Is it best to either pray after receiving communion or sing?

[CDNowak]

I often take “Fr Z” with a block or two of salt…

Did you bother reading the link? The citation given in the CCC (for example) does not lead to the misattributed phrase, but rather: “For he that singeth praise, not only praiseth, but only praiseth with gladness: he that singeth praise, not only singeth, but also loveth him of whom he singeth. In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing; in singing, the affection of one loving”.

 

[Silverburg]

Did you bother reading the link?..

Not anymore, no. His interpretation on some things seems rather off-line.

 

[FAB]

Okay, so my church sings a communion hymn and after communion I swallow the Eucharist and start singing whatever the rest of the congregation is singing. Is it better just to kneel and pray or is it better to sing, because singing is praying twice? I find a short amount of people singing after communion, so I don’t know what to do.

You should continue singing until all have recieved. Communion is an action of the single body of Christ. At that moment we are all one and should participate as one commuity. The time for individual prayer is once communion is over. There is a place in the rite to have a period of silence at that time.

Peace,
FAB

 

[CDNowak]

You should continue singing until all have recieved. Communion is an action of the single body of Christ. At that moment we are all one and should participate as one commuity. The time for individual prayer is once communion is over. There is a place in the rite to have a period of silence at that time.

Peace,
FAB

GIRM:

1. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful.74 If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.

Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion with ease.

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.

Regardless of whether there is music, there must be prayer. The Propers are the preffered singing at this time, then something from the Commons, or local Commons, then a suitable liturgical song. As pointed out, quite often none of these criteria are met. Even if there is singing it can be by the choir alone, so your emphasis on uniformity seems unjustified by the liturgical guide.

 

[SimpleTruth]

I am not entirely certain that the mind of the Church agrees with your directions here.

Feel free to expound on your thoughts my friend.

 

[diggerdomer]

Regardless of whether there is music, there must be prayer. The Propers are the preffered singing at this time, then something from the Commons, or local Commons, then a suitable liturgical song. As pointed out, quite often none of these criteria are met. Even if there is singing it can be by the choir alone, so your emphasis on uniformity seems unjustified by the liturgical guide.

I read it as an emphasis on unity, not uniformity

 

[CDNowak]

I read it as an emphasis on unity, not uniformity

There is unity in all praying, whether in song or silently. I have often been moved not to the outward joy of a lover, but a profound adoration after reception of Christ in the Eucharist (or tears if I am unable to receive, or at a turning point in my spiritual life).

The Rite, or more specifically the GIRM, does not insist on this uniformity. In fact, the rubrics of the Mass for the laity are deliberately not as rigid as those for the priest.