There is the Music of Heaven in all things and we have forgotten how to hear it until we sing.
~St. Hildegard von Bingen, Doctor of the Church
Here is how our day begins: after breakfast my children and I gather together to pray, read aloud from Scripture, and sing. I have come to see our "morning circle" as the most important part of our day. We can skip history, or even (gasp!) math, but not this. This is what puts our hearts right. It is what connects us to each other and to Heaven.
Our morning circle is informal and simple. It is a happy time. There is no weight of imposed reverence or quiet. We talk to one another, ask questions, and sing! Here is the pattern that works best for my family (I have five children with a large span of ages from six to twenty years old):
:: We pray the Our Father (the Lord's Prayer)
:: I read aloud a short passage from Scripture
:: We pray Hail Mary and Glory Be
:: We sing, beginning with spiritual songs and finshing with patriotic and children's songs. We sing about eight songs each morning.
That's it. Our circle pattern has changed slightly over the years. When my three oldest children were little I used to include picture book stories at the end of our circle, which would then lead to a hands-on activity afterward. It's not the pattern of the circle that matters, but the coming together, the spirit of joy, and the singing.
Above all, singing together provides grace and courage for the day's journey.
~St. Hildegard von Bingen, Doctor of the Church
Here is how our day begins: after breakfast my children and I gather together to pray, read aloud from Scripture, and sing. I have come to see our "morning circle" as the most important part of our day. We can skip history, or even (gasp!) math, but not this. This is what puts our hearts right. It is what connects us to each other and to Heaven.
St. Hildegard believed that many times a day, we fall out of sorts, lose our way or find ourselves off center. Music was the sacred technology which could best tune humanity, redirect our hearts toward heaven and put our feet back onto the wholesome pathways of God...In singing and playing music, we integrate mind, heart and body, heal discord between us, and celebrate heavenly harmony here on earth. St. Hildegard, who is one of only four women to be declared a Doctor of the Church, believed that music is the highest form of praise to God. When singing, we exhibit the spiritual field of unity for which we all yearn. In St. Hildegard's writings, she mentions music over three hundred times to illuminate spiritual truths. (Gleaned from the webpage: Hildegard of Bingen: Symphony of the Harmony of Heaven.)In my mind, the only element that is essential for a morning circle is singing. Singing lifts up our hearts more than spoken prayer (in the early Church prayer was traditionally sung). It tunes our hearts to God and one another and fills us with joy. If time is short, we can just sing.
Our morning circle is informal and simple. It is a happy time. There is no weight of imposed reverence or quiet. We talk to one another, ask questions, and sing! Here is the pattern that works best for my family (I have five children with a large span of ages from six to twenty years old):
:: We pray the Our Father (the Lord's Prayer)
:: I read aloud a short passage from Scripture
:: We pray Hail Mary and Glory Be
:: We sing, beginning with spiritual songs and finshing with patriotic and children's songs. We sing about eight songs each morning.
That's it. Our circle pattern has changed slightly over the years. When my three oldest children were little I used to include picture book stories at the end of our circle, which would then lead to a hands-on activity afterward. It's not the pattern of the circle that matters, but the coming together, the spirit of joy, and the singing.
Above all, singing together provides grace and courage for the day's journey.
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