Sung Prayer

The word “ritual” can often trigger negative reactions. We have all had bad experiences of ritual. Ritual, however, is necessary for our survival as human beings. In terms of Sunday celebration, what we are often reacting to is “badly done” ritual. Ritual activity is part of the human condition, common to all of us, often celebrating and intensifying the most elemental situations of our humanity. Music’s role in this is critical. Quality ritual expresses deep realities of the people who have gathered, and our common song serves as an important entrée into that experience. Ritual music, then, is simply “singing the liturgy” instead of singing “at” the liturgy. Ritual music expresses what mere words cannot. 

“Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken and destroy it” (Music in Catholic Worship 6). Understanding this, let us take a deeper look at some of the elements of good ritual and symbolic language as a guideline for those of us charged with the ministry of sung prayer. 

Ritual is repetitive and familiar

Ritual is something we purposely do over and over again, at its best when done by heart. We have certain ritual gestures that capture our identity, one example being the sign of the cross at the beginning of the celebration. This ritual act is not a mindless action but the profound symbol of our common Christian identity serving as a sign of our intention and purpose for gathering together. 

The repetitive nature of ritual often results in dismay among musicians and liturgists who believe strongly that variety and change should rule the day. Changing music too often (especially ritual acclamations) can be problematic for a parish assembly who cannot keep up. While we are always eager to teach a new piece that is exciting to us, we need to discipline the understandable tension between the value of fresh and new musical repertoire and ritual patterns along with the need for consistency and familiar rhythms that keep the community grounded. 

Symbols are essential to ritual

Good liturgy utilizes the language of symbols that is at the heart of our tradition. Try to imagine a liturgical celebration without bread and wine, water, oil, lighted candles, incense, or the cross. Symbols hold together our storehouse of belief. We need to honor these symbols and not take them for granted. 

Symbols should not be explained

While liturgy should certainly be accessible, it should never seem ordinary or seen as fully understood or “knowable.” This concept actually contradicts the very nature and purpose of ritual activity. The wonderful symbolic resources of our liturgical life cannot and should not ever be reduced to a single meaning. We need to resist the temptation to assign any definitive “meaning” to our symbols and ritual actions. Who could truly state a single declarative definition of what the cross means, for example? Who could define adequately in simple, consistent, and direct language the true meaning of bread and wine in the sharing of the eucharistic feast? This sense of awe and wonder should never be absent from our intentions in preparing liturgical celebrations. 

The ritual and symbols of the liturgy are infinite in their meaning. We should be less consumed with defining what the symbols “mean” but instead be centered on compelling symbols and ritual actions. When we approach our preparation and celebrations with care, the awesome power and presence of our loving God can be seen and celebrated in an authentic way. Then the assembly will be challenged to respond with a deeper level of thinking and action. 

Music as symbolic and ritual speech

Music is a form of symbolic and ritual speech. In our culture, music is primarily something we “listen to.” Most people do not see themselves as music makers; that is seen as the role of the professional. This leads to the problem of assembly participation. In liturgy, music is the language to express our joy, praise, and lament. Liturgical music that does not hold the assembly as its central voice and concern is a contradiction in terms. It is one thing to say “I love you,” but to sing these words is something else. It is one thing to say “Alleluia!” but the word is more complete and truthful when sung. To sing is to utilize the language of the heart. To sing is to elevate our conversation with God and with one another. Song is revealed at times when no other form of communication is adequate. Ritual music is at its best when it truly serves people in their lives of faith and doubt. 

In liturgy, we celebrate, acclaim, and rejoice in our baptism — our call to ongoing conversion and discipleship. How then can we “keep from singing”? There is no better way to offer praise, to proclaim the saving word, to petition our God, and to share and revel in the meal of salvation. ML

David Haas is director of The Emmaus Center for Music, Prayer and Ministry and campus minister and artist in residence at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School in St. Louis Park, Minn. As a composer, he has published and recorded more than 35 collections of liturgical music. He is an active author, workshop and retreat leader, pastoral musician and recording artist.

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