In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World, Kris McGregor and Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, reflect on St. Benedict’s guidance on prayer and the place of singing in the spiritual life, particularly as expressed in Chapter 19 of the Rule. While silence prepares the heart to listen, St. Benedict also calls monks to raise their voices in song. Singing the Psalms becomes a powerful way to express what is in the heart and to enter the presence of God and His angels consciously. The goal is not musical perfection but authenticity, allowing one’s voice and mind to be in harmony as prayer is offered to God.

Fr. Mauritius explains that singing is deeply connected to the human person. It engages memory, emotion, and prayer in ways ordinary speech often cannot. Through the Psalms and the songs found throughout Scripture, the believer learns to bring every mood and experience before God. Singing becomes a remedy for sadness, a way to overcome fear, and a means of drawing closer to the Lord. St. Benedict’s wisdom reminds us that the voice lifted in praise helps open the heart, allowing the soul to encounter God more deeply.

We believe that God is present everywhere and that the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the bad in every place (cf Prov 15:3). Let us firmly believe this, especially when we take part in the Work of God. Let us, therefore, always be mindful of what the Prophet saith, “Serve ye the Lord with fear” (Ps 2:11). And again, “Sing ye wisely” (Ps 46[47]:8). And, “I will sing praise to Thee in the sight of the angels” (Ps 137[138]:1). Therefore, let us consider how it becometh us to behave in the sight of God and His angels, and let us so stand to sing, that our mind may be in harmony with our voice.

1. St. Benedict teaches that our minds and voices should be in harmony when we sing the Psalms. What does this unity of heart and voice mean in my own prayer life?
2. How comfortable am I expressing prayer openly to God, whether through song, spoken prayer, or quiet praise?
3. Have I ever experienced how music or singing can lift the heart during moments of sadness or discouragement?
4. In what ways might the Psalms help me bring my real emotions and struggles before God?
5. How could incorporating sacred music or psalm prayer deepen my daily relationship with the Lord?
6. Where might God be inviting me to become more open and vulnerable in prayer?

Father Mauritius Wilde, OSB, Ph.D., did his philosophical, theological, and doctoral studies in Europe. He is the author of several books and directs retreats regularly. He serves as Prior at Sant’Anselmo in Rome.