living the gospel in the ordinary events of daily life.

Ministry is exercised when a person is called by Christ through the representative of the Church to undertake some office for the church in the name of the Church…therefore, there is no such thing as private ministry; it is always public, under the direction of the church.  Therefore, the Church calls the ministry forth & the Church authorises it.

What are the implication for those called to serve as liturgical music ministers?

As stated above, all ministers serve in the name of the church & therefore are obliged to follow the will of the church - even bishops, priests and deacons are not free to preach whatever they choose…they can’t do whatever they feel like on the day! They are agents of the teaching of the Church teach and they must be faithful to her teaching.

This principle applies to music ministers, they can’t do whatever they want with music; they are ministers of the Church, and serve the Church in the context of the church’s liturgy. Therefore, they need to be very clear about the place/purpose of music in the liturgy; also be familiar with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and with the documents that followed.

So, the context of music ministry is the celebration of the liturgy. The task of the music minister along with the other liturgical ministers is to enable the community to do the work of the liturgy; as stated in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (CSL)

…in liturgical celebrations each person, minister or lay person, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to his/her office by nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy….(#28) 

What motivates a pastoral musician?   

In a recent document Sing to the Lord  #48-53, the following principles are outlined:

Music ministers lead the musical praise and thanksgiving of the liturgical assembly. They are disciples of Jesus, and as they belong to the assembly, they are also members of the worshipping assembly. They are ministers who shares faith, and profess their faith in Christ, and experience conversion. They express their faith through music; they serve the Church at prayer and not merely employees or volunteers, and they exercise a genuine liturgical ministry.  Therefore, they must be prepared to be formed in the ministry through being formed in liturgical music and be encouraged to develop skills and impart a thorough understanding of the liturgy of the church; they are to be provided with proper resources to carry out their ministry in a professional manner…

Rembert Weakland OSB (1997) wrote  in an article The Challenges facing Pastoral Musicians “… the biggest challenge facing pastoral musicians in the future is that of helping all the people to participate and to sing, no, not just to sing, but to pray through song…singing together is a sign of unity in the community  and that, for us as baptized followers of Christ, such signs have special significance…therefore the most important challenge of the future for pastoral musicians is to help all the people of God to pray in song.  Until that is accomplished we have not realized the liturgical renewal that was called for by Vatican II”.

Who are the music ministers?

The Assembly

…the entire worshipping assembly exercises a ministry of music…Musicam Sacram (1971 Instruction) stated clearly that All means must be used to promote singing by the people…therefore it is important for music ministers to be aware of those who make up their particular assembly-their age, culture, education.

In Sing to the Lord …#24-27 the following principles are listed:

• Music ministers are to shun any appearance of individualism or division

• Because singing is one of the primary ways that the assembly participates in the liturgy - they are encouraged to sing acclamations, responses, psalms, antiphons & hymns; therefore musical formation of the assembly is paramount and this is to be a continuing concern in order to foster full, conscious and active participation of the worshipping assembly.

• Music must be within its members’ capacity; it is important to have a stable repertoire of liturgical song rich in theological content that can deepen the faith of the community.

The Choir

Does your parish have a choir?  Is it good?  Does it help the worshipping assembly to pray?

CSL 114 states that choirs must be diligently promoted…

Sing to the Lord (#28-33) emphasizes the following:

• The choir must not minimize the musical participation of the faithful;
• Its members should come from the community, have musical skill, and be committed to rehearsals & the celebration of the liturgies
• It is important to sing various parts of the Mass in dialogue or alternation with the congregation…
• The choir enriches congregational singing by adding harmonies & descants, and at times they exercise their ministry by singing alone, drawing on the treasury of sacred music…
• They can sing as prelude before Mass, during the procession of gifts and after Communion; and it is vital that the music chosen always be appropriate to the Liturgy…
• It is essential that they show evidence of  faith and they should participate in the entire liturgical celebration; they too are servants of the liturgy and members of the gathered assembly…

The Cantor

This music minister had an important role in worship from earliest times – the cantor is singer of holy songs and is a leader of prayer in a congregation

The cantor is a member of the assembly who can chant psalms and alleluias because these were important sung elements in Christian liturgy…

The role of the Cantor was restored by the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council; a cantor was needed to support the singing of the assembly and demanded by the liturgy if the ‘full, conscious and active participation’ of the assembly is to become a reality. Initially, song leaders were developed: they announced hymns, and sang the people’s part. Role is distinct from the psalmist… cf. General Instruction on the Roman Missal #104 -

Sing to the Lord #37-40 states that the cantor is both singer & a leader of congregational song.

The cantor sings invocations of ‘Kyrie’ & “Gloria’, Gospel Acclamation. Prayer of the Faithful; Invocations of ‘Lamb of God’, and takes part in singing with entire gathered assembly.  He/she is supported by amplification and may use a modest gesture that invites the participation of the assembly.

The Psalmist

This ministry can also be exercised by the Cantor; he/she sings the psalm between the readings.   As stated in Sing to the Lord #34-36…they are the cantor of the psalm, they intone the gospel acclamation & verse, and they sing from the ambo.

Organists & other instrumentalists

There are many challenges for organists and other instrumentalists as they exercise their ministry in the celebration of the liturgy. They have had a staple music ministry since middle ages. Importance of musical skills and understanding of the liturgy is paramount as they enable people to pray  the liturgy while they are praying themselves.  They encourage, uplift and support the assembly’s singing, and provide good tempo, volume, registration and musical variation as they support the worshipping assembly.  Sing to the Lord #41-44 states that their primary role is to lead and sustain the singing of the assembly, the choir, the cantor and psalmist, without dominating or overpowering them; and that there are times for them to play alone eg. Procession of gifts; Recessional if no closing song, postlude & prelude…

Director/Co-ordinator of Music Ministries

This is an important role of leadership for the music ministers; too often the music ministers at each Mass can work in isolation from each other and here is no overall connection between what each group does.  

Again, Sing to the Lord (#45-47) outlines some important principles about this role – they are to:

• Knows the repertoire for their particular parish
• Buys resources
• Liaises with other liturgical ministers
• Convenes meetings of music ministers
• Provides formation - local & diocesan
• Assists in preparation of music for the celebration of all sacraments
• Evaluation of music ministry - always look for ways to improve the community’s sung prayer…

Conclusion

Being a minister of music within a faith community is a vocation.                   

Again in the words of  Rembert Weakland OSB

…Your calling is not just a profession; it is truly a calling and being sent by God to enrich the liturgy celebrated by the people of God to give praise and thanksgiving to God in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

May all who are called to this ministry in the Church, be blessed and enriched as they serve the people of God wherever they are called.