PUBLICATION DATE
21 . 08 . 2024
Letters to Young Girls
38 - “Voices That Love God”
Rubric
Letters to Young Girls
38 - “Voices That Love God”
Auteur
The Daughters of Mary
Dear Friend,
Since the month of September, Mathilda has been studying, with the assistance of recordings, the vocal scores of Christmas hymns for Mass and a concert in which she will participate with a group of young girls from the Work.
Today is the first big choir practice bringing together all the choir members. The girls, happy to see each other, are enthusiastic and cheerful, delighted by this project, so there is excitement in the air.
Even if she doesn’t have the voice of a soloist, Mathilda is happy to be able to participate, singing with the others in the group, so that the Midnight Mass at Christmas will be solemn and prayerful. She finds that singing allows her to express the strong elation that rises up in her heart at times when she thinks of the greatness and beauty of the spiritual life.
The choir directress cleverly stimulates the girls so that they give the very best of themselves. She passes on to them her passion for music in the service of the sacred. So, as she explains to them their “apostolic” mission, she encourages them to have the best possible disposition of soul.
– “Don’t forget,” she tells them, “that you will be like the angels at Christmas singing the Mystery of Christ’s Birth. The love in our superior soul must pass through our voice and our expression; and, like a vibration of love, go and touch the souls of those who are listening, deeply move them, stir them, uplift them to spiritual heights and give them a sense of ‘Heaven’.
Consequently, in the coming weeks, let us prepare ourselves well by receiving Communion as often as possible, going to confession and reading the account of Jesus’ birth in Maria Valtorta. For our singing to bear fruit, we must adopt a way of living that corresponds with what we sing. Well now, my Christmas angels, are we going to get to work? Let’s start with the “Huron Carol” which is among the oldest Christmas music written in Canada. It’s a work that dates back to 1641, and is attributed to John de Brébeuf. So, let’s sing Christmas!”
Marie-Paule left us an extraordinary legacy in the liturgical and polyphonic hymns the Choir of the Immaculate performs with love and piety at our Masses and ceremonies.
Yes, if we have such beautifully sung Masses, it is really thanks to her, thanks to the direction and formation she gave, which has been maintained and passed on over the years. We are privileged in the Work. We do not find such a repertoire of music imbued with interiority, sustaining prayer and adoration, anywhere else in churches. It is important to realize the inestimable heritage we have received.
The inspired choice of hymns makes a difference, of course. But do you know what also allows the choir members to touch souls with their singing of religious hymns? Marie-Paule gave us the answer, and we should reflect on this, so as to retain all the richness of what was entrusted to us.
Here is what she said to a group of retreatants: “The choir is not cultivated voices, but voices that love God; then the soul passes through. And so that souls will be touched, it is necessary that the souls of the persons preparing the selections be at peace. Then grace passes through.”
“Voices that love God.” There you have the secret of a choir that can stir souls with spiritual messages. And that is why many people were moved to tears when they heard the Choir of the Immaculate for the first time.
Did you know that the state of grace can be perceived in the voice, as can the diabolical influence? It is important to know this, because a choir whose members go to confession before singing for a Mass, a ceremony or a concert will accomplish an even more fruitful apostolate.
Christmas, what a great Mystery! This feast day offers us an opportunity to listen to beautiful selections. The Christmas repertoire is so beautiful. If you don’t have the talent to sing or the possibility of joining a choir, that doesn’t matter, for the important thing will always be the song of love of your life offered up to God and the Lady. Yes, let us be Christmas angels who, through their lives, sing God’s message of love for us every day!
During a break between two hymns, Mathilda said jokingly:
“We would need to be dressed like angels for the concert between Christmas and New Year’s Day.”
The choir directress replied:
– “Well, you will be wearing the long white dress as we do for ceremonies, but instead of the blue sash, you will have a golden one. Besides that, Elizabeth’s mother has offered to do up your hair in a lovely chignon adorned with simple little golden accessories. You must be elegant! Between the religious and traditional selections, there will be some poetic readings. And we thought of you, Mathilda, as the reader for those texts. And why not… we could also have you wear nice big angel wings.”
In a renewed burst of enthusiasm, all the girls pick up their music folders, to join their voices and their love in this spiritual preparation for the great Christian feast of Christmas.
The Daughters of Mary
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