Cantor
by Paul Turner

The cantor leads and sustains the singing of the assembly. The cantor may also sing solos or alternate with everyone else. Whether your church is blessed with a choir or prays without one, the cantor helps integrate the service.

The cantor is one of the ministers assigned to parts of the Mass. When the priest, deacon, cantor, servers, assembly and others accept their respective roles, we all celebrate Mass with more understanding. The cantor may lead the psalm at the ambo, assuming the same position as the reader of Scripture. The cantor may read or sing the petitions of the penitential rite and of the general intercessions. The cantor may lead other music such as the alleluia, the Lamb of God and the communion song. Thus the cantor adds a degree of solemnity to the Eucharist. A cantor will also provide encouragement and example for others to join in singing.

A well-trained cantor blesses the community. Cantors should possess enough musical ability to execute their ministry, but they need something more. They need to be men and women with religious understanding, who can not only sing a text accurately but also share their faithful soul and inspire the prayer of others. A good cantor will invite participation in song and spirit.

Some people prefer not to sing when they hear the cantor. In our culture, we expect that someone singing into a microphone is a soloist, so we may forget that all of us are "performers" at church. When the cantor leads our song, we should sing, not listen.

Since the cantor sings praise, prayer, petition and sorrow, the ministry demands someone experienced with life. Cantors who share their struggles and joys in song will help us meet ours.

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Copyright © 1998, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.  For permission e-mail info@rpinet.com.
Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.