When the words come, they are merely empty shells without the music. They live as they are sung, for the words are the body and the music the spirit.
Don't let yourself forget that God's grace rewards not only those who never slip, but also those who bend and fall. So sing! The song of rejoicing softens hard hearts. It makes tears of godly sorrow flow from them. Singing summons the Holy Spirit. Happy praises offered in simplicity and love lead the faithful to complete harmony, without discord. Don't stop singing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
God's grace is available to everyone, including those who make mistakes; celebrating with joy and song helps heal and connect us.
This quote emphasizes the importance of remembering that God’s grace is not just reserved for those who are perfect, but extends to everyone, including those who struggle and experience hardship. It suggests that through the act of singing and rejoicing, one can soften their heart and promote emotional healing and connection with the divine. The call to 'sing' serves as a reminder to embrace joy and gratitude, recognizing that these expressions can foster unity and harmony among believers. Essentially, the quote highlights the transformative power of music and praise in spiritual life.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a worship service, to encourage participation and celebration.
More from Hildegard Of Bingen
All quotes →O, You who are ever giving life to all life, moving all creatures, root of all things, washing them clean, wiping out their mistakes, healing their wounds, You are our true life, luminous, wonderful, awakening the heart from its ancient sleep.
Every creature is a glittering, glistening mirror of Divinity.
The fire has its flame and praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ The wind blows the flame and praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ In the voice we hear the word which praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ And the word, when heard, praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ So all of creation is a song of praise to God.
There is the music of Heaven in all things.
I welcome all creatures of the world with grace.
Similar quotes
My father has been faithful to the calling that God gave him: that is, to preach the Gospel... He has presented Christ to every person that God has put before him.
God tries you in certain, certain ways. Some people are rich, and they believe in God. They lose the money, things get hard, they get weak and quit going to church. Quit serving God like they did.
God will not turn away from doing you good. He will keep on doing good. He doesn't do good to His children sometimes and bad to them other times. He keeps on doing good and He never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages. When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means He is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving Him.
I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools.
The greatest act of faith is that which rises to your lips in total darkness together with the sacrifices, sufferings and wholehearted efforts of a determined will to do good. This act of faith strikes through the darkness of your soul like lightening. In the midst of tempest it raises you up and leads you to God.
Ruthless trust ultimately comes down to this: faith in the person of Jesus and hope in his promise.