How much is too much silence between readings?

[kinderbueno]

Hi all,

I just wanted to throw this out there – as it seems the GIRM isn’t too specific (as it assumes we have common sense when it comes to such things ). # 56 states, “…It may be appropriate to observe such periods of silence, for example, before the Liturgy of the Word itself begins, after the first and second reading, and lastly at the conclusion of the homily.”

Our liturgist (I know, I know…save it for a different thread!) is now having those who read insert an exaggerated pause between readings – I think I counted upwards of 90 seconds between the first reading and the psalm. IMO, the readings were not rushed to begin with, I’d say it naturally averaged between 15-20 seconds silence between already. I think it takes away from the natural rhythm of the mass (much less giving my mind time to wander ), and it just seemed like the next of many things this liturgist is implementing to justify his existence.

What do you think?

(Please keep on topic because my last thread was closed because it became a free-for-all rant on the idea of liturgists.)

 

[love4mary]

The standard length of silence at my parish is the length of the Hail Mary.

 

[Sarabande]

Personally, I think 90 seconds is a bit too long of a pause. You are probably right that it could take away from the flow of the mass, unless the congregation is used to praying and reflecting long periods of time between the readings.

In my parish, I usually serve as a cantor. The previous pastor had asked us to count 20 seconds in between the readings, psalm and Gospel Acclamation. It gives just the right amount of time to let the reading and psalm sink in without rushing. It also gives me time to say a quick prayer before I begin to sing. So, I do that whereever and whenever I cantor.

 

[rpp]

The standard length of silence at my parish is the length of the Hail Mary.

I think that may a bit short, especially after the homily. A person needs time to consider and reflect on what has been said (or read) while it is still fresh in their mind.

The priest where I attend daily Mass usually pauses for 2 to 3 minutes after the homily. This has been overly long at times, other times, I was just getting the juices going and lost the thread of thought by the time Mass ended. I should add that I attend daily Mass at a convent chapel, so most of the people there are nuns.

 

[catholic79]

We wait between about 2 minutes before each reading. I don’t mind that things aren’t rushed but it seams like we are just sitting and waiting for someone to get up and read. The 1st mass I saw this in I really thought that someone had forgotten they were supposed to do the readings, but it is like this at every mass and not just at one parish so I am wondering if it is a diocese decision. And if it is a diocese wide decision it will just be one more thing to add to my list of why’s, We can spend 5 or so minutes waiting for the readings but we don’t kneel between the Agnus Dei and communion because that takes up to much time.

 

[Sarabande]

I think that may a bit short, especially after the homily. A person needs time to consider and reflect on what has been said (or read) while it is still fresh in their mind.

The priest where I attend daily Mass usually pauses for 2 to 3 minutes after the homily.

Actually, I don’t mind waiting a few minutes after the homily. I like the longer pause there. Our priests do that often in our parish. But I think 20-30 seconds in between readings and psalm are just about right and enough time to reflect without losing focus.

 

[jkarp]

In my parish, I usually serve as a cantor. The previous pastor had asked us to count 20 seconds in between the readings, psalm and Gospel Acclamation. It gives just the right amount of time to let the reading and psalm sink in without rushing. It also gives me time to say a quick prayer before I begin to sing. So, I do that whereever and whenever I cantor.

There really is not supposed to be a pause between the Responsorial Psalm and the Second Reading (or Gospel Acclamation). The period of silence after the readings are intended to give the faithful a chance to reflect upon the Word.

On a practical note, as an organist / cantor myself, I find that if I wait an extended amount of time before beginning the psalm after the first reading, everyone is staring at me, waiting - it’s a bit unnerving.

 

[Sarabande]

There really is not supposed to be a pause between the Responsorial Psalm and the Second Reading (or Gospel Acclamation). The period of silence after the readings are intended to give the faithful a chance to reflect upon the Word.

On a practical note, as an organist / cantor myself, I find that if I wait an extended amount of time before beginning the psalm after the first reading, everyone is staring at me, waiting - it’s a bit unnerving.

