June 9—St. Ephrem the Syrian, Deacon and Doctor of the Church

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I bet you learned your ABCs by singing the Alphabet Song. You may also know songs that tell what the planets are. You may have difficulty with the Star-Spangle Banner but try reciting it! I imagine you will break into song within the first five lines. Why is that? Music appeals to a different part of the brain and memorization is a lot easier when put to music. Today’s saint probably knew that. St. Ephrem, also known as the “Harp of the Holy Spirit,” would write over 400 hymns to counter the heretical songs then prevalent.

St. Ephrem was born in AD 306 in Nisibis, Syria, now located in Turkey. He became a deacon but declined the priesthood. He died around AD 373 and was named Doctor of the Church in 1920. When Nisibis fell to the Persians he moved to Edessa and founded a school to teach orthodoxy against Arianism, Manicheism, Gnosticism, and other teachings and religions. He used poetry and music to bring people to Christ. For example, he wrote a hymn about Mary, which also taught about the Incarnation:

“A wonder is Your mother: the Lord entered her
And became a servant; He entered able to speak
And He became silent in her, He entered her thundering
And His voice grew silent; He entered Shepherd of all;
A lamb He became in her; He emerged bleating.” (113, L. Gambero)

The New Evangelization is a method of bring Christ’s message to those who have already heard it. We need to speak, or as St. Ephrem did, sing the Good News. We need to engage our brothers and sisters to stir their hearts in the joy and peace of Christ’s love through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. Let us follow in St. Ephrem’s “song” steps.

*https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ic%C3%B4ne_Ephrem_le_Syrien.jpg

November 22--St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Today is the feast day of patroness of the Archdiocese of Omaha, St. Cecilia.  According to legend, St. Cecilia was married, but decided to remain a virgin.  She warned her husband that an angel guarded her.  When he wanted to see the angel, she told him he needed to be baptized.  He was and he saw the angel.  His brother also converted and the two dedicated themselves to burying the martyrs.  Eventually Cecilia was arrested and condemned to death by suffocation in the baths, which were like our modern spas.  She survived and was condemned to die by beheading.  The executioner tried three times and then left her to die, but she survived for three days, whereupon she died.

St. Cecilia’s life and death are a matter of legend due to the lack of verifiable witnesses.  However, there were martyrs throughout the early Church.  St. Cecilia is also the patroness of music due to her hearing heavenly music in her heart when she was married.  Omaha is the only diocese that has her patronage.

Music raises our spirits, reflects our mood, changes our mood, and allows us to sing and worship God.  “The true purpose of sacred music, … ‘is [for] the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful.’”  We sing in Mass so that we may glorify God, raising our hearts and souls and voices in praise together.  We are grateful for the musicians and song leaders and choir members who help us, in the words of St. Augustine, “pray twice” when we sing.