Daily Mass Singing the Gospel

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Domer37

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We have a new priest who sings the Gospel at daily mass . Is their any issue with that?
 
There should be no issue with that. But like the other poster said, he is probably chanting it. Hope he has a decent voice! 🙂

We have a visiting priest who chanted the entire Sunday Mass, but no one can understand him.
 
Domer37 said:
We have a new priest who sings the Gospel at daily mass . Is their any issue with that?
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No, it is okay. The General Introduction to the Lectionary provides:
14. A speaking style on the part of the readers that is audible, clear, and intelligent is the first means of transmitting the word of God properly to the congregation. The readings, taken from the approved editions, may be sung in a way suited to different languages. This singing, however, must serve to bring out the sense of the words, not obscure them. On occasions when the readings are in Latin, the manner given in the Ordo cantus Missae is to be maintained.
That said, it’s definitely unusual and, done as you describe at a daily Mass, it’s not in keeping with the customary notion of sung readings marking the highest degree of solemnity at Mass.
 
ProVobis said:
In this context, is there a difference?
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Well the tone will be different depending on the language. At the Benedictine abbey where I attend Mass on Sundays and occasionally on weekdays, the Gospel (and for that matter the other readings too, though the tone for the Gospel is different) is always chanted.
 
Not chanted. Sung and parts of homily he will break out in song as well??? Unusual ???
 
Domer37 said:
Not chanted. Sung and parts of homily he will break out in song as well??? Unusual ???
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Wait, does he get out his guitar and start singing songs with the congregation?? My parish’s deacon does this during his homilies. I abhor it.

How would you describe the singing? Like normal singing or like Gregorian Chant?
 
MarkThompson said:
That said, it’s definitely unusual and, done as you describe at a daily Mass, it’s not in keeping with the customary notion of sung readings marking the highest degree of solemnity at Mass.
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At our abbey, they mark the degree of solemnity by other means such as incense, the use of the organ music, and of course the usual things like the Gloria for feasts, etc. But the readings are always chanted. Some of the chanted parts of the Mass though, are on simpler tones during regular weekdays.

In one abbey I’ve been to, in fact the mother abbey of our abbey (St. Wandrille in France), the weekday Mass is entirely in Latin (OF). Only on Sundays is it in French with Latin propers and ordinary, and that’s because on Sundays there are many more of the local faithful in attendance.
 
TheMc said:
Probably something like this, but possibly in another language:

Sung Gospel
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As long as we’re on the topic, could someone tell me the theology behind singing the gospel? While I have to admit it does sound more reverent and solemn and this voice is nice, listening to it sure is different than following the spoken word with its faster speed and accents and other inflections we are are commonly used to, especially in the English. Since the gospel is probably the most important reading of the day, shouldn’t it be important that its reading is delivered with utmost clarity? Singing many times seems to dilute that clarity; how many go looking for lyrics of a song because they can’t figure it out, for example? And not everyone can sing as well as in your example. The sung Latin gospel seems to be less of a problem as the gospel is normally repeated in the spoken English.

Just asking.
 
ProVobis said:
As long as we’re on the topic, could someone tell me the theology behind singing the gospel? While I have to admit it does sound more reverent and solemn and this voice is nice, listening to it sure is different than following the spoken word with its faster speed and accents and other inflections we are are commonly used to, especially in the English. Since the gospel is probably the most important reading of the day, shouldn’t it be important that its reading is delivered with utmost clarity? Singing many times seems to dilute that clarity; how many go looking for lyrics of a song because they can’t figure it out, for example? And not everyone can sing as well as in your example. The sung Latin gospel seems to be less of a problem as the gospel is normally repeated in the spoken English.

Just asking.
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I’m not aware if there’s an actual theology behind singing the Gospel, other than it is one of the more solemn moments in the Mass, often accompanied by candles and incense, and like any solemn moment it is sung or accompanied by singing to show the solemnity of the moment.

If the Gospel can’t be understood when sung then it’s not being sung correctly. The tones for singing the readings, even the most solemn or fancy ones, are not so elaborate that they would distort the meaning. As long as the person chanting has good diction they would be understood whatever the language.

Singing the readings originally had really practical benefits. It carries the voice farther and helped people hear and understand in the days before speakers and amplifiers.

p.s. it’s important to remember that originally the Mass was meant to be sung. It was the spoken Mass that came after. We shouldn’t be asking why are we singing the Mass. We should be asking why *aren’t *we singing it.
 
