Comentators at Mass

[frdad]

Ave Maria all,

Is the use of comentators at Mass approved? If so should they give expanation of the readings? and invite all to introduce themselves?
frdad

 

[Ignatius2000]

Ave Maria all,

Is the use of comentators at Mass approved? If so should they give expanation of the readings? and invite all to introduce themselves?
frdad

Could you provide more information please? There is such a thing as a “Narrated Mass” but it has to be done with the Bishop’s approval and is usually only done in special circumstances (e.g instruction of the faithful after certain norms change, or even papal masses from the Vatican that you may happen to see on EWTN). I’ll have to do some searching in the GIRM and some other documents to provide sources, but there is indeed such a liturgical animal.

My only concern, however, is that you’re not talking about a Narrated Mass, but rather some individual with a valid or invalid liturgical role. Again, provide more information please.

 

[ThuribleGuy45]

Ave Maria all,

Is the use of comentators at Mass approved? If so should they give expanation of the readings? and invite all to introduce themselves?
frdad

By way of a possibly parallel example, we used to have a “Commentator” who spoke BEFORE Mass began, spoke briefly about the Scriptural “theme of the day” drawn from the readings, and invited the “introductions.” This individual left the ambo before the entrance procession and did not have any further role. Not sure if this is what the OP meant. The comments about the scriptural “theme of the day” were similar to comments in the Missalette for each Sunday, but drawn from another source.

 

[stbruno]

I think you are using the term commentator when you mean lector…who does the 1st and 2nd reading of the mass. Yes, lay ministers are commissioned who are trained for this position. It is also in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal. You can read the full documents on the USCCB.org website.

 

[frdad]

These people are not narrators or lectors. They greet the people before the procession, give a explanation of the readings and tell the people to introduce themselves to those around them. They introduce the priest, alter servers and other ministers.

 

[Cristiano]

These people are not narrators or lectors. They greet the people before the procession, give a explanation of the readings and tell the people to introduce themselves to those around them. They introduce the priest, alter servers and other ministers.

Does that happen before Mass starts of after the priest starts the celebration?

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

"105. The following also exercise a liturgical function: …
b. The commentator, who provides the faithful, when appropriate, with brief explanations and commentaries with the purpose of introducing them to the celebration and preparing them to understand it better. The commentator’s remarks must be meticulously prepared and clear though brief. In performing this function the commentator stands in an appropriate place facing the faithful, but not at the ambo.
c. Those who take up the collection in the church.
d. Those who, in some places, meet the faithful at the church entrance, lead them to appropriate places, and direct processions. "

“352. … Since, indeed, a variety of options is provided for the different parts of the Mass, it is necessary for the deacon, the lectors, the psalmist, the cantor, the commentator, and the choir to be completely sure before the celebration which text for which each is responsible is to be used and that nothing be improvised. …”.

“50. … After the greeting of the people, the priest, the deacon, or a lay minister may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day.”

 

[StephenB]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“50. … After the greeting of the people, the priest, the deacon, or a lay minister may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day.”

Thanks for an excellent outline - Since there was NOT a reference to inviting the congregants to greet their neighbor, before mass begins, ought I (or anyone else) infer it should not be done?

 

[Ignatius2000]

Thanks for an excellent outline - Since there was NOT a reference to inviting the congregants to greet their neighbor, before mass begins, ought I (or anyone else) infer it should not be done?

Since Mass has yet to begin, no liturgy is in effect, so, technically, anything is fair game (within reason I hope). The “meet and greet” before mass serves no liturgical function but is done to increase a “sense of community” amongst the members of the congregation. I’ve been to masses where a cantor asks us to stand and greet those around us and then turn to page x in the hymnal and sing. Is there anything wrong with that? No. It is necessary? No. Is it redundant with the sign of peace? I’ll let you decide.

Pax tecum.

 

[StephenB]

…
I’ve been to masses where a cantor asks us to stand and greet those around us and then turn to page x in the hymnal and sing. Is there anything wrong with that? No. It is necessary? No. Is it redundant with the sign of peace? I’ll let you decide.

