Music and Religion

When I am home with the family I attend church regularly. Obviously, there is music involved at church. I am Catholic so typically its pretty traditional. Certain songs are sung at the same time at every single mass. I find that mass can often be hypnotic with all the standing and sitting and kneeling at exactly the same times I did the week before. Sometimes I'm just a robot following everyone around me. I might not hear a word anyone has said for the entire thing. It is a little sad, but very true. The same goes for the music. When I was living in Mississippi I played my saxophone at church so I knew the songs and participated fully in the mass. The church I went to in Mississippi had a very large and pretty well known choir as well as a small band of guitars, trumpets,flutes,a piano, and myself on saxophone. They were planning on singing for the pope when I left and going to Carnegie hall. I don't know what ever happened with all that. However, Sumter does not have nearly the amount of catholics that Mississippi did. The church is actually a house that is turned into a church. The choir is actually just one guy and a twelve year old piano player. Usually I am day dreaming and don't hear much of the duo in action. The music at my church just doesn't move me in anyway religiously, but I know I have been to other catholic churches and conventions where the music was beautiful and powerful.

I think traditional music that has been passed down all these years is unique. I know my great grandmother sings the same songs when she is at church. I'm sure her mother and her mother's mother did too. I have been to youth conventions where newer songs where played and christian rock bands performed. I loved their music as well. I was much more moved by the thousands of teens singing these songs of worship together than the actual songs themselves. I think people singing together in worship is really a beautiful thing.

aside from a youth convention there is not clapping in church or catching any kind of holy spirit. I always wondered why Baptist caught the holy spirit but never Catholics. One of these days it is going to happen I know. There is no dancing of any sort and no entertainment. It may not be very fun or elaborate music but it is a vital part of the catholic mass.