Saint Cecilia, the third-century noblewoman who “sang to the Lord in her heart”, has been venerated by countless generations of musicians who’ve sought her guidance. Michael Garnett, pictured, is one of them. So writes journalist Kevin Lavery for the Diocese of Lansing upon the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22. He continues:
Michael has served as director of sacred music at Saint Mary Cathedral in Lansing for nearly three years. Michael leads a choir of 21 men and women who continue the Church’s long tradition of presenting sacred music at the Mass.
“I’ve found Saint Cecilia to be a good, reliable intercessor for my work,” said Michael. “She’s come through quite a bit over the years.”
Before each rehearsal and Mass, Michael makes it a point to call on Saint Cecilia for aid. He concedes that many times he’s sensed some trepidation from his choir or accompanying musicians as they take on a particularly challenging piece of music.
“You can only do so much to try to inspire confidence in your colleagues,” Michael says. “Then, there comes a point where you’re like, OK … I can’t do it anymore. I need to give it up to the Lord. All of that fear goes away, and it usually ends up sounding way better than it did in rehearsal.”
Choir member Ginny Werner relates to Saint Cecilia’s heartfelt song. She’s been a parishioner at Saint Mary for over 20 years and has been singing in church choirs since she was a child. “I’ve had many moments when I disappear and the music is just it, and the Spirit is moving through me and I feel closer to God than I usually do,” Ginny says. “I’m lifted up to the heavens to join the choirs of angels.”
Sacred music is meant to draw the faithful into a deeper spiritual encounter with God. While it’s Michael’s job to elicit his choir’s best effort, he realizes he can’t necessarily expect the same from the congregation. That doesn’t worry him, though. Michael knows there’s often more going on than what’s written on a person’s face during Mass.
“I think a part that often gets overlooked is the importance of internal participation,” he notes. “What exactly does that mean? That means you’re sitting there listening and letting the words kind of overtake you. What is the Lord trying to tell us to foster that sense of prayer?”
Participating in the Mass through music has never been an issue for Ron Seymour, who is also a member of the Saint Mary choir. He even has a degree in music therapy. Ron views singing not as volunteerism, but as a vocation. “For me, it’s a ministry that God requires of me,” Ron says. “It’s like Jeremiah talking about his prophecies burning in his bones and he’s got to let it out. For me, music is like that. I have to do it. But it’s not like it’s a burden. It’s a joy!”
The members of the Saint Mary’s Cathedral choir are quick to note their ministry isn’t a performance or a concert that puts the spotlight on them. It’s about elevating their congregation to a more intimate encounter with God. Still, Michael Garnett admits that it’s gratifying when someone comes up to him after Mass to express how much the music moved them.
“I see that all the time,” he says. “It’s nice when someone appreciates what you’re doing. But at the end of the day, it’s really about, ‘Did I bring this person closer to the Lord? Did that reap any rewards for the Lord?’ Because the moment it becomes about us, it becomes a show. Our purpose is to foster that deeper sense of awe in encountering the sacred mysteries in the Mass through music. If we’re not doing that, then what are we doing?”
On the feast of Saint Cecilia, parishes around the world will celebrate her as a patron, a muse, and an intercessor whose influence shapes the beauty of sacred music. She is a saint for all, not simply to those with whom God has endowed certain musical talents. She celebrates our own personal song to the Lord, be it external or internal.
Saint Cecilia, pray for us!
* Kevin Lavery is an experienced freelance journalist and parishioner at Saint Martha in Okemos.
