The music in my head

Through their three-year eucharistic revival, the U.S. bishops are calling on Catholics to “enter more deeply by faith and love” into the mystery of mysteries, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Parishes are offering opportunities for doing just that.

At my parish, St. Gabriel in Woodlawn, we are encouraged by our pastor, Father Canisius Tah, to commit to spending at least an hour before the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every First Friday of the month. That began Sept. 1. The goal, he said, is to make sure there is always someone with the Lord during the exposition that begins at the end of the 9 a.m. Mass in the parish annex chapel. It ends at 7 p.m. with evening prayer and benediction.

While I attend Mass regularly, it has been years since I actually spent time before the Blessed Sacrament. It wasn’t deliberate on my part. It just happened. But I do recall the days when I fully embraced adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Even before I fully appreciated what it meant, I longed to spend time with God.

When I attended seventh- and eighth-grade classes at St. Peter Claver in West Baltimore, sometimes I’d stick my head in the church when school let out. If the church was empty, I’d sit a while before walking those 10 long blocks home. I’d also tell the Lord, with all due respect, that, since I was the only person there, he had to hear my prayers! 

One of my favorite experiences in adoration was at the 41st International Eucharistic Congress. It was held in a downtown stadium in Philadelphia, where I was employed in 1976. Along with countless others, I stayed well into the night. I prayed for family members, discernment of my vocation, forgiveness of sins. I must admit that, in retrospect, I was short on focusing on worship.

As long as I live, I know I will be plagued by one problem after another, be they my own or those of people I care about. Even so, I’ve decided that my focus now will be on praise, for the Lord does indeed inhabit the praise of his people.

Besides, I love the joy I experience when I listen to songs of worship and praise, for I carry them around in my head all the time. I call upon them when I need a reminder that, having the Lord, I have everything I need to face each day.

The words of Helen Baylor’s “Lord, You’re Holy” keep me focused on the majesty of God:

“Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous, Victorious Conqueror, triumphant and mighty. Healer, Deliverer, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and my best friend.”

I am also moved by Sirach’s “The Name of Jesus” and “Waymaker.” They proclaim Jesus as “Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness,” and that “the name of Jesus (is) higher than other names.”

Then there is the humility of Todd Delaney who professes that “victory belongs to Jesus” and Charles Jenkins who proclaims, “My God is awesome, heals me when I’m broken, strength when I’ve been weakened, forever he will reign.”

Etched in my heart ever since I was a teen, however, are the words of “Tantum Ergo.” While I sang it first in Latin, it resonates best for me in English:

“Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred host we hail. Lo! o’er ancient forms departing, newer rites of grace prevail. Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail.

“To the everlasting Father, and the Son who reigns on high, with the Holy Spirit proceeding, forth from each eternally, be salvation, honor blessing, might and endless majesty. Amen!”

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