As children of God, we are a musical people. From the first moments of our lives, we perceive the world around us through music. We are comforted by the steady beat of our mother’s heart and the constant rush of life-giving fluids through the placenta. As we grow, our mother’s voice and the music she listens to become our comfort. When we join the outside world, it is music that soothes us.
It is said that a song is a prayer twice prayed. Perhaps that is why there is a complete book in the Bible that was intended for song. King David sang to God when he prayed. He prayed in thanksgiving for the Lord’s protection and for victory over the enemies of Israel. He prayed in petition for God to deliver him from his enemies and restore Israel to glory. He offered praise and adoration. He offered laments. He sang songs from his heart. Wherever he was in his journey to God, he prayed from there.
The Church offers varieties of prayer that we, too, may pray from wherever we are and truly give our load the Christ and take on His, for His burden is light. There is charismatic prayer for those whose prayer simply cannot be contained. There is contemplative prayer for those whose words are only for the Lord. In these and every form in between, there is music. There is a method to sing a new song to the Lord.
Cor Sanctum’s style has incorporated each of these aspects of prayer. If you are angry, and you don’t know where God is, Cor Sanctum has a song for you to draw you closer to Him. If you are sad and lonely, Cor Sanctum has a song for you to show you that you are not alone. If you are so in love with the Lord that you can scarcely contain yourself, Cor Sanctum has a song to lead you further on the path to holiness.
The reason for this is Stephen M. Tefft, songwriter and founder of Cor Sanctum, sought to write songs with universal appeal. He studied the human condition, and he found that there were three important themes to be addressed in music: we are a fallen people, God loves us anyway, and we have a responsibility to act on that love. He wrote from Scripture, the writings of saints, and the letters of the Holy Fathers. He made a spiritual exercise of parring down complex theological concepts into songs the common person could not only comprehend, but also internalize. He designed his music to lead others to the Lord, to help deepen their prayer life, and ultimately to help them open themselves to God’s love.
To say Cor Sanctum is a “praise” band is a limiting statement. They lead retreats and sing Mass-worthy hymns for the contemplatives, they perform toe-tapping music for holy hours and concerts for the charismatics, and with nearly 1000 songs to Stephen’s writing credit, wherever you are on the path, he has a song for you.
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