[caption id="attachment_4196" align="alignright" width="200"] Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA[/caption]
Back in June, I wrote a reflection entitled “Finding Inspiration,” where I shared with you some author names and book titles that you might find inspirational. This time I’d like to focus on the inspirational power of music. Music has an amazing way of speaking to our hearts, offering a rhythm and beat that can lift our spirits and bring us comfort. Music has a motivational quality that gets us up and moving as we embrace the lyrics in song and dance and, when shared with others, can build community. Of course, everyone’s musical interests vary by genre, from classical to rap, from jazz to country music, from easy listening to rock, and other musical varieties.
In Scripture we find music to be an important aspect of worship. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we hear stories of God’s people being invited and encouraged to sing words of joy, especially throughout the Psalms. (If you search for “music and Scripture” in Google, you can find listings of many biblical verses about music in worship and daily praise.) Many of our Psalms have become liturgical songs. For example, in Psalm 98:1, we read the words, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds for us” and we hear this biblical verse in the song “Sing a New Song” by Dan Schutte. Another Psalm that we hear sung is Psalm 23, Shepherd Me, O God, which is performed in this YouTube video.
Some contemporary Catholic musicians whose music you might want to tune into are noted in this article, 19 Catholic Artists That Will Rock Your Playlist. Other Catholic musicians whose music you may enjoy include these artists: John Angotti, Danielle Rose, Curtis Stephan, and John Michael Talbot to name only a few. From Catholic Playlist, you can find a list of 13 female Catholic artists and another list of 13 male Catholic artists to follow. So, grab your ear buds and enjoy a contemplative moment filled with inspirational sounds and words.
So, who are the musicians whose songs and lyrics have inspired you and touched a deep place in your heart? Are you ready to sing a new song unto the Lord? Perhaps the song you are hearing is “Here, I Am, Lord.” If so, contact one of our Vocation Ministers to learn more about discerning religious life with the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
Blog by Associate Mary Ellen George, OPA[/caption]
Back in June, I wrote a reflection entitled “Finding Inspiration,” where I shared with you some author names and book titles that you might find inspirational. This time I’d like to focus on the inspirational power of music. Music has an amazing way of speaking to our hearts, offering a rhythm and beat that can lift our spirits and bring us comfort. Music has a motivational quality that gets us up and moving as we embrace the lyrics in song and dance and, when shared with others, can build community. Of course, everyone’s musical interests vary by genre, from classical to rap, from jazz to country music, from easy listening to rock, and other musical varieties.
In Scripture we find music to be an important aspect of worship. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we hear stories of God’s people being invited and encouraged to sing words of joy, especially throughout the Psalms. (If you search for “music and Scripture” in Google, you can find listings of many biblical verses about music in worship and daily praise.) Many of our Psalms have become liturgical songs. For example, in Psalm 98:1, we read the words, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds for us” and we hear this biblical verse in the song “Sing a New Song” by Dan Schutte. Another Psalm that we hear sung is Psalm 23, Shepherd Me, O God, which is performed in this YouTube video.
Some contemporary Catholic musicians whose music you might want to tune into are noted in this article, 19 Catholic Artists That Will Rock Your Playlist. Other Catholic musicians whose music you may enjoy include these artists: John Angotti, Danielle Rose, Curtis Stephan, and John Michael Talbot to name only a few. From Catholic Playlist, you can find a list of 13 female Catholic artists and another list of 13 male Catholic artists to follow. So, grab your ear buds and enjoy a contemplative moment filled with inspirational sounds and words.
So, who are the musicians whose songs and lyrics have inspired you and touched a deep place in your heart? Are you ready to sing a new song unto the Lord? Perhaps the song you are hearing is “Here, I Am, Lord.” If so, contact one of our Vocation Ministers to learn more about discerning religious life with the Dominican Sisters of Peace. 