Songs of Angels

Each year during Lent, we try to learn some new prayers, and this year, because our parish prays the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei in Latin during Lent, we chose to chant those daily to reinforce what we're doing at Mass.

We've found that the easiest way to teach new prayers is to simply pray them every night as part of our bedtime prayer routine with the kids.

Last week, I was out on Sunday evening to give an informal talk to a small group at our parish. On the way home, I wondered if Atticus would have the kids in pajamas yet. As I walked in the door, I realized they were already doing bedtime prayers. But, something was different. Without my own inadequate voice drowning them out, I could hear my girls' Latin chanting perfectly. It was a sublime moment: creeping softly into the darkened house, I heard the mesmerizing strains of the Sanctus, quietly sung by a small trio of angels.

We're not professionals here, and no one will ever mistake us for the singing Von Trapps. But, that night, I walked in on the sweetest and loveliest music I have ever heard.