Lift Your Voices, Raise Your Hearts

Consumers Union, of all organizations, just says Yes to church singing. Well, in its own thoroughly secular and unshakably objective way, anyway. The July edition of the Consumer Reports on Health newsletter reports that, “whether it’s in a gospel choir” or in any other sort of symphonic vocal group, “several small studies suggest that participating in choral singing may reduce stress, improve mood and increase lung function.” Such singing, it adds, “may also boost immunity.” Considered in light of other recent studies showing a positive correlation between prayer and health, the CU item makes for an effective, if unintentional, amplification of an oft-quoted axiom: “He who sings prays twice.”