Mass question

[Knight_James]

During the Liturgy of the Word, may the people read aloud the Psalm instead of or in addition to the Lector? The is the norm for the daily Masses, and the early Sunday morning Mass with no singing, at our parish. My understanding, and experience at other parishes, is the people say the Responsorial to the Psalm after the Lector proclaims each section of the Psalm.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

During the Liturgy of the Word, may the people read aloud the Psalm instead of or in addition to the Lector? The is the norm for the daily Masses, and the early Sunday morning Mass with no singing, at our parish. My understanding, and experience at other parishes, is the people say the Responsorial to the Psalm after the Lector proclaims each section of the Psalm.

It might depend where you are. The GIRM (#61) for England & Wales allows the congregation to sing (preferably) the Responsorial Psalm throughout without the response.

 

[JM3]

GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

The Responsorial Psalm

1. After the first reading comes the responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.

The responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should, as a rule, be taken from the Lectionary.

It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people’s response is concerned. Hence, the psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm from the ambo or another suitable place. The entire congregation remains seated and listens but, as a rule, takes part by singing the response, except when the Psalm is sung straight through without a response. In order, however, that the people may be able to sing the Psalm response more readily, texts of some responses and Psalms have been chosen for the various seasons of the year or for the various categories of Saints. These may be used in place of the text corresponding to the reading whenever the Psalm is sung. If the Psalm cannot be sung, then it should be recited in such a way that it is particularly suited to fostering meditation on the word of God.