THE FAMILY ZONE
Equipping the Domestic Church/ISSUE 119/8.20.23
THE FAMILY ZONE Summer Editions....faith, family and fun!
We are here to support your domestic church; the home! This issue of The Family Zone focuses on the gift of Music!
MAKING THE MOST OF MASS
Do you join in the singing of the Gloria, the Responsorial Psalm, and other parts of the Mass? Singing is a beautiful expression of prayer and way of praising God. You do not need to be a trained vocalist to participate in the those prayers we sing at Mass. In paragraphs 3 and 4 of the document Sing to the Lord, the US Bishops said:
"Our ancestors reveled in this gift, sometimes with God’s urging. “Write out this song, then, for yourselves,” God said to Moses. “Teach it to the Israelites and have them recite it, so that this song may be a witness for me.”5 The Chosen People, after they passed through the Red Sea, sang as one to the Lord.6 Deborah, a judge of Israel, sang to the Lord with Barak after God gave them victory.7 David and the Israelites “made merry before the Lord with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.”8 4. Jesus and his apostles sang a hymn before their journey to the Mount of Olives.9 St. Paul instructed the Ephesians to “[address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts.”10 He sang with Silas in captivity.11 The letter of St. James asks, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise.”12
What a perfect reminder that paragraph is, of the long history of song in our worship. Next time you are at Mass, sing out your praise! Teaching your kids to sing along is a great way to involve them in the Mass and make the experience more meaningful!
JOIN THE REVIVAL!
READ!
SUNDAY READINGS:
Click on the link below for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday Mass for the coming two weeks. This will give you a chance to prepare your heart and mind for full and active participation in Mass this weekend!
Sunday Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082723.cfm
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090323.cfm
Family Dinner Conversation: In the Gospel we will hear on Sunday, September 3, Jesus says that he will be killed and rise again on the third day. Peter's reaction is to reassure Jesus that his words can't possibly be true and the Apostles will surely not experience his death. Jesus responds: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Talk about the differences between the way God thinks and the way human beings think. Where do you see big differences? How could your family think more like God and less like the world?
WONDER AND AWE
Now try this challenge from the Cornell Ornithology Lab
CREATE!
Could you write a psalm? What would you say to God?
Spend some time outdoors or in your favorite place. Begin your psalm with Lord, I praise you...and then, continue on. What do you see, feel, hear, and consider as the next words of this phrase? Keep going. Writing a psalm is like writing a poem and a prayer. Take it one step further and give it a tune!
PLAY!
Hoping for screen-free play instead? Try making these musical instruments:
PRAY!
FAMILY TIME!
INSPIRED BY THE SAINTS!
- St. Alphonsus Liguori played the harpsichord
- St. Andrew Kaggwa was a drummer
- Blessed Carlo Acutis played the saxophone
- St. Catherine of Bologna played the viola
- St. John Wang Rui was a vocalist
- Bl. Miguel Pro played the guitar and mandolin
- St. Teresa of the Andes played the piano and harmonium
- Bl. Solanus Casey played the violin
Do you think their musical gifts helped them to worship God? Sometimes our talents are exactly the way God uses us to reach out to others who are in need of God's love. How can you use your gifts to impact others?
SHARE A STORY!
WONDER!
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Debtor in PossessionEmail: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210