Music at Mass

[Mike_Eisenbath]

Greetings!
My questions concern how much music might be too much music at Mass. The church I attend has some very talented musicians, and the congregation responds with widespread and hearty singing at all Masses. However, there is very little silence just before Mass begins (the music leader likes to practice songs at that time; when she asks everyone to “quiet their hearts” just before the Entrance Song begins, the silence lasts 7-10 seconds). During Communion, the music leader routinely leads the congregation in three songs. Again, very little if any silence between the reception of the Eucharist and the priest beginning the closing rite of prayer. And often, it feels more like a concert rather than communal singing because of the style of the music leader. Again, beautiful music and a wonderful way to praise our LORD. But should there be a place for some “sacred silence?” Any answers you could provide would be appreciated, especially if they are reinforced with documentation from written sources.
May the Lord bless your day with peace.

 

[pnewton]

But should there be a place for some “sacred silence?” Any answers you could provide would be appreciated, especially if they are reinforced with documentation from written sources.
May the Lord bless your day with peace.

Yes. There is a time for everything and everything in its time.

A year ago Cardinal Dinardo ordered that after the last communicant there should be no more than one verse of song for a meditation and the vessels would be purified at the altar with a period of silence. This built in a minute or two of silence before the concluding rites. It is very effective.

 

[turtle18]

My brother, who is Protestant, has a term for this (after a Mass where we sang both the petitions and the Our Father). He called it “Church–The Musical.”

He’s quite fond of Broadway plays

 

[e-catholic]

General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Silence

1. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.54 Its purpose, however, depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus within the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; but at the conclusion of a reading or the homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard; then after Communion, they praise and pray to God in their hearts.

Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.

usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter2.shtml#sect2
This is something that unfortunately is not observed in all liturgy. At our parish we observe all of the prescribed silences, and at first it seems strange to people (c’mon already move it on) some priests tend to rush right through the silences. Thes are in the GIRM, and they are a very important part of the liturgy. *

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

There needs to be periods of silence during any Mass