“He who sings prays twice” – in the Holy Land

A Franciscan priest leading the singing of Polish Pilgrims at the Tent' church in Shepherds' Fields near Bethlehem

n occasion, during my trip to Jerusalem last week, I came across a number of ‘singing priests’ in fine voice, leading their groups of pilgrims in song at the various holy sites. 

St Augustine says “He who sings prays twice”, and I can tell you that witnessing these special moments, influenced me to stop, and at least say a pray, once . . .  on each of these occasions.

At the Greek Melkite Catholic Church inside the Old City in Jerusalem on Sunday, both the Byzantine Mass ,and the singing were in Arabic.

For an added treat on this my last morning in Jerusalem . .  at the end of the Mass, a visiting group of pilgrims sang a rousing hymn to Mary – “Star of the Sea, I salute you” “He Who Sings, Prays Twice” – in German. 

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