Liturgical Question

[Beverly_Jean]

Over the past several weeks I have played guitar and sung a very quiet, “low key” song at communion for our daily Mass. It was intended as a meditative time in which the parishioners could join in, just listen or just hum as they came forward to receive the host. Hopefully they were encouraged to meditate on the readings. This was the only musical selection at the daily Mass. It seemed to be going well, appropriate to the readings, and well received by the people. Our Pastor seemed pleased. Then last week as I was asking him for clearance on a specific song, he told me we would stop this “because we are now in Ordinary time”. When I asked, he said it would probably not be done again until the Easter season.

Since there is such beautiful (as well as meditative) music available for Lent and also for Ordinary time, I wonder why this one song would not be liturgically appropriate during Ordinary time for the daily Mass? The other Masses continue on with music as usual (of course always appropriate to the readings and the liturgical year).

Could you please explain the liturgical directives behind his decision? I very much appreciate your help. I am hesitant to ask him because he is too busy to respond to less than serious, important matters, and because I fear it might be taken as a challenge to his authority. Truly, there is no challenge intended here.
Sincerely,
Beverly Jean

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi Beverly,

I am not familiar with the exact instruction, if there is something more than the GIRM, and we do not have any music at daily Mass. I would ask the pastor, since it may just be His preference. Other documents or bulletins may not be formal instructions.

The GIRM indicates that song or short prayer are both options.

Here is the GIRM instruction for the Communion chant–

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.

If there is no singing, however, the Communion antiphon found in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.

Lux

 

[puzzleannie]

in many parishes and monasteries where I regularly attend daily Mass there is no music at all at daily Mass, except during “white” seasons, Eastertide, Christmas etc. The alleluia, if used, is sung a capella, and in place of hymns, the entrance and communion antiphons are recited. often Morning Prayer is at the same time, and that hymn is sung w/o musical accompaniment, and is actually the only thing sung the entire time.

I am sure there must be a rule about it, with regard to seasons, but I would have thought that if it excluded music it would be during Advent and Lent. Personally I would find what you do supportive rather than detracting, as the quiet music they have after communion on EWTN, but I suppose it is up to the priest.

 

[Joannm]

I know during Lent there should be no instrumental music except to accompany singing, but I don’t know of anything prohibiting it in Ordinary Time.

 

[passus]

There are no directives that I know of that would disallow you from doing what you have described here, and I am sure that this is just a matter of your pastor’s preference.

You can try asking him for a reason or explaining to him why you feel it’s appropriate, but if he doesn’t want the music during Mass, then it’s definitely within his authority to ask that you don’t play or sing.

 

[benedictgal]

The only parts of the Mass that should be sung, along with the Alleluia are the Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen. This is found in Musicam Sacram, the authoritative document of the Holy See on music. This is also called the progressive degree of solemnity. We do this at my parish and at the local hosptial chapel whenever my parochial vicar celebrates Mass. For the entrance and communion, we recite the anitphons.

You can find Musicam Sacram by following this linik:

adoremus.org/MusicamSacram.html

It’s not really a good idea to have music apart from the aforementioned parts of the Mass during the week (unless it is a holy day of obligation). Daily Mass affords us some quiet time. In fact, Pope Benedict XVI speaks about the need for us to re-learn and recover sacred silence.

With all due respect to the OP, I find having music during Holy Communion to be distracting during Daily Mass. Silence helps us to pray. It’s kind of like this: Jesus wants to speak to us, but, if there is noise going all around, it’s kind of hard to get a word in edgewise. While what you are playing may be beautiful, it may not necessarily be needed.

 

[passus]

The only parts of the Mass that should be sung, along with the Alleluia are the Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen. This is found in Musicam Sacram, the authoritative document of the Holy See on music.

