GIRM question

[AJV]

For many years (and continuing) at my previous parish, the Entrance Antiphon was recited by the priest after he entered with the servers at weekday Masses. This is was done after announcing the Mass intention, and before the sign of the cross.

Now the GIRM before 2000 indicated that if the *priest *was to recite the antiphon, it was to be after the salutation, not before. The GIRM after 2000 ha replaced that with:

If there is no singing at the entrance, the antiphon in the Missal is recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector; otherwise, it is recited by the priest himself, who may (potest) even adapt it as an introductory explanation (cf. above, no. 31).

Does the fact that the possibility of it being adapted as part of the monition mean that it should normally come after the salutation. i.e. is the statement saying:

The entrance antiphon should be recited after the salutation, where it may also be adapted and joined with the monition that the priest has the option to give at that point

OR

The entrance antiphon may be recited by the priest after he enters- if he wishes to he may postpone it and adapt it to use with the monition

There is one other thing: in the 2002 GIRM, the effort was made to eliminate distinctions, as far as possible, between the Mass with only one person participating, and the other forms of Masses. In that, the priest reads the Entrance antiphon before the sign of the cross – however, this order goes not explicitly provide for a *monition *by the priest

 

[Claire_from_DE]

IMHO it seems to indicate that the antiphon replaces the entrance song. It should be recited by all (usual practice) but may also be recited by a lector or the priest (equally allowed). Since this happens at (during) the entrance of the priest, it precedes the salutation, which takes place after the priest has entered. I’m no liturgy expert but this seems what the rubrics indicate.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The 1975 Order of Mass has: “After the people have assembled, the priest and the ministers go to the altar while the entrance song is being sung. … After the entrance song, the priest and the faithful remain standing and make the sign of the cross …”.
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 357).

The 2002 Roman Missal’s Order of Mass seems to have the same: “Cantu ad introitum absoluto, sacerdos et fideles, stantes, signant se signo crucis …”. (Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 503.)

Similarly in the 2002 GIRM:
“50. When the Entrance chant is concluded, the priest stands at the chair and, together with the
whole gathering, makes the Sign of the Cross. Then he signifies the presence of the Lord to the
community gathered there by means of the Greeting. By this Greeting and the people’s response,
the mystery of the Church gathered together is made manifest.
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.”

So the idea of announcing Mass intentions after the entrance procession, before the Sign of the Cross seems wrong to me. The Sign of the Cross should be first.

I see the permission “may even adapt it as an introductory explanation” as an option, but not particularly encouraged.