Can We Get Catholics to Sing?

[TrueLight]

That may not work very well as people may still be singing some non-Mass hymn when the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar are said. At our parish, the Introit is chanted by the choir during the processional. It leads into the Mass perfectly.

The recessional hymn, no problem, unless the Last Gospel becomes the recessional prayer of the priest (as it once was).

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on one’s viewpoint) that doesn’t leave much window for any hymns to be sung by the congregation during the EF.

Is the Salve Regina a required processional hymn? I’m thinking it is used as a way to honor Mary right after the mass, sort of like the Hail Mary at the end of the low mass?

 

[amlcssr]

If there is one thing about the EF I would change , it is the incorporation of more hymns, maybe at the processional.
…
When are Catholics supposed to learn the hymns that are in our tradition?

I have attended EF Masses where an English language hymn was sung during the processional and then another sung during recessional.

A great opportunity to sing hymns is during long outdoor processions. Unfoftunately those are almost nonexistent these days.

 

[TrueLight]

I have attended EF Masses where an English language hymn was sung during the processional and then another sung during recessional.

Awesome!

I guess I have to agree with ProVobis in terms of the processional hymn. I guess it would sort of distract from the prayers at the foot of the altar.

 

[ProVobis]

Is the Salve Regina a required processional hymn? I’m thinking it is used as a way to honor Mary right after the mass, sort of like the Hail Mary at the end of the low mass?

It’s not required but it works better IMO if the priest starts the singing ad orientem. Then people follow just like at the end of low mass.

 

[Eugenius]

No that’s not the way it is supposed to be. Hymns are supposed to reflect the liturgical year so in advent a hymn like Lo He comes with Clouds descending or Come thou long expected Jesus would be appropriate. Also they can be picked depending on the position in the liturgy: for example Sweet Sacrament Divine makes a perfect post-communion hymn.

The problem in Catholic churches is that hymn selection is often done so thoughtlessly that people rightly wonder what relevance the hymn has.

These are good examples. I take it that the Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Kyrie (when sung) are not being replaced by hymns. From what I’m reading here hymns are being sung during the Processional, Communion and Processional.

 

[liturgyluver]

These are good examples. I take it that the Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Kyrie (when sung) are not being replaced by hymns. From what I’m reading here hymns are being sung during the Processional, Communion and Processional.

Yes absolutely. The ordinaries of the mass MUST always be sung (or said) at their appropriate parts in the liturgy. Hymns are sung at processional, post-communion and recessional (and sometimes at the Offertory.)