He who sings, prays twice

"He who sings, prays twice" is a Catholic expression derived from the Latin: Qui bene cantat bis orat, lit. 'He who sings well prays twice'. Despite the unclear origins of the modern expression, it has become popular among Christians, and been interpreted and commented on by a number of academic sources.

The expression is often ascribed to fourth-century theologian St. Augustine of Hippo, and until recently was believed to be sourced from his commentary in volume 39 of the Corpus Christianorum Latinorum (CCL). When trying to find the expression's specific Latin phrasing, however, American traditionalist Catholic priest John Zuhlsdorf and others were only able to locate broad reflections relating to singing with praise, meaning the modern phrasing of the expression almost certainly did not come from him. As no known work of St. Augustine contains this exact phrasing, and the earliest known use of the expression dates only to the 16th-century. Nonetheless, the expression has become widely known and used by Catholics modern day, being recited by major figures including Pope Francis and Andrea Bocelli. It has also become the motto or slogan for a number of organizations including St. Michael's Choir School.

Origins

For much of modern history, the expression has been attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo, who himself was greatly inspired by liturgical hymns and music.[1][2] The expression is believed to have been derived from St. Augustine's quote in Latin "Qui bene cantat bis orat", or literally, "He who sings well prays twice".[3] This statement aligns with multiple parts of the Biblical teaching emphasizing music as a part of faith; with the book of Psalms repeatedly stating to "sing to the Lord", and St. Paul in Ephesians 5:19 to "[a]ddress […] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord".[4] Additionally, modern mass guidance in the form of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and General Instruction of the Roman Missal also call for singing in mass, with the former quoting the expression directly.[2][4][5]

Skepticism regarding the origins of the expression were preposed by American traditionalist Catholic priest John Zuhlsdorf in 2006 when trying to find the original Latin text written by St. Augustine.[6] Tracing the expression back to what was cited as its origin in Volume 39 of the Corpus Christianorum Latinorum (CCL), Fr. Zuhlsdorf claimed the closest thing to the expression actually read "Qui enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat", or literally, "For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises joyfully" and that the modern-day expression must've become mistranslated and shortened overtime.[6][7] Others have come to this same conclusion,[8] with another priest named Fr. Horton in 2015 even citing Fr. Zuhlsdorf's research in his own attempts to find the origin of the modern-day expression, likewise believing it did not come from St. Augustine, but was unsuccessful in tracing the exact expression back further than 1554 in Cantiones Evangelicae, a collection of Christian hymns,[9] and the exact expression credited to St. Augustine back further than the 1940s.[10] In 2018, the weekly student newspaper The Collegian credited the expression to Protestant reformer Martin Luther, a different person altogether, but did not provide a source for their claim.[11] As a result of this confusion: some sources referencing the expression use wording along the lines of "attributed to St. Augustine",[3][12] "is supposed to have said"[13] or "the old adage"[14] instead more certain wording, as sources which use it in passing are more concerned with the expression's wisdom than origins.[12][13][15]

Interpretation

When we sing, we use both hemispheres of our brain, whereas when reading or reciting a text, we primarily use the left hemisphere. The music we love and know well also stimulates our bodies and evokes emotions. Therefore, if we pray by singing well, we engage our minds, bodies, and souls. I believe this is why we can consider that in this way we are "praying twice."

Director of the Choir School of Sainte-Thérèse, Steve Dunn, in an article for the Swiss French Catholic magazine L'Essentiel[3]

A number of academic sources have commented their interpretation of the expression. According to the Swiss French Catholic magazine L'Essentiel, the expression encourages the presence of music during mass, and while taking care that it does not replace prayer, should be sung well to truly meet the expression's meaning.[3] The same article went on to encourage both children and adults to regularly sing as part of a choir or through singing lessons to ensure their singing is "well" enough.[3] The Australian Catholic newspaper The Catholic Weekly used the expression as an anaplodiplosis in an article which stressed the importance of singing in mass as a tool which can increase the beauty, reverence, and personal impact of the liturgy.[13] The Christian public charity Corpus Christi Watershed stated the expression can be overused, and oftentimes misemphasizes the outward action of singing, and not the interior spiritual formation which they believed must happen first before the outward action becomes meaningful.[15]

Modern use and variations

Modern day the expression has become widely known and used among Catholics.[15] In January 2024, Pope Francis cited the expression while discussing the benefits of music in combatting the youth mental health crisis.[16] Italian tenor and Catholic Andrea Bocelli cited the expression as in inspiration when singing for the 2020 film Fatima.[17]

