Prayer Aids

Dear Friends in Christ,

It has been some time since I have written my pastor’s letter. I am grateful to Bob Grant for his recent series on sacred music, which we hope to publish in booklet form soon.

One purpose for music in the liturgy is to enhance the celebration and make it more beautiful. Music serves as a setting for the liturgical text much like a fine gold setting might enhance a precious gem. This setting helps to raise the mind and heart to God in prayer.

Another aid to prayer is great art. The relief image in our sanctuary, the statues, and other artwork remind us of the holy people they represent. They recall a passage in the Bible (such as “Behold the Lamb of God”, the theme of our relief image) or they remind us of the heroic deeds of the saints.

The church furnishings are made to help us in our prayer. They are so constructed as to lend support to the liturgical action and they are ornamented to show they are dedicated to a sacred purpose.

As we continue to improve the liturgy at St. John the Baptist, we also want to focus on the Liturgy of the Hours, which we pray daily in the church. The Liturgy of the Hours aka Christian Prayer is the official public prayer of the whole Church. Day after day, from sunrise to sunset a sacrifice of praise is offered to God from the lips of his faithful people. In the past this prayer was thought to be the exclusive domain of monks, priests, and nuns. Today, however, since the Second Vatican Council, this form of prayer has become a standard practice in parishes throughout the world. You may have happened to arrive early for morning or evening Mass at our church and were surprised to discover the priests praying aloud with a group of people. We pray Morning Prayer before the 6:30AM Mass on weekdays, Daytime Prayer before the 8:30AM Mass, and Evening Prayer before the 5:30PM Mass. The priests are stationed in the sanctuary during this time.

Chanting or reciting the Liturgy of the Hours in choir is the official task of canons (not “cannons” (big guns)). Canons are clerics who are attached to a particular church and who officiate at the liturgy on behalf of the people. The place from which they recite the Liturgy of the Hours is located in the sanctuary near the altar. Specifically these seats are called the “choir” because the clergy sing and pray the Church’s official prayer from the choir stalls located there. These stalls are constructed in a connected way so that they are separated by arm rests as in this photo. Part of our church’s renovation project that we are working to complete is the installation of two sets of choir stalls on either side of the sanctuary. These will be constructed by the same artisans who installed the art in our sanctuary. Would you like to share in this project? Please consider an offering for the choir stalls so that the sacrifice of praise will continue to rise to God’s throne from the voices of our priests and people.

God bless you,

Fr. Hildebrand