About the Author:
Kathleen Harmon, SNDdeN, is a noted liturgical theologian and musician, author and composer, presenter and teacher. She holds a graduate degree in music and a doctorate in theology.
Review:
When I finished reading this book, I knew I would return to it in the future. Its final chapter will be [a] prelude to the start of music planning for the upcoming year. . . . I highly recommend this book.Pastoral Music
Music has been part of religion for as long as both existed. The Mystery We Celebrate, the Song We Sing: A Theology of Liturgical Music is a study of liturgical music and the relationship of the two through the ages. It also touches upon liturgical music’s spiritual relevance and its contributions to religion as a whole. A scholarly examination from first page to last, enhanced with an index, The Mystery We Celebrate, the Song We Sing: A Theology of Liturgical Music is highly recommended for community library Christian collections.Midwest Book Review
In The Mystery We Celebrate, the Song We Sing: A Theology of Liturgical Music Kathleen Harmon once again demonstrates her ability to integrate various elements of recent liturgical theology and to place this at the service of the liturgy as envisioned in the church’s documents. In this book she focuses on the liturgy and its music as the means of encountering, signifying, and empowering the living of Christ's paschal mystery by the faithful assembly. Though the task set forth in the title of the book is accomplished by the end of chapter 3, it is in the final chapter that her concern for the pastoral musician's life of discipleship in ministry shines. This is a worthy, practical book and a source of much-needed insight and encouragement for all who minister in music. Alan J. Hommerding, Senior Liturgy Publications Editor, World Library Publications
We can't let the size of this little volume deceive us. In its mere ninety-six pages is packed a theology of liturgy and theory of singing which Kathleen Harmon meshes into an understandable, creative, and expansive explanation of why we truly must sing the liturgy. The theology: at the core of the celebration of liturgy is the paschal mystery with its inherent tension between dying and rising. The theory: the force-resistant phenomena of singing draws us out of ourselves to embrace a new identity, presence, union with one another. The meshing: surrendering to the force-resistance of singing brings us face to face with the paschal mystery demand to die to self and be transformed into ever more perfect members of Christ’s Body. Harmon gives us more than a theology of liturgical singing—she inspires us to sing the liturgy, to live the paschal mystery. Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS, PhD, STD, Director, Institute for Liturgical Ministry, Dayton, Ohio
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