What is the vocation to become a church musician?

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jesusmademe

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What is the vocation to become a church musician? It is obviously not the same as the question on vocation to Matrimony and Ordination. It seems like a very special vocation.
We have different kinds of vocations eg becoming a clerk or school teacher. But I would say that the vocation to become a church musician does not feel the same as the vocation to become a clerk…but I am no expert.
What is this vocation?
 
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It’s not actually a vocation in the sense the Church describes that word. Vocation is reserved for the call to a state of life—being a church musician, while it is wonderful, is an occupation.
 
“Vocare means to call and thus becoming a clerk or church musician is a vocation” is something I often hear.
 
Maybe you would like use the term calling rather than vocation in this case.
Example of this in a sentence: we are all called to holiness.
In this case the term is calling.
 
I think we can resolve this by saying that while there are ecclesiastical vocations, which are those we most often speak of and to which few are generally called, there are also very personal, non-ecclesiastical vocations which are quite more specialized and which all receive as our very particular means of serving God, the Church, and our society. One’s profession in life, for instance, is a personal vocation, as would be a particular artistic or musical talent.

That one who is musically talented would desire to put that good talent at Mother Church’s use, whether as a volunteer or a paid professional, fulfills a definite ecclesiastical need and has all the marks of a strong personal vocation about it. Indeed, a choirmaster can none but enrich the life of any parish or cathedral, through using the art of music to draw the hearts and minds of the faithful to God and to the truths of our faith, and so to assist them in their prayers. We might even term this a form of preaching, and a very exalted means of assisting in the liturgical ministry of the clergy.

Of course there are duties implied: first the continual practice required of any musician, but also a conformity of mind to the spirit of the liturgy. A good choir is not simply making incidental music during the time of the liturgy; it is actually and truly participating in the liturgy. Our treasury of liturgical music is also so rich that it requires a good deal of study to understand it and see how it all fits in. Church music is not an ecclesiastical vocation, but it is a very high and noble calling indeed. I would not hesitate to talk to any priest about your desires here, for many would be overjoyed to hear of your wish to collaborate in their priestly ministry in this manner.
 
I have relatives and friends who are Church musicians, but it’s often not a full-time job. They attend meetings, practice, record the musical accompaniment of works in electronic organs, and serve following a schedule arranged by various parish committees.
 
I can see God calling someone with a musical ability to serve in the Church in a musical capacity.
 
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