In addition to the difference in wording due to translation from Latin, the expression has been adapted into further forms to fit modern needs and ideas. In an article by Caldwell University, the expression was changed to "She who sings once, prays twice" to fit the female-centered theme of the article.[14] In an article by the American Catholic magazine America, the expression was revised to "One who dances, prays three times" to reflect the authors beliefs in regards to worship dance as a part of mass.[18] Another article by the same magazine revised the expression again to "[H]e who makes instrumental music prays at least once!" as a humorous way to describe the creation music for prayer without lyrics which can be sung.[19]

While Catholic sources most often reference the expression, other denominations of Christianity including Anglican[20] and Methodist also refer to it.[21] In terms of official usage, the men's semi-private St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto, Canada, uses the expression as the school motto.[22] The music ministries of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Student Center in Gainesville, Florida,[23] and Gordon United Methodist Church in Gordon, Nebraska, also use the expression as their slogan.[21] The Ohioan folk music group "Strings 'n' Things" first album was also named after the expression.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wald-Fuhrmann, Melanie; Boenneke, Sven; Vroegh, Thijs; Dannecker, Klaus Peter (17 September 2020). ""He Who Sings, Prays Twice"? Singing in Roman Catholic Mass Leads to Spiritual and Social Experiences That Are Predicted by Religious and Musical Attitudes". Frontiers in Psychology. 11 570189. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570189. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 7527438. PMID 33041936.
  2. ^ a b Krishef, David J.B. (23 May 2022). "Ethics and Religion Talk: What Makes Music a Universal Language?". The Rapidian. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dunn, Steve (28 November 2023). "L'importance des chants d'assemblée et de la musique populaire dans la liturgie" [The importance of congregational hymns and popular music in the liturgy]. L'Essentiel (in Swiss French). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b Neumann, Christina (5 September 2016). ""He Who Sings Prays Twice"". Catholic Stand. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  5. ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church. Chicago, IL: Loyola University Press. 1994. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-8294-0772-3.
  6. ^ a b Zuhlsdorf, John (20 February 2006). "St. Augustine: "He who sings prays twice"". Father Z. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  7. ^ Zuhlsdorf, John (19 June 2006). "Who sings well prays twice… Not!". Father Z. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  8. ^ Farias, Juan Carlos (May 2020). "The one who sings prays twice: Planting seeds among the Oaxacan Youth". FAITH Grand Rapids. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  9. ^ Nicolaides, Wenzel (1554). Cantiones Evangelicae: Ad Vsitatas Harmonias, Qvae In Ecclesiis Boemicis Per Totivs Anni Circvlvm Canvntvr, Accommodatae, Praecipva Christi Beneficia Breviter Complectentes [Gospel Songs: Adapted to the Common Harmonies, Which Are Used in Bohemian Churches Throughout the Year Around the Church, Briefly Completing the Special Benefits of Christ] (in Latin). Georg Rhau. Retrieved 2 December 2025 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Fr. Horton (24 February 2015). "Augustine: He who sings prays twice". WordPress. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  11. ^ Grime, S. Nathaniel (29 November 2018). "'He who sings prays twice': Bring back traditional hymns". The Collegian. Retrieved 1 December 2025. "He who sings, prays twice," the Protestant reformer Martin Luther said.
  12. ^ a b Clark, Richard (22 November 2024). "St. Cecilia and hope in sacred song". The Pilot. Retrieved 23 November 2025. There is a saying attributed to St. Augustine: "He who sings once, prays twice." There is great wisdom in this, regardless of its origin.
  13. ^ a b c Rosengren, Peter (13 March 2017). "Editorial: the state of music in Catholic parishes is an urgent issue". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Student Chorale Members Interview Sisters of St. Dominic". Caldwell University. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Tappan, Lucas (31 August 2018). "New Catholic Choral School…in Detroit!". Corpus Christi Watershed. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  16. ^ McLellan, Justin (2 January 2024). "Music touches the hearts of young 'prisoners of anxiety,' pope says". The Catholic Review. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  17. ^ Pattison, Mark (27 August 2020). "Famed Italian tenor sings two songs in new 'Fatima' movie". The Catholic Review. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  18. ^ Christiansen, Drew (26 March 2013). "To Pray Three Times". America. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  19. ^ Salai, Sean (30 December 2020). "Where is God in classical music? Start by looking for the good, the true and the beautiful". America. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  20. ^ Nicolosi, Gary (27 June 2011). "The Power of Music". Anglican Journal. Retrieved 1 December 2025. There is power in music, isn't there? St. Augustine preached, "He who sings prays twice."
  21. ^ a b "Memorial for Kathy". The Gordon Journal. Vol. 83, no. 40. Gordon, Nebraska. 3 October 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Student Handbook 2023-2024" (PDF). St. Michael's Choir School. 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  23. ^ "About Music Ministry". Saint Augustine Catholic Church and Student Center. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  24. ^ White, Mary Linn (12 September 1975). "Folk group brings out first album". The Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 27. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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