Pax tecum.

I like the idea of greeting neighbor…here’s why - I came from a large family -and the process to get out the door to church was often not pleasant…many frayed nerves by the time we filled up the pew at church. Taking the few moments to settle hearts and minds among family members before beginning the sacrifice of Mass seems very much in keeping with the gospel edict, “…you determine you have injured your brother, leave offering…make peace, return…etc.” Since I doubt the process has changed much in the past 30 years for families getting out the door to mass, this still holds as a good idea.

Just what I think.

 

[VAC]

Since Mass has yet to begin, no liturgy is in effect, so, technically, anything is fair game (within reason I hope). The “meet and greet” before mass serves no liturgical function but is done to increase a “sense of community” amongst the members of the congregation. I’ve been to masses where a cantor asks us to stand and greet those around us and then turn to page x in the hymnal and sing. Is there anything wrong with that? No. It is necessary? No. Is it redundant with the sign of peace? I’ll let you decide.

Pax tecum.

When our church was new, our priest had everyone stand up, greet their neighbor, then we played a verse of “All are Welcome”
I didn’t think this was inappropriate for a new parish.

Fast forward a few years, new priest, new temp building, music ministry splits up to cover more masses… One choir leader got up every week before mass and asked if anyone was celebrating an anniversary or birthday… then asked them all to greet their neighbors and sing. I refused to do this, (as it was not a direct request of the priest.) I told the director that I was there to be a cantor, not an emcee. A few months later, mercifully, the practice was stopped entirely.

a commentator as described in the previous posts for more special occasions might be acceptable, but not necessary.

 

[Ignatius2000]

Fast forward a few years, new priest, new temp building, music ministry splits up to cover more masses… One choir leader got up every week before mass and asked if anyone was celebrating an anniversary or birthday… then asked them all to greet their neighbors and sing. I refused to do this, (as it was not a direct request of the priest.) I told the director that I was there to be a cantor, not an emcee. A few months later, mercifully, the practice was stopped entirely.

I’ve been to ONE mass like that, and thankfully only one. I wasn’t too keen on standing up in the middle of the church and being singled out and asked to give reason for being a visitor and summarily applauded for taking the time out of my Saturday shopping trip to attend the anticipated mass at their parish. The…interesting events at this parish didn’t stop there. I went to mass at my home parish again the next morning.

a commentator as described in the previous posts for more special occasions might be acceptable, but not necessary.

Yes, I do agree that there is a time and place for a narrated mass. As I mentioned earlier in the thread every Papal mass I’ve seen broadcasted on EWTN have been narrated (man, I can’t stand that British woman’s voice).

Pax tecum

 

[cathyf]

Well, since the eucharist starts as wheat and grapes, it’s hard to see any use for potatoes at all, whether common 'taters or really exotic 'tators.

 

[Ignatius2000]

Well, since the eucharist starts as wheat and grapes, it’s hard to see any use for potatoes at all, whether common 'taters or really exotic 'tators.

Perhaps we should have that added to the GIRM

 

[StephenB]

When our church was new, our priest had everyone stand up, greet their neighbor, then we played a verse of “All are Welcome”
I didn’t think this was inappropriate for a new parish.

Fast forward a few years, new priest, new temp building, music ministry splits up to cover more masses… One choir leader got up every week before mass and asked if anyone was celebrating an anniversary or birthday… then asked them all to greet their neighbors and sing. I refused to do this, (as it was not a direct request of the priest.) I told the director that I was there to be a cantor, not an emcee. A few months later, mercifully, the practice was stopped entirely.

I’m not sure what was merciful about it, but that’s okay.

