I don't sing.

  • Thread starter Thread starter notsmart
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

notsmart

Guest
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
 
Hey, not all of us are good singers 🙂 I’m bad at singing too, and uncomfortable with it, but it’s worth it when it is for God. If you feel uncomfortable singing loud, just sing quietly. Most people in the congregation are not professional singers, so you won’t stand out, don’t worry! Participation in the Holy Mass is important 👍

And God bless your conversion! I converted this year at Easter, it’s a wonderful feeling 😃
 
At the very least, mouth the words as the congregation is singing, to be sure you are participating in some way.
 
I love music and songs, but I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. So rather than insult the ears around me, I just sing very softly. I don’t think I’m the only vocally challenged person at my parish either. Even when the church is full, the singing is pretty anemic. If the cantor stops for some reason, the song just fades away.
 
“He who sings, prays twice”

If you are concerned with offending the ears around you, then feel free to sing softly. But understand that God loves your voice as much as the cantor’s, and that your song is for Him, with those around you.

I once had it explained to me this way: our songs at mass are offerings to God, and when we don’t all participate, they are incomplete.

On the one hand, the fact that we don’t like to sing isn’t in itself an excuse not to. I don’t particularly like to kneel…but I do it because it is proper.

But on the other hand, there are many ways to participate in our prayers. Is it going to be a problem? Probably not. As you said, many people don’t sing (seems to be a cultural phenomenon). After all, God can hear the songs in our hearts as well as the songs on our lips.

As a cantor, there is nothing more moving than a full congregation singing with me. I’m not there to perform - I’m there to lead us in song and encourage everyone to participate. When people sing with me, I know I’m doing my job.

One last point - if parts of the Mass are sung (particularly the acclaimations and dialogues; Gospel Acclamation, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Amen) those should be at the very least spoken along with the singing, because these are not just hymns, but actual parts of the Mass which the congregation should definitely be participating in.

For more guidance, check out usccb.org/liturgy/SingToTheLord.pdf

Be God’s,

Andre
 
rick43235 said:
I love music and songs, but I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. So rather than insult the ears around me, I just sing very softly. I don’t think I’m the only vocally challenged person at my parish either. Even when the church is full, the singing is pretty anemic. If the cantor stops for some reason, the song just fades away.
Click to expand...
I like to sing, but it would sure be helpful if the hymns were written an octave lower than they are.
 
I used to have a priest that told us if we don’t like the voice God gave us to give it back to him… but maybe that was just to make us sing louder… or maybe because he had the worst voice I ever heard…hmmmm… Anyway, there is no Catholic requirement to sing… out of comfort you might want to voice the words softly and reflect on their meaning…
 
notsmart said:
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
Click to expand...
Frankly, the Pope doesn’t have a particularly nice singing voice either. But, I don’t think God really cares how you sound (lucky for me, because I hate my voice too). If you sound bad, that’s how God made you.

Singing is just an amplified form of prayer. If you really dislike singing, if you did it anyway for the Mass, perhaps God would be especially pleased that you’re making the sacrifice.
 
notsmart said:
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
Click to expand...
How about saying this to the Lord: “Dear God, you have given me this voice so that I could sing and glorify you. If I don’t sing as beautiful as others do, you might have to put up with me and listen to me singing at every mass.”. 😃

notsmart, not everyone can sing but many try to sing - it is part of the prayers as others mention and we do this for God. I hope that you will overcome your worry and sing. You can start singing softely.
 
notsmart said:
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
Click to expand...
LOL. Catholics are famous for not singing in Church. There’s even a book entitled, Why Catholics Can’t Sing.

Me, I LOVE to sing. Sang for decades in Episcopal Choirs. But when I was asked to join the choir in my Catholic parish, I demurred because 90% of what is sung at Mass is folky-feel-good junk written 30 years ago.

If you don’t want to sing, everybody will think you were BORN Catholic!
 
