Communion Song

[nerddad]

Friends,
I remember there was a thread not long ago concerning the Communion song sung in many parishes, and the alternative Communion Antiphon which is read by the priest.

Our bulletin has been including a series titled, “Three Minute Liturgical Catechesis” . This weeks installment was “Article #25, Expressing our Communion”. (c) 2004 by Lawrence E. Mick

I see no references to the GRIM in the article and wonder about some of the statements.
Here is one quote that I personally find hard to comply with:

When the procession is finished, the singing stops and we
all sit together for some time of silent prayer. This is also a
shared activity, a time to rest and pray together in the joy of
our communion with Christ and one another. Many of us are
used to time for quiet prayer as soon as we have received
Communion. The liturgy simply calls us to wait until all have
received so that we can share this quiet time together.

I’m afraid that if this is in the Rubics, then many won’t do it, so maybe it would be better if the priest read the Antiphon and there was no singing.
BTW, our diocese Cathedral does it just the opposite, music is played but no singing until after the procession is over.

What is the Liturgical norm? What does your parish do?
Why is it wrong to Thank Jesus personally after recieving him?
This really goes against years of teaching IMHO.

 

[benedictgal]

Friends,
I remember there was a thread not long ago concerning the Communion song sung in many parishes, and the alternative Communion Antiphon which is read by the priest.

Our bulletin has been including a series titled, “Three Minute Liturgical Catechesis” . This weeks installment was “Article #25, Expressing our Communion”. (c) 2004 by Lawrence E. Mick

I see no references to the GRIM in the article and wonder about some of the statements.
Here is one quote that I personally find hard to comply with:

I’m afraid that if this is in the Rubics, then many won’t do it, so maybe it would be better if the priest read the Antiphon and there was no singing.
BTW, our diocese Cathedral does it just the opposite, music is played but no singing until after the procession is over.

What is the Liturgical norm? What does your parish do?
Why is it wrong to Thank Jesus personally after recieving him?
This really goes against years of teaching IMHO.

During daily Mass, my PV reictes the Communion antiphon. He started suing the antiphons two years ago, partly because he was tired (as many of us are) of people singing “Peascador de Hombres” every day during Communion (it’s not even a communion song). Now, when the Communion antiphon is recited, you don’t sing a Communion hymn. It’s one or the other.

Here is the reference from the GIRM:

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above. This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.

If there is no singing, however, the Communion antiphon found in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.

The diocesan director of Divine Worship also employs the Communion Antiphon when he celebrates Mass at the Cathedral (and when he subs at our parish).

 

[NPC]

The quote you have given certainly seems a bit strange to me. Of course Communion is not only about oneself and Christ - it is a celebration of unity with those around us who have received Holy Communion (and indeed those throughout the world) and unity with those who for whatever reason cannot receive the Eucharist. “The liturgy simply calls us to wait until all have received…” seems to suggest that one should not offer thanksgiving to God until the distribution of Holy Communion is completed. If this is indeed what Fr. Lawrence E. Mick is saying, it seems to me at least to be very contrary to the norm. I understand what he says about us praying as a community after Communion, but I don’t think one could be forbidden from praying whenever one wishes to pray - what could be wrong with thanking Jesus personally? After all, it is just that - personal. It involves no one other than yourself and Christ. In the same article, Fr. Mick says that Communion is never private, though it is personal - this seems to be a slight contradiction, though I expect there is a subtle difference. He says that if we regard Communion as private then we ignore the fact that Christ gave us the Eucharist so as we could be one body in Him. However, as I see it, the communicant has just received the Body of Christ, the greatest gift of all, and it seems ridiculous to me to suggest that there cannot be an amount of private thanksgiving from the individual to Christ for this gift. Maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick here, but to ask that communicants wait until all have received before offering thanks seems as ridiculous as asking a person not to think or breathe!

(By the way, the complete 3-minute catechesis by Fr Mick is online at www.catholiccincinnati.org )

In my cathedral parish, at Communion-time the priest first reads the Antiphon, after which the choir sings a motet or two (depending on how many are receiving). As the priest purifies the vessels, we may have some quiet organ music. At any rate the priest normally sits for a few moments in silence when he has finished purifying the vessels.

 

[Phemie]

Lawrence Mick’s take on things is a common theme among liturgists, and if you read the GIRM it says to stand until everyone has received, but Rome has already spoken on the matter and said that people can kneel or sit to pray privately when they come back from Communion

As for the Communion Hymn it’s supposed to start when the priest receives Communion and continue while all receive. It can be sung by the choir alone. If there is a hymn AFTER Communion, it is to be congregational (IOW, it’s not the time for a meditation piece sung only by the choir).

 

[Joannm]

As for the Communion Hymn it’s supposed to start when the priest receives Communion and continue while all receive. It can be sung by the choir alone. If there is a hymn AFTER Communion, it is to be congregational (IOW, it’s not the time for a meditation piece sung only by the choir).

I think you have that reversed. The hymn after communion can replace the silent time or be part of it and would be sung by the choir alone. During communion there should be a congregational hymn which signifies the unity of those coming forth to receive communion as one Body of CHrist.

 

[Phemie]

I think you have that reversed. The hymn after communion can replace the silent time or be part of it and would be sung by the choir alone. During communion there should be a congregational hymn which signifies the unity of those coming forth to receive communion as one Body of CHrist.

Nope, not according to the GIRM. The Communion hymn can be sung by the congregation, by the choir and congregation in turn or by the choir alone. If a hymn is sung after Communion it is to be sung by the congregation.

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above. **This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.
   **

1. When the distribution of Communion is finished, as circumstances suggest, the priest and faithful spend some time praying privately. If desired, a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may also be sung by the entire congregation.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Regarding the quoted text in the first post:
“When the procession is finished, the singing stops and we
all sit together for some time of silent prayer. This is also a
shared activity, a time to rest and pray together in the joy of
our communion with Christ and one another. Many of us are
used to time for quiet prayer as soon as we have received
Communion. The liturgy simply calls us to wait until all have
received so that we can share this quiet time together.”

The 1984 Ceremonial of Bishops directs sitting, for the Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop:
“166 When the bishop returns to the chair after the communion, he puts on the skullcap and, if need be, washes his hands. All are seated and a period of prayerful silence may follow, or a song of praise or a psalm may be sung.”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 60).

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“112. … At a Mass celebrated by the Bishop or at which he presides without celebrating the Eucharist, the norms found in the Caeremoniale Episcoporum should be observed.[footnote 92: Cf. Caeremoniale Episcoporum, editio typica, 1984, nos. 119-186.]”

I do not recall ever seeing a priest kneeling during the period of silence after Communion. If priests do not think they should kneel, but sit, then an argument for everyone sitting can be made from GIRM n. 42: “A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.”

The GIRM text on posture is in n. 43: “and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.”

It is difficult to understand how the “period of sacred silence” can be when people are singing, or even when the priest is saying “The Body of Christ”. So I agree with the approach of everyone standing during Communion.