I don’t have nearly the back ground or understanding of the GIRM, liturgical norms, Motu Prop…whatever, of others who frequent these forums - I have what I guess is a simple faith - there are things that ought to happen at Mass and things that ought not happen at Mass because as his holiness indicated, distortions (or whetever the word is) occur.
What should happen, IMHO, is this - I should be on my knees thanking God and Holy Mother Church for the opportunity to give thanks to my Creator and vehicle (the mass, not my car) within which to do this - and at every opportunity that my soul is in the state of grace it ought to be, receive the precious Body and Blood of my Savior, our Lord, Jesus, the Christ.
If the music is exceptional great, if not, I remember the injunction is to make a joyful noise, if not necessarily harmonious (i had to work hard on this one 'cause my dad has a lead ear, but loved to sing.) If the lector doesn’t pronouce every word exactly correctly, I offer it up as thankful that I didn’t have to pronouce the “Taberinth at Mamre” or “the river Jabbok.” If the homily doesn’t keep me on the edge of my seat, or is just plain terrible, I remember the remark of St. Francis, “these are the hands that bring me Jesus.”
But this is MY time with Jesus, with others who are muddling through life, just like me - and I try very hard to not let the action/inaction of others keep me from that focus. Maybe if I knew more, I’d be bothered more - but maybe this is not what Jesus requires of me just yet.

I am not a contentious person - all you have to go by is what you read hear - rest assured, mispellings aside, it is offered, for what it is worth, in peace.

SB

 

[Ignatius2000]

But this is MY time with Jesus, with others who are muddling through life, just like me - and I try very hard to not let the action/inaction of others keep me from that focus. Maybe if I knew more, I’d be bothered more - but maybe this is not what Jesus requires of me just yet.

I am not a contentious person - all you have to go by is what you read hear - rest assured, mispellings aside, it is offered, for what it is worth, in peace.

SB

:clapping:

That is, in short, the 100% correct answer to the question at hand.

 

[VAC]

I’m not sure what was merciful about it, but that’s okay.

It isn’t incorrect or forbidden, as it is done before mass starts.
It’s just my own opinion, and that of 2 priests and a handful of others. It made a few of us cringe. Had our priest told me to get up before mass, ask who had a birthday or anniversary, or who was there for the first time, then I would have done it.

If the music is exceptional great, if not, I remember the injunction is to make a joyful noise, if not necessarily harmonious (i had to work hard on this one 'cause my dad has a lead ear, but loved to sing.)

 

[John_Lilburne]

StephenB wrote “Since there was NOT a reference to inviting the congregants to greet their neighbor, before mass begins, ought I (or anyone else) infer it should not be done?”

I would not encourage a commentator or priest to direct people to introduce themselves at the start of Mass.

Socially it seems to me inappropriate, “forced community building”.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
"45. … Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner. "

I searched the USA GIRM for “gather” and there are 38 occurences, lots. For example: “113. Great importance should also be attached to a Mass celebrated with any community, but especially with the parish community, inasmuch as it represents the universal Church gathered at a given time and place. This is particularly true in the communal Sunday celebration.”

The desire is for a community, rather than a group of strangers. In gathering people are encouraged to interact. There is a specific ministry of ushers, who greet people.

But I doubt that directing people to introduce themselves at the start of Mass would be helpful in this community building.

 

[cathyf]

I would think that a far more effective form of community building would be socializing after mass, even if it’s just outside on the sidewalk or parking lot. People have a chance to say more than one sentence, chat until they are done with their conversation, kids get a chance to run around a bit with their friends.

When I was in college the chaplain would tell students at meetings and social occasions that they should help be his “eyes and ears” after masses to see if someone that they didn’t know seemed to be kind of lost and alone, and to go up and greet the person and chat for awhile, and if the person turned out to be new, to take them over to the chaplain and introduce them. More than a few of these folks turned out to be Catholics looking to come back to the Church, and sometimes they told us later that getting an enthusiastic welcome from someone who was just paying attention made a huge difference to them. Exchanging nothing more than a “Hi, my name is _____” (all there is time for right before mass) is not exactly an enthusiastic welcome.

 

[frdad]

Thanks all for the comments. It seems that the Church views our churchs as a house of prayer, and not one of gathering and conversation with each other and not God. Little to no silence or time to meditate and prepare for the great event about to take place. There seems to be constant sound before [talking] during [music] and after [again talking]. Does anyone know of anything out of Rome concerning this.