This week I have been reflecting a lot about what is the “purpose” of Liturgy. As many of you know, I lead Evening Prayer every Sunday on YouTube at 4:00PM. This “liturgy” developed out of monastic life in the Middle Ages, when religious communities would literally stop whatever they were doing in their day to read the Scriptures and pray.  Why would people who already committed their full life’s work to the cause of Christ feel the need to stop whatever they were doing to participate in a liturgical prayer ritual?

Divine Mercy Sunday reminds me of the last Papal Mass of Pope Francis in Rome that I was honored to attend in February 2025. I was there for the Jubilee Mass for Armed Forces and Police. Pope Francis was ill, but he stayed for the entire Mass. He began by preaching his own prepared homily, but he had to stop midway through due to his difficulty breathing. Before he stopped speaking, Pope Francis made a very clear, bold statement looking directly at the massive congregation:
"Let us never forget this: the compassion of God!”

Many people may believe that chanted a cappella singing only takes place in monasteries where religious communities chant the Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis. However, it does not have to be the only place! Musicam Sacram states that "one cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song.”

A brief explanation by Carly York

A Cantor is a Liturgical minister who leads the congregation in participating in the sung parts of a Mass or formal prayer service.