The way the seats are situated in the sanctuary of our chapel, most people can’t see me, but I totally know what you mean. I LOVE it when I can sing from the choir loft during funerals and weddings so that no one can focus on me. When I cantor in the Cathedral, I sit in the choir stalls situated in the sanctuary. The place is so big, I’m like a little dot up there, so I don’t feel too exposed until I stand up. That is still unnerving for me after a few years of singing there. For the psalm, I have to walk through the wooden screens to the side chapel and over to the ambo with the lector prior to the 1st reading. There I stand where no one can see me, unless they are sitting on the very edge of the side pews.

For in the chapel, it takes almost exactly 20 seconds for the reader to walk back to his/her seat and for me to get to the ambo and say my prayer before singing. In the Cathedral, it also takes exactly 20 seconds for the lector to walk down the stairs of the ambo and for me to walk up the stairs to chant the psalm. After the second reading, though, I have to go back through the screens and into the main part of the sactuary to chant the Gospel Acclamation. That takes about 20-30 seconds after reverencing the tabernacle and walking up to chant the Gospel acc. So there really isn’t any “awkward” silences. It doesn’t feel rushed and gives everyone a chance to reflect on the readings.

I know that the psalm is chanted/sung, but even though it is set to music, isn’t it still considered part of the Word? Perhaps I’m mistaken with this. Whenever I’m not cantoring, I do reflect upon the words of the psalm after it is sung. (If I’m cantoring, I’ve gone through it enough times to reflect upon it prior.) The music just brings about more expression of the Word without being overdramatic. (I’ve experienced lectors who put on fake British accents. Truly, I’m not lying and this went on for years until someone finally asked this women to not overdo it. She apparently attended elocution lessons, but she never spoke that way outside of being a lector. hahaha!)

 

[jkarp]

The way the seats are situated in the sanctuary of our chapel, most people can’t see me, but I totally know what you mean.

Lucky!!!

I know that the psalm is chanted/sung, but even though it is set to music, isn’t it still considered part of the Word? Perhaps I’m mistaken with this. Whenever I’m not cantoring, I do reflect upon the words of the psalm after it is sung. (If I’m cantoring, I’ve gone through it enough times to reflect upon it prior.) The music just brings about more expression of the Word without being overdramatic.

I definitely agree that song allows the Word to speak at an entirely new level. I would only respond by saying that in their most solemn form, the readings can be chanted as well (e.g. Christmas Midnight Mass at the Vatican).

(I’ve experienced lectors who put on fake British accents. Truly, I’m not lying and this went on for years until someone finally asked this women to not overdo it. She apparently attended elocution lessons, but she never spoke that way outside of being a lector. hahaha!)

All I can say is, wow.

 

[Sarabande]

I definitely agree that song allows the Word to speak at an entirely new level. I would only respond by saying that in their most solemn form, the readings can be chanted as well (e.g. Christmas Midnight Mass at the Vatican).

Oh, yes, most definitely! I forgot about that. For all of our major masses in the Cathedral, such as Midnight Mass, they are almost always chanted by one of our seminarians. It is so beautiful and extremely “solemn”. Yes, the mass usually takes literally about two hours, but it is just so spiritually beautiful.

 

[Guitar]

Actually, I don’t mind waiting a few minutes after the homily. I like the longer pause there. Our priests do that often in our parish. But I think 20-30 seconds in between readings and psalm are just about right and enough time to reflect without losing focus.

That seems about right to me as well, maybe even a leedle bit less in a church (like mine) where nobody has any great distance to walk. I don’t think protracted silences do very much other than make people roll their eyes at the realisation that “reflection after the readings” must be the thought police re-educate-the-masses project target this month. Things do have a natural rhythm and a silence that disrupts that is a distraction.

I tend to have the other problem … next review meeting we have I am going to ask everybody - priests, commentators, readers, lectors, EVERYBODY - would they mind just letting the final chord of the psalm/alleluia/hymn/part of the Mass/whatever stop sounding and then at least pause for breath before leaping in? I find it terribly distracting to have someone talking over the PA the absolute millisecond you stop if not 10 milliseconds before. For some reason, lots of people are now doing it at our place.