I am not particularly enamored of singing during the liturgy. I just would rather the priest spend more time on the homily. But I realize that is just me. I intellectually recognize the significance of singing - I just do not derive any spiritual benefit or feel emotionally emboldened by “singing just to sing.” When I was in Cathilic elementary school, we were all required to take singing and instrument lessons from Kindergarted through 8th grade - specifically to prepare us for our participation in The Mass. I loved it. I grew up with the “guitar” Mass and the transition from pre- to post Vatican II liturgy and actually embraced the “new” music we were singing. As I have matured, my appreciation for more sacred forms of music has increased, but I am not a “no change at any cost” person. I have been blessed with a good singing voice, but with some of the changes that have occurred at our parish recently, I am not only hesitant to sing, but am thinking of changing parishes. I love my homilist, but the liturgy should not aggravate me as I prepare to receive Eucharist. I will sing - but I refuse to clap. I am not going to “sway” with the beat. I am a drummer from way back. I can bang it out with the best of them. But I do not want to be exposed to drum solos as I approach the altar for communion.

I believe that there is a point at which lines are crossed and irreverent singing can occur. I see nothing wrong with intorducing new songs (theologically correct ones) at Mass and learning them. I try not to overpower others with my voice, but many feel that as long as they are singing, no one should care how bad, off key, or out of tune they are because it is for God. I do not siong with our choir because I know I am not that good. Caritably, I do wish others would sometimes recognize their particular gifts and/or limitations and do the same.

I know I got off a little into music and not just singing per se,but they seem to be intertwined.

I realize that singing is praying twice. Too bad the reverse is not considered equally acceptable and encouraged.
 
notsmart said:
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
Click to expand...
Nope, not a problem at all. Some parishes are better than others when it comes to their music during mass but even then not everyone is a singer and you are not looked down if you cannot sing.
 
Have you ever considered taking a few voice lessons to try to improve your voice?

If you didn’t like your body, you would possibly consider dieting, exercising, wearing a different style of clothing, etc. to try to improve it, right?

If you didn’t understand the Bible readings, you would possibly consider buying a simple Bible study guide to help you understand, right?

You have questions about the Catholic Church, so you visit online forums like this one to get answers, right?

So why not invest a few dollars and a few hours in your voice?

So many people think that the only people who can sing well are those born with a good voice. That is not true. Anyone can improve the voice they were born with and learn to sing better and more comfortably.

Renee Fleming, America’s prima donna of the opera, has written a wonderful book called The Inner Voice: The Making Of A Singer. Here is a link:

amazon.com/Inner-Voice-Making-Singer/dp/0670033510

This book is not Ms. Fleming’s bio, but the bio of her voice. She makes it clear that she was NOT born with a beautiful voice or natural talent. She developed the voice that she has through hard WORK.

I think most voice teachers would make the price easy for you if they knew that you just want some short-term training to improve your Mass-singing voice. If you absolutely can’t afford real voice lessons, ask your parish choir director for a few hours in exchange for a few good dinners or some other barter of services.

I guarantee, you’ll be glad that you took my advice! And others in Mass will be more blessed by your singing rather than your silence.
 
mercygate said:
LOL. Catholics are famous for not singing in Church. There’s even a book entitled, Why Catholics Can’t Sing.

Me, I LOVE to sing. Sang for decades in Episcopal Choirs. But when I was asked to join the choir in my Catholic parish, I demurred because 90% of what is sung at Mass is folky-feel-good junk written 30 years ago.

If you don’t want to sing, everybody will think you were BORN Catholic!
Click to expand...
Must be a lot of Catholics in baseball stadiums when they sing/play the National Anthem then. 🙂

However, it’s no secret that more people sing when they have an organ playing, regardless of religion.
 
I am surprised to see so many replies! I’m glad this won’t be a real problem. I liked a song I did try to sing last friday. Mary Gentle Mother, and I barely made any sound but concentrated on her life.
Thanks for the tip on what to say even if not singing ironman.
I don’t see myself starting classes anytime soon, but thanks for the tip and the link Cat. I’ll think about it.

Monica:)
 
notsmart said:
Is this going to be a problem if I become a Catholic? I love others singing, but not me. I never have liked singing. I can’t stand my voice. I noticed a lot of other people were not singing at Mass also, so I thought maybe its fine to skip that part.
Click to expand...
Hi, I say sing and if it’s that bad it can be penance for you and for the rest of the congregation who is listening 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃

I can’t carry a tune to save my life so I sing very very very quietly that way I don’t clear the entire church out!!!😃 😃 😃
 
notsmart said:
I liked a song I did try to sing last friday. Mary Gentle Mother, and I barely made any sound but concentrated on her life.
Click to expand...
That’s the important part 👍

I pray for you everyday! Hope things are going well 🙂
 
🙂

Thankful for the help and prayers. I will try to keep all my caf friends in prayer but the list is getting rather long!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top