Our Father
In the past we often sang the Our
Father, why don’t we sing it any longer? In the Eucharistic Liturgy there
are many parts that were originally written to be sung, among them the
Gloria, Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation, the Sanctus (Holy,
Holy), the Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen. The Gloria was the song
the angels sang at the birth of Jesus. The Psalms were all originally
written to be sung. The Holy, Holy is the song of four living creatures
found in Revelation 4:8. The Our Father was originally given to the
disciples as a prayer, not a song. This prayer is the most well known among
all Christian denominations and it is best when all can join in this
prayer. Although singing is wonderful, sometimes the melodies used in one
Church are not those used in another, and when sung, visitors may be
unfamiliar with the melody we use making it difficult to join in this most
wonderful prayer. Although on occasion this prayer can be sung, it is most
often recited so that all, even anyone visiting our Church, will be able to
join in this prayer Jesus left us. May we join in all the singing and
praying the liturgy presents. |