 

[kinderbueno]

…well, as I said in my original post – there’s something of a natural pause between our readings without this extra time, simply from the distance people have to walk. To have someone stay seated for an extended time period does seem contrived and like someone forgot it was his/her turn to do something!

I’m just wondering if there is anything outside of GIRM # 56 that I can appeal to in order to plead the case of keeping the “rhythm” between readings, given that there’s already a built-in 20 second pause.

(yes, our priests do pause a bit after the homily – at least 30 seconds to a minute)

 

[quiet52]

There really is not supposed to be a pause between the Responsorial Psalm and the Second Reading (or Gospel Acclamation).

Yep, no need to pause after the Responsorial Psalm, because chanting is slower than reading/listening – so we reflect while it’s being done.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

If the celbrant nods off, the pause is too long.

 

[puzzleannie]

standard here is at least 5 slow deep breaths in and out

 

[rpp]

standard here is at least 5 slow deep breaths in and out

If that between readings at Mass or before posting on certain threads here?

 

[SeekerJen]

I’m a cantor as well, and the music director has instructed us to wait in our seats until the reader returns to his or her seat after the first reading before getting up from our seat to walk to the ambo for the responsorial psalm. It’s a very natural spacing of the liturgy and seems to work well. Generally as I’m sitting down after the psalm the reader is getting up again for the second reading. We always wait for the priest to stand before beginning the Gospel acclamation.

I’ve never had to deal with a liturgist so I don’t have any suggestions, other than appealing to the idea that the scripture readings, psalm, Gospel reading, and homily are intended to go together, and perhaps rather than forcing pauses into awkward spots, we should encourage reflection on the whole after the homily.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

To answer the original question:

No, there is nowhere that specifies the length exactly, only what you quoted.

Most people wouldn’t consider 90 seconds to be unreasonable, even if it does seem a bit long for you.

Your liturgist is trying to add solemnity and beauty to the liturgy (as well as comply with documents).

It seems as though many here will never be happy.

 

[kinderbueno]

I’m a cantor as well, and the music director has instructed us to wait in our seats until the reader returns to his or her seat after the first reading before getting up from our seat to walk to the ambo for the responsorial psalm. It’s a very natural spacing of the liturgy and seems to work well. Generally as I’m sitting down after the psalm the reader is getting up again for the second reading. We always wait for the priest to stand before beginning the Gospel acclamation.

I’ve never had to deal with a liturgist so I don’t have any suggestions, other than appealing to the idea that the scripture readings, psalm, Gospel reading, and homily are intended to go together, and perhaps rather than forcing pauses into awkward spots, we should encourage reflection on the whole after the homily.

Yes, I like that and it still allows for a built-in pause! I think that’s how it was before this abuse…uh…change was made . When I say exaggerated pause, our cantor and readers still sit for a time even after the previous person has sat down. That’s WAY too much time.

Anyone have any documentation I can cite? I’m trying to appeal to my pastor to take some of this time to reinstate ablutions at the altar by the Ordinaries instead of after mass by the EMHC’s/sacristans (but of course, that’s for another discussion!).

 

[kinderbueno]

To answer the original question:

No, there is nowhere that specifies the length exactly, only what you quoted.

Most people wouldn’t consider 90 seconds to be unreasonable, even if it does seem a bit long for you.

Your liturgist is trying to add solemnity and beauty to the liturgy (as well as comply with documents).

It seems as though many here will never be happy.

Yes, you’re right that I’m not happy about it…and I do think the liturgist is trying to add solemnity, but I personally didn’t think there was anything wrong with how it was before and that the added silence is having the opposite effect (on me!!!). I also think it gives the mind time to wander – have you tried counting 90 seconds between readings? I’m totally fine with the priest taking more time before he stands up and begins the credo, but I just agree with SeekerJen that they are meant to be read somewhat continuously. Again, without additional instruction, it’s definitely a matter of pastoral choice.