ProVobis said:
As long as we’re on the topic, could someone tell me the theology behind singing the gospel? While I have to admit it does sound more reverent and solemn and this voice is nice, listening to it sure is different than following the spoken word with its faster speed and accents and other inflections we are are commonly used to, especially in the English. Since the gospel is probably the most important reading of the day, shouldn’t it be important that its reading is delivered with utmost clarity? Singing many times seems to dilute that clarity; how many go looking for lyrics of a song because they can’t figure it out, for example? And not everyone can sing as well as in your example. The sung Latin gospel seems to be less of a problem as the gospel is normally repeated in the spoken English.

Just asking.
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Well just to be clear in the abbey the Gospel isn’t sung, it is chanted. In chant, emphasis is on the words, not the melody. The melody supports the word, especially in Latin where the melody enhances the Latin accentuation. The melody should not bury the word. Now, the skills of the one chanting can vary but well-chanted, by a skilled priest or deacon, and the words will be very clear.

That said, the Gospel was never meant to be read. The Gospel is meant to be proclaimed. That’s an important distinction.
 
Tepeyac said:
p.s. it’s important to remember that originally the Mass was meant to be sung.
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But that was when it was sung in Latin and most didn’t/don’t follow it the same way they do their native tongues. Latin has its own character as there are very few, if any, silent letters, and actually easier to chant than recite. On the other hand, how many could follow the English in the extended chant (many notes per syllable) mode? (The recent royal wedding provided examples of such Anglican chant.)
OraLabora said:
That said, the Gospel was never meant to be read. The Gospel is meant to be proclaimed. That’s an important distinction.
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Agreed. 👍
 
I believe the chanted lessons are taken from our Jewish liturgical patrimony (with a Christian twist, obviously, in the case of the NT). I’m always open to correction, though.
 
stephraim said:
I believe the chanted lessons are taken from our Jewish liturgical patrimony (with a Christian twist, obviously, in the case of the NT). I’m always open to correction, though.
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Right. It is the ancient custom of the Church, both East and West, to sing all parts of the liturgy that are not whispered by the priest. This includes the other readings, as well. In practice, this has become an infrequent practice, which I find sad. In is completely unrelated to which language is used.
 
ProVobis said:
But that was when it was sung in Latin and most didn’t/don’t follow it the same way they do their native tongues. Latin has its own character as there are very few, if any, silent letters, and actually easier to chant than recite. On the other hand, how many could follow the English in the extended chant (many notes per syllable) mode? (The recent royal wedding provided examples of such Anglican chant.)
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I don’t know if you listened to the samples posted by TheMc above but if you didn’t hear them here they are again, please listen: Sung Gospel , Sung Epistle , Sung Old Testament Reading , (all from CC Watershed’s Singing the Readings at Mass Page ). If you listen to the Gospel clip, it’s clear and easy to understand, with only a few extended notes at the end of certain phrases.

It doesn’t matter what language it’s in. Any language can be easy or difficult to understand depending on how it’s sung. Like other have pointed out, chanting was done in the temple and the synagogue, and it’s been done in Hebrew, Greek, Slavonic and lots of other languages.

Here are a couple of more examples of singing the Gospel in English, from Youtube. Please take a listen:

At the Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium

The Gospel for Christmas Midnight Mass

Again, the chants don’t have that many notes per syllable. Most of the time it’s sung on the reciting tone (i.e. a principle, single note) occasionally going up or down and sometimes a few extra notes at the end of phrases.

If you’d like to hear a chant in English that really is elaborate and has very many notes per syllable, then listen to the following example, one I think is still clear and understandable despite the many notes:

May the Lord Send You Help
(Mittat Vobis)
Alleluia Verse from the Wedding Mass
 
Tepeyac said:
It doesn’t matter what language it’s in. Any language can be easy or difficult to understand depending on how it’s sung. Like other have pointed out, chanting was done in the temple and the synagogue, and it’s been done in Hebrew, Greek, Slavonic and lots of other languages.
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I have nothing against English, in fact, I received an Excellence in English award in high school (even though it’s not my first language), but English just doesn’t work in chant for me no matter who sings it, thanks. I’m glad you recognize the beauty in Hebrew, Greek, and Slavonic tongues, though. I’m always happy to see people appreciating music and hear Masses other than in English. 👍
 
I suspect that a major reason for chanting or singing much of the liturgy is simply that in the days before artificial amplification, it allowed the reader to project his voice very efficiently.
 
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