A Mother's Pride

My Favorite Daughter and I play the guitar and sing with an ensemble at Mass twice a month. There is a cantor assigned the other two or three weekends a month. A cantor leads the congregation in singing most of the songs of the Mass and it involves some solo parts. The cantor also reads the Prayers of the Faithful and the announcements before the end of the Mass.

MFD has been a cantor for a couple of years. I don’t like to sing by myself, and she doesn’t like to read, so we’re a team the weekends she is assigned to cantor. On ensemble weekends, we all take turns doing what we’re comfortable with.

We used to have several youth that sang with the ensemble. They enjoyed singing the Psalm, which involves singing the verses solo. It can be intimidating to sing in front of several hundred people, so the adults generally encouraged any of the youth that were willing to do that.

One weekend, before she became a cantor, MFD asked to sing the Psalm. One of the choir members arrived a little late, so when assignments were made and he offered to sing the Psalm, he was informed MFD was singing it. He made a comment at that time about her being the “Singing Goddess.”

Our Director was there that weekend and picked up on that, and it has become somewhat of a joke. Last weekend, when MFD wasn’t there for ensemble practice, he asked where “Her Highness” was.

This weekend MFD was the cantor. Our regular accompanist wasn’t there, but the nun who had been until a couple of years ago was the substitute. MFD hadn’t been an official cantor back then, and Sister just raved about how much MFD had improved since she was last there. After Mass, the Deacon came up and told her how beautiful her voice was and how much he enjoyed listening to her. Several others also commented how they loved it when she sang.

Of course, I’m standing there, about to bust with pride.

She got it all from me.

Flo