“Qui bene cantat, bis orat” —“He who sings, prays twice”
This quote is often associated with the Christian theologian, philosopher, and bishop, St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430). Though scholars differ on opinions as to factual evidence these words were penned or spoken by him, the theme of this statement, whoever the author, has transcended time and continues to be reiterated through written and spoken words of our twenty-first century.
Our faith can be expressed in a multiplicity of ways—through speech, through actions of kindness and goodness, through visual arts, through worship in community, through forgiveness, through service, through prayer—these are but minute examples of the options Christians can take to live out faith in each day. Of that list, what about song?
Prayer is a way for us to communicate with God; to have a conversation with God. Is this implied to be only spoken word? Scripture present numerous verses where singing the WORD is offered as prayer and worship:
“But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress.” PSALM 59:16 (NRSV)
“What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.” I CORINTHIANS 14:15 (NRSV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; reach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” COLOSSIANS 3:16 (NRSV)
“…Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” EPHESIANS 5:19-29 (NRSV)
“O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his dees among the peoples. Sing to him sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.” PSALM 105:1-2 (NRSV)
These are but a few examples of what the WORD conveys about Psalms and songs serving as prayers, teaching tools, and expressions of faith. The emotional connections reflect how a piece of music (instrumental and/or vocal) can evoke strong feelings within your heart and mind.
As we sing together in community during worship, faith-based gatherings, or specific music rehearsals, there is a bond, a unity which manifests itself in sharing together a purpose within the faith. And, when actually singing, the importance of poetry—the text—is critical to learning and GROWING (Spoiler Alert: this Sunday’s Gospel is “The Parable of the Fig Tree) and BEARING THAT FRUIT as we serve our Creator.
Do Episcopalian worship and music resources provide options for hymnody emphasizing the importance of the sung WORD with prayer? Check out this small list; there are hundreds of additional examples:
O God, our help in ages past
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
Holy, holy, holy
Come, thou fount of every blessing
Jesus, remember me
Be thou my vision
Forgive our sins as we forgive
Take my life, and let it be
Sweet hour of prayer
In the garden
My faith looks up to thee
Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Just as I am, without one plea
Blessed Assurance
Softly and tenderly
Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Nearer, my God, to thee
Jesus, the very thought of thee
Dona nobis pacem
Standin’ in the need of prayer
Finally, a short inscription from the Church of San Damiano in Assisi, from the sixteenth-century (with the English translation by scripture scholar and author, Hubert Richards):
Non vox sed votum, It is not the voice but the choice,
Non clamor sed amor, Not the clarity but the charity,
Non cordula sed cor not the harp but the heart
Psallit in aure Dei. that makes music in the ear of God.
Lingua consonet menti, Let your tongue reflect your thoughts,
Et mens concordet Deo. And your thoughts be in tune with God.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Karole