The local pastor seems to be writing his own sung-prayer and inserting it into the Liturgy where none is required. In this instance, he begins singing at the conclusion of The Prayers of The Faithful/Mass Intentions–which are only spoken. The sung-prayer does not appear in the worship aid, but a number of the faithful present at Mass have taken it ‘to heart’–singing it along with Father. The sung-prayer also changes with the seasons–an entirely different one for Advent–and for Lent.
Then it gets awkward and a distraction as the organist and choir attempt accompaniment. It is apparent that he’s not sharing the verses with them. The sung-prayer is not included when a substitute priest celebrates the Mass. The sung-prayer was also omitted during a recent visit by our bishop.
Is this practice of personal sung-prayer permitted in the GIRM?
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (emphasis added):
…Therefore, in the rubrics and in the norms that follow, words such as “say” and “proclaim” are to be understood either of **singing **or of reciting, with due regard for the principles stated here above.
The celebrant is simply singing the prayer that concludes the Prayer of the Faithful/Universal Prayer. I wouldn’t exactly call it a “loophole” as it is permitted but it does, in my personal opinion, seem rather out of place if its the only sung prayer of the Mass. Since it belongs to the celebrant to close the Prayer of the Faithful with a prayer (whether sung or recited), it is inappropriate for the congregation to join in the same way its inappropriate for congregation to join in any other prayer that belongs to the celebrant alone.
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The local pastor seems to be writing his own sung-prayer and inserting it into the Liturgy where none is required. In this instance, he begins singing at the conclusion of The Prayers of The Faithful/Mass Intentions–which are only spoken. The sung-prayer does not appear in the worship aid, but a number of the faithful present at Mass have taken it ‘to heart’–singing it along with Father. The sung-prayer also changes with the seasons–an entirely different one for Advent–and for Lent.