Beauty won me over!

My first job at a Catholic parish was in the Bronx, NY. I went to the first interview reluctantly, thinking “Lord I’m here out of obedience, but I’m busy enough” (back then I was teaching, going to grad school and my wife was pregnant)! But the Lord had other plans. At the interview, the pastor -a Capuchin Friar- shared how every Christmas he would spend more than the Cathedral hiring an orchestra, because he believed his parishioners had to experience the same beauty available to those in richer suburban churches. (How very Franciscan). The argument of beauty won me over!

Time and time again The Lord has used beauty -specifically music- to teach me to pray, to praise Him, and to listen for and recognize His voice. COVID19 has made it hard for us to sing, and forced us to put our choir on pause, but our praising of God has not stopped, nor has our search for His voice! Our amazing volunteer cantors have continued to sing for our liturgies. Some parishioners started meeting in parks to sing hymns together. What's more, a group of choir members have been joining me every week since July to practice listening to God through Lectio Divina.

Yes, wearing a mask is uncomfortable, and makes singing very difficult, but our eyes and ears remain open. When you attend Mass this coming weekend, I invite you to let the beauty of the liturgy win you over! Look at the altar, the candles, the vestments. Notice the textures and symbols on the tabernacle. Listen attentively to the readings, the preaching, the prayers, and the music, How is God using beauty to move your heart?