Sometimes we’re told: “You sure sing a lot at Mass” (not to mention our entirely sung Divine Office, the Church’s “Liturgy of the Hours”). In fact, we do sing quite a bit, though few of our monks possess completely angelic voices or have had professional training.
However, we do our best to take seriously the ongoing injunction of the Church: sing the Mass; don’t just sing at Mass. That is, much of the Mass is fittingly sung, both by the priest-celebrant and the people attending the Mass; in our case, the monastic community and our guests. Singing adds solemnity and joy to our daily liturgical rituals.
Singing the Mass need not be complicated, and the tones offered in the Missal of the Roman Rite Mass are based on Gregorian chant melodies that are simple and in many ways timeless. No complicated harmonies for us, just monophonic plainchant, which dates back to the early Church and provides a means to raise our voices and hearts to the Lord.
In today’s photo, Father Zachary is the principal celebrant at a recent Sunday Mass and Brother Jude is the Master of Ceremonies, who assists the celebrant with books and prepares the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Be assured of our prayers, offered daily in church and in solitude. Please keep us in your prayers as well. Thank you.
Abbot Christian and the monks