The Many Voices Of Harmony

Saint Cecilia with an Angel, by Gentileschi
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians
Picture via Wikipedia

Recently a friend of mine told me of his experience in college. At the time, he formed a singing quartet with three other collegians.  At the best, each one had only an average voice, but when they sang together, they produced a superior kind of music.  To their own surprise, the group brought home many first place trophies from musical competitions they entered across the country.

No one can sing harmony by oneself, because harmony comes about from the blending of many voices into a pleasing sound.

So, too, in living life, a person can only bring harmony into the music of his life by the addition of other voices. When one has peace, joy, love and hope in his spirit, this person is truly living in harmony with God’s wishes.  No human being can bring about this harmonious condition with his own single voice.

The voices of family, friends, community and especially, of Jesus of Nazareth must sound out to blend with one’s own voice. Family and friends encourage one to persevere in pursuing high ideals.  The members of the community gather in the parish church to sing God’s praises and to listen to the Holy Scriptures read and preached about.  All these voices add enthusiasm to the desire to live a harmonious life.  The Christ of the Gospels comes into the gathering.

The Lebanon Hostage Crises between 1982 and 1992 is well known. I remember reading about a group of four men who were released explaining how they had kept their harmony of spirits during the troublesome time of captivity. Several times a day, the four of them would come together for public prayer.  In these sessions, they heard each other’s voices praising God.  In conversation, they encouraged one another not to give in to depression and despair.  All the hostages told how their special prayer came to be the invoking of the Lord Jesus to come into their gatherings and to remain with them.

As a result of all these voices blending together, the hostages came home in jubilant spirits. This weekend, as you attend Mass, don’t worry about the quality of your voice.  Join in with the others present and pray and sing as one voice to Jesus of Nazareth and you too will go home in high and joyful spirits!

Fr. George Mc Kenna