Bread Only & Children's Choir

[spn82756]

I visited a new church this weekend, and it appeared that only bread/hosts were offered for the majority of the congregation. There were several lines for communion… of course they had laity serving in a couple of the lines. I don’t think I’ve been to a mass where only bread was served and not both species?

Also they had a children’s choir that sang a song before the mass which was fine… but then they sang one during the offertory and (to me) it broke the sanctity of the ceremony… they weren’t that good, and you couldn’t hear them… it seemed more like something you’d hear at an elementary school… not in church

On the other hand they chanted the Sanctus and Agnus Dei.

I belong to a parish where the Eucharist is offered under both species. But since the “flu epidemic” they have have only been offering the Body of Christ. That is per the diocese request. I would think we’ll be going back to Body and Blood once this is over.

As far as children singing…well…that’s a topic that is for a whole other thread. I can’t say I like it. But at the same time I don’t like the ballroom sound to the music I have been hearing lately.

 

[preV2tradcath]

Although I attend the EF and only one species is offered, I am a member of the parish that hosts our Mass and frequently check the parish bulletin. At the OF Masses they usually have both species offered. We are one of the dioceses that have requested that it be only one species due to the H1N1 situation. I am sure when the bishop thinks it is safe, the OF will once again offer both species.
Edited to add this update on the situation in Maine.

 

[EasterJoy]

Another reason to not offer both species is that there are an insufficient number of appropriate vessels to offer it in or an insufficient number of even extraordinary ministers to assist the priest. In spite of the extraordinary nature of the participation of laity in the distribution of Holy Communion, it isn’t appropriate to simply pluck a layperson out of the congregation to help, with no time to ascertain if the person has the ability or education to do it.

In terms of choirs, most aren’t perfect and it doesn’t take many members who are totally off to make the experience of listening more penitential than not. As much as we want only excellence in music for Mass, none of us is perfect, either, so we just muddle on. (For some of us, giving thanks that we aren’t made to wear a clip-on microphone ourselves can help! )

 

[benedictgal]

Another reason to not offer both species is that there are an insufficient number of appropriate vessels to offer it in or an insufficient number of even extraordinary ministers to assist the priest. In spite of the extraordinary nature of the participation of laity in the distribution of Holy Communion, it isn’t appropriate to simply pluck a layperson out of the congregation to help, with no time to ascertain if the person has the ability or education to do it.

Redemptionis Sacramentum also offers a very good reason for not offering the Precious Blood to the faithful:

[102.] The chalice should not be ministered to lay members of Christ’s faithful where there is such a large number of communicants189 that it is difficult to gauge the amount of wine for the Eucharist and there is a danger that “more than a reasonable quantity of the Blood of Christ remain to be consumed at the end of the celebration”.190 The same is true wherever access to the chalice would be difficult to arrange, or where such a large amount of wine would be required that its certain provenance and quality could only be known with difficulty, or wherever there is not an adequate number of sacred ministers or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion with proper formation, or where a notable part of the people continues to prefer not to approach the chalice for various reasons, so that the sign of unity would in some sense be negated.

That is why you generally do not see the Precious Blood offered during large-scale Masses.

 

[benedictgal]

So? Can’t children participate in the mass by singing? Does every adult you know who sings sing “well”? And even if they can’t, they are singing for the glory of God, not for YOU!

It’s not so much the children’s choir, but, the music being sung that is of concern. We have a children’s choir at our parish, but the songs chosen for them to sing are horrible. It’s infantile and not at all fitting for the Mass. Of course, that is mainly because we use “Rise Up and Sing” from OCP, not exactly fitting music for the Mass.

Just because they are children, that does not give us the right to cheat them out of the Church’s rich heritage of Sacred Music. Sacred music is easier to sing and the lyrics are rich in expressing the Church’s fundamental beliefs. We do them no favors by giving the kids drek.

 

[pnewton]

Just because they are children, that does not give us the right to cheat them out of the Church’s rich heritage of Sacred Music. Sacred music is easier to sing and the lyrics are rich in expressing the Church’s fundamental beliefs. We do them no favors by giving the kids drek.

True story, dateline 2-26-10. After Stations of the Cross, my son (age 5) met with us, as children attend their own stations. He said they sang Draw Near O Lord for Stations and he loved it. “It’s my favorite,” he said.

Never underestimate children.

 

[EasterJoy]

Redemptionis Sacramentum also offers a very good reason for not offering the Precious Blood to the faithful:

That is why you generally do not see the Precious Blood offered during large-scale Masses.

Yes…well, that is the best reason posted!

There is also the practical problem that the stations for reception at a large scale Mass can be all over the church. It is not uncommon to see a lot of crowding, especially during communion, when a cathedral-sized church is filled to capacity. Even when there are many, many priests available as ordinary ministers, offering both species would complicate the logistics and would put the Precious Blood in too much danger of being jostled.

Besides, the more children present, the more simple the logistics need to be. Estimating how much wine to consecrate would be particularly difficult for a Mass with lots of children, too.

 

[daeve]

My parish’s music director is fond of saying he’d like to have the whole congregation in the choir (he makes an announcement every other week or so trying to get more people to join, since we average about four singers most Masses).

In all seriousness, though, you’re right–not everyone has the same gifts. But there’s a difference between not having a gift and simply needing to develop it. Which is it in this case?

That sounds like our choir. Three people and the guy who plays the recorder showed up Sunday, out of maybe 18 to 20. Some only want to cantor and never sing with the choir (one has actually said we’re not good enough for her to sing with us) and some only want to sing on Christmas Eve and a little bit of Easter week.

I think anyone who wants to sing should be welcome in the choir. You don’t have to sing a solo if you don’t want to (or if you stink) but you can blend with everyone else.

As for one species, it used to be that way everywhere. It’s only in somewhat recent times the congregation has been offered both species. They may have a reason not to offer both, maybe they can only afford both once in a while so they save it for Easter or some other major feast. And I’m not suggesting every Mass isn’t special, just that they may not be able to afford both in that parish. You could ask them if you’re really curious.

 

[Moscati]

That sounds like our choir. Three people and the guy who plays the recorder showed up Sunday, out of maybe 18 to 20. Some only want to cantor and never sing with the choir (one has actually said we’re not good enough for her to sing with us) and some only want to sing on Christmas Eve and a little bit of Easter week.

I think anyone who wants to sing should be welcome in the choir. You don’t have to sing a solo if you don’t want to (or if you stink) but you can blend with everyone else.

I actually just joined ours a few weeks ago, as the poor music director is desperate. We typically have no music at the early mass, a good pianist and a flute player at the morning, and then a classical guitar/violin combo at the late Sunday night Mass.

We have the opposite problem–no one wants to cantor. The music director ends up doing it himself most weeks, unless one of the other singers is feeling really confident.

 

[daeve]

I actually just joined ours a few weeks ago, as the poor music director is desperate. We typically have no music at the early mass, a good pianist and a flute player at the morning, and then a classical guitar/violin combo at the late Sunday night Mass.

We have the opposite problem–no one wants to cantor. The music director ends up doing it himself most weeks, unless one of the other singers is feeling really confident.

I call myself the cantor of last resort. My knees shake and I’m really a nervous wreck, but sometimes I’m all there is. This choir director is new, and he can sing if nobody else is there. I’m wondering who’ll show up tomorrow, beside me and the woman who’ll cantor. One soprano and one alto don’t quite make a choir.

I hope you enjoy your choir experience.