What’s missing from our music this Sunday? During Lent we don’t sing the “Gloria” or the “Alleluia”; both are reserved until the day of resurrection: Easter Sunday. 

Lent is a season of penitence and calls us to journey with the Catechumens toward Easter Sunday when we will renew our baptismal promises and celebrate their full initiation into the Church.   We’ll sing the Kyrie or the choir alone will call us to prayer with a special rendition.  

Lent is an introspective season calling us to inner conversion and more contemplative prayer.  That is not to say that we can’t have a great rousing song now and then, but generally our music will be more subdued.  It is like our fasting; we will do a little less singing.  I have asked the music groups to use an instrumental at the end of mass.  We are used to singing a closing song, but hearing an instrumental will jar us a bit and remind us that we are now in a different season.

Please allow the closing song to sing for itself by not talking over it as you leave.

Robert York, our exceptional parish organist , will present special repertoire for solo organ at the close of mass.  Beautiful selections such as “Though I Walk in the Valley of Death” by Sr. Teresine Fonder, SNJM, “I Call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ” by J.S. Bach, “Prelude in B Minor, Op. 18” by Cesar Franck, “Adagio in D Minor” by Antonio Vivaldi, arr. by J. S. Bach, and “Come Sweetest Death, Come, Blessed Rest” by J.S. Bach.

Let the music of Lent inspire and transform your own personal Lenten journey.  We’ll try our best to make it inspiring as we prepare to renew our own call to following Jesus on blessed Easter morn.   (February 13, 2005)