Where in* Musicam Sacram*? As far as I can tell, Musicam Sacram encourages the use of music during the the Mass. For the celebration of the Eucharist with the people, especially on Sundays and feast days, a form of sung Mass (Missa in cantu) is to be preferred as much as possible, even several times on the same day (MS 27).
Now if I recall correctly, Sacramenum Caritatis says something that could be interpreted to the contrary, but that’s not what you brought up.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

With all due respect to the OP, I find having music during Holy Communion to be distracting during Daily Mass. Silence helps us to pray.

Agreed. And while the OP’s guitar playing was presumably polite and medatative, silence is itself holy.

Holy Mass does not need a soundtrack. It’s not Mass: the Musical!

 

[passus]

Mass: the Musical!

Oh dear. Nothing could compare to that garbage–and I actually like Leonard Bernstein.

 

[BSHoop96]

Over the past several weeks I have played guitar and sung a very quiet, “low key” song at communion for our daily Mass. It was intended as a meditative time in which the parishioners could join in, just listen or just hum as they came forward to receive the host. Hopefully they were encouraged to meditate on the readings. This was the only musical selection at the daily Mass. It seemed to be going well, appropriate to the readings, and well received by the people. Our Pastor seemed pleased. Then last week as I was asking him for clearance on a specific song, he told me we would stop this “because we are now in Ordinary time”. When I asked, he said it would probably not be done again until the Easter season.

Since there is such beautiful (as well as meditative) music available for Lent and also for Ordinary time, I wonder why this one song would not be liturgically appropriate during Ordinary time for the daily Mass? The other Masses continue on with music as usual (of course always appropriate to the readings and the liturgical year).

Could you please explain the liturgical directives behind his decision? I very much appreciate your help. I am hesitant to ask him because he is too busy to respond to less than serious, important matters, and because I fear it might be taken as a challenge to his authority. Truly, there is no challenge intended here.
Sincerely,
Beverly Jean

Maybe it wasn’t the particular song at all. Perhaps it is just no music at this time of year.

 

[benedictgal]

Where in* Musicam Sacram*? As far as I can tell, Musicam Sacram encourages the use of music during the the Mass. For the celebration of the Eucharist with the people, especially on Sundays and feast days, a form of sung Mass (Missa in cantu) is to be preferred as much as possible, even several times on the same day (MS 27).
Now if I recall correctly, Sacramenum Caritatis says something that could be interpreted to the contrary, but that’s not what you brought up.

But, look at the degree of progessive solemnity. Musicam Sacram gives you the order of what should be sung:

These degrees are so arranged that the first may be used even by itself, but the second and third, wholly or partially, may never be used without the first. In this way the faithful will be continually led toward an ever greater participation in the singing.

1. The following belong to the first degree:

(a) In the entrance rites: the greeting of the priest together with the reply of the people; the prayer.

(b) In the Liturgy of the Word: the acclamations at the Gospel.

(c) In the Eucharistic Liturgy: the prayer over the offerings; the preface with its dialogue and the Sanctus; the final doxology of the Canon, the Lord’s Prayer with its introduction and embolism; the Pax Domini; the prayer after the Communion; the formulas of dismissal.

1. The following belong to the second degree:

(a) the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei;

(b) the Creed;

(c) the prayer of the faithful.

1. The following belong to the third degree:

(a) the songs at the Entrance and Communion processions;

(b) the songs after the Lesson or Epistle;

(c) the Alleluia before the Gospel;

(d) the song at the Offertory;

(e) the readings of Sacred Scripture, unless it seems more suitable to proclaim them without singing.

These are at the bottom rung, meaning that they don’t have to be sung. Furthermore, the GIRM also offers the option of using the anitphons.

In my neck of the woods, people in some parishes will sing hymns during Daily Mass, but, they do not sing the parts of the Mass. Furthermore, it is always the same tired songs (Pescador de Hombres or One Bread One Body), regardless of the season.

Pope Benedict did not just mention sacred silence in Sacramentum Caritatis. The topic also shows up in Spirit of the Liturgy and other items he wrote as Cardinal Ratzinger.