Is it a sin to sing in church outside of Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Inquirer123
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I

Inquirer123

Guest
Hello all,

I’ve been wondering: Is it a sin to sing (religious hymns, Gregorian chant, etc.) while visiting a church alone, outside of the Mass and liturgical celebrations? It seems to me that it might be irreverent or imprudent at the very least, but I’m not 100% sure…

Thank you for your responses!
 
You really need some spiritual guidance from a competent priest who can help what appears to be scrupulous thoughts. If you really believe what you have written is somehow sinful, PLEASE get help because you have a skewed view of sin.
 
Singing no. But dancing, like in Footloose definitely.
 
Inquirer123 said:
Hello all,

I’ve been wondering: Is it a sin to sing (religious hymns, Gregorian chant, etc.) while visiting a church alone, outside of the Mass and liturgical celebrations? It seems to me that it might be irreverent or imprudent at the very least, but I’m not 100% sure…

Thank you for your responses!
Click to expand...
How do believe that choirs function?
 
1ke said:
You really need some spiritual guidance from a competent priest who can help what appears to be scrupulous thoughts. If you really believe what you have written is somehow sinful, PLEASE get help because you have a skewed view of sin.
Click to expand...
This. There is nothing sinful about it, and if you aren’t sure you need to get a spiritual confessor to help your scrupulosity.

Lou
 
If you are alone then I don’t see anything wrong with singing in the church, as long as it is appropriate hymns (Gregorian chant is very good). If other people are there then you shouldn’t sing. At my parish, a lady started singing in the church during Confession and the priest came out of the confessional to tell her to stop.
 
I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but is this a serious question that is of concern to many people? Really?

I keep envisioning King David dancing naked before the Lord. I think a bit of singing is quite subdued compared to that.
 
Inquirer123 said:
Hello all,

I’ve been wondering: Is it a sin to sing (religious hymns, Gregorian chant, etc.) while visiting a church alone, outside of the Mass and liturgical celebrations? It seems to me that it might be irreverent or imprudent at the very least, but I’m not 100% sure…

Thank you for your responses!
Click to expand...
Scrupulous much? Lol No, it’s not a sin at all. I don’t know why you would ever think that.
 
I remember once being inside our shrine of the Blessed Virgin…I was there tending something, I think in the sacristy. This was many many years ago. I heard the door open and that someone had come in – which was not unusual as people made visits throughout the day. But, all of a sudden, this incredible voice rang out through the chapel. A woman was singing, in perfect execution, the Ave Maria of Gounod as she stood before the statue of Our Lady. It was exquisitely done. As soon as she finished, she promptly turned and quickly walked out the door. I don’t suppose I shall ever forget that.

As Saint Augustine said, the one who sings prays twice.
 
Inquirer123 said:
Hello all,

I’ve been wondering: Is it a sin to sing (religious hymns, Gregorian chant, etc.) while visiting a church alone, outside of the Mass and liturgical celebrations? It seems to me that it might be irreverent or imprudent at the very least, but I’m not 100% sure…

Thank you for your responses!
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with singing those hymns, chants, etc in Church when alone.

When others are there praying, it’s important to be respectful to their prayer time. But if they are fine with you singing… feel free.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
I remember once being inside our shrine of the Blessed Virgin…I was there tending something, I think in the sacristy. This was many many years ago. I heard the door open and that someone had come in – which was not unusual as people made visits throughout the day. But, all of a sudden, this incredible voice rang out through the chapel. A woman was singing, in perfect execution, the Ave Maria of Gounod as she stood before the statue of Our Lady. It was exquisitely done. As soon as she finished, she promptly turned and quickly walked out the door. I don’t suppose I shall ever forget that.

As Saint Augustine said, the one who sings prays twice.
Click to expand...
What a great story. Thanks for sharing! :cool:
 
Don_Ruggero said:
I remember once being inside our shrine of the Blessed Virgin…I was there tending something, I think in the sacristy. This was many many years ago. I heard the door open and that someone had come in – which was not unusual as people made visits throughout the day. But, all of a sudden, this incredible voice rang out through the chapel. A woman was singing, in perfect execution, the Ave Maria of Gounod as she stood before the statue of Our Lady. It was exquisitely done. As soon as she finished, she promptly turned and quickly walked out the door. I don’t suppose I shall ever forget that.

As Saint Augustine said, the one who sings prays twice.
Click to expand...
That brought tears to my eyes… Beautiful
 
With my voice, I just sing to myself…I’ve heard the singing is praying twice before…but singing is prayer, remember , most stories of Angels involves them singing!
 
Crusaderbear said:
With my voice, I just sing to myself…I’ve heard the singing is praying twice before…but singing is prayer, remember , most stories of Angels involves them singing!
Click to expand...
Singing to oneself is okay too. After all, God isn’t hard of hearing. 🙂

As for what St. Augustine really said,
Qui enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat; qui cantat laudem, non solum cantat, sed et amat eum quem cantat. In laude confitentis est praedicatio, in cantico amantis affectio…For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises joyfully; he who sings praise, not only sings, but also loves Him whom he is singing about/to/for. There is a praise-filled public proclamation (praedicatio) in the praise of someone who is confessing/acknowledging (God), in the song of the lover (there is) love.
Click to expand...
wdtprs.com/blog/2006/02/st-augustine-he-who-sings-prays-twice/
 
Well, for some people, they may think it is a sin because of how it sounds.😉

John Paul II once said about his singin, something to this effect: “They say when you sing, you pray twice, but with my voice, it’s just once.”
 
Irishmom2 said:
John Paul II once said about his singin, something to this effect: “They say when you sing, you pray twice, but with my voice, it’s just once.”
Click to expand...
In fact, he had a quite nice voice for singing…above all when he would sing in Polish. His voice would take on a completely different quality – and it was so delightful.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
In fact, he had a quite nice voice for singing…above all when he would sing in Polish. His voice would take on a completely different quality – and it was so delightful.
Click to expand...
I’m just saying what he said. I didn’t really think he had a bad voice even if he said that. 🙂

Do you think his voice was recorded singing?
 
pianistclare said:
How do believe that choirs function?
Click to expand...
I was going to ask the same thing. We rehearse in the church when it is closed (our choirmaster has the key). We like to rehearse in the same acoustics will will sing in at Mass.

Once I was staying overnight at a religious community in Montreal. They rented out rooms, and there was bad weather so I didn’t want to drive home from work. I went and prayed Compline in their chapel, and I sang the Salve Regina, all by myself in the chapel.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top