Litany of Saints

[Meadi8r]

I’m cantoring the Litany of the Saints for the Easter Vigil at our parish this Saturday. We have four candidates for full reception into the Church, but the setting we are using (Becker’s) provides for 5 “patron” saint names to be inserted. We have 4 saints for the candidates’ confirmation names, but I need 2 more, because one (Stephen) already appears in the Litany. Our parish is dedicated to Mater Dei, and the Blessed Mother is already prominent in the Litany, so that does not seem like an option.

Is there any direction or norm as to what are “appropriate” saints to fill the gap in the setting?

Thanks for any guidance!

 

[MarkThompson]

Is there any direction or norm as to what are “appropriate” saints to fill the gap in the setting?

Insert St. Gregory or St. Cecilia, with the intention that they intercede for your parish so that next year you don’t have to sing the heinous Becker litany.

Seriously, no, there are no guidelines, because the Becker version is just invented – there are not supposed to be “empty slots” that you “have to fill.” Incidentally, you’re not singing the standard Becker litany that includes the excommunicated heretic Origen, are you?

 

[Meadi8r]

The particular setting wasn’t my choice, although I’ve done it before in other parishes. St. Cecelia is a good choice. It’s the middle name for one of my daughters.

The Litany I have includes that 4th verse where you insert the confirmation names of the candidates for reception, hence the 6 “gaps.” Origen may be in Becker’s Original, but not in this version.

I think I’ll ask our pastor before tonight’s liturgy to see if he has any recommendations.

Thanks for the note!

 

[Michael1978]

Use should include Thomas More because that is my confirmation name.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Just a suggestion, not from any rule, you might include the patron of your parish and maybe the patron of your pastor.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Becker’s version isn’t even licit for use when the Roman Missal instructs to say the litany of the saints. It’s a specific prayer, not an option to choose a song simple called litany of the saints, which doesn’t follow the proper form required.

 

[Phemie]

Becker’s version isn’t even licit for use when the Roman Missal instructs to say the litany of the saints. It’s a specific prayer, not an option to choose a song simple called litany of the saints, which doesn’t follow the proper form required.

Yet it was the one my former bishop always wanted for Ordinations and at any other time he had (name removed by moderator)ut in the music.

 

[Anna_Claire]

Yikes folks…she didn’t ask for your approval of the Beckers version of the Litany! how are your critical comments helpful? I love the Becker as well as the traditional.

Patron saint of your diocese is one suggestion…if it’s not already in there.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

This isn’t about what version one loves. It’s about being obedient to the Church and the Roman Missal. Personally, if I was in this position, I’d bow out and say I can’t participate in using that song as a replacement for the litany of the saints. If they used the proper form, this wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Meadi8r]

Deo,

Thank you, but the music choice is completely not my choice, and I have no authority to change that.

Next question. Our priests are Fr. Jon and Fr. Peter, so their patrons are accounted for. We are Mater Dei Parish, and Holy Mary, Mother of God is the first saint in the Litany, of course.

We do have a permanent deacon, Deacon Chris. Is St. Christopher considered “appropriate” for liturgical mention, or has his removal from the Martyrology taken him “out of bounds”?

Thanks!

 

[SMHW]

I think you can probably include St. Christopher. (Ask your priest if it bothers you.)

Do you have your diocesan patron saint included?

 

[MarkThompson]

Deo,

Thank you, but the music choice is completely not my choice, and I have no authority to change that.

Next question. Our priests are Fr. Jon and Fr. Peter, so their patrons are accounted for. We are Mater Dei Parish, and Holy Mary, Mother of God is the first saint in the Litany, of course.

We do have a permanent deacon, Deacon Chris. Is St. Christopher considered “appropriate” for liturgical mention, or has his removal from the Martyrology taken him “out of bounds”?

Thanks!

I would omit St. Christopher as unsuitable. Here’s an idea: since you are not going to get a “right” answer, why don’t you just ask the priest at some point between now and then, explaining that you’ve got a slot that needs to be filled and he needs to pick somebody?

Failing that, I would choose St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, whose feast is on the General Roman Calendar and falls on Satuday, April 7 (but is omitted this year due to conflict with the Triduum), or else, if you would like to pick a saint whose memorial would, absent the Triduum, be observed on Sunday, April 8, since there is none inscribed in the general calendar I would pick one from the Roman Martyrology for that day.