Some years ago, Mass with a visiting presider was going along smoothly—when, during the Eucharistic Prayer, a member of the assembly suddenly collapsed in a back pew. People leapt to his side, of course, and someone immediately called 911; but what impressed me most was the priest, who said, “I don’t know whether I’m supposed to do this, but I’m going to.” He left the altar, ran up the aisle and knelt next to the stricken man, laying hands on him, praying with him and for him. The paramedics arrived swiftly and took the man to the hospital. The priest returned to the altar and continued the eucharistic prayer from where he had left off.

No one left early. Not one person complained about Mass running long.

It was a Samaritan moment—a graced moment that touched everyone present.

And what did that have to do with music? Long afterward, I realized that the music ministry might have helped the assembly voice its concern for the stricken person. How? Not by launching into song—the volume of the organ or piano would be intrusive, and the sung words would interfere with what was going on. But humming a very familiar, well-loved song of hope and trust in God, such as “Be Not Afraid,” or “Shepherd Me, O God” or “Morning Has Broken,” presents a quite viable possibility. Wordless humming bathes in soft waves of reassuring sound the person for whom the community is praying.

It might be something to keep in mind.

M.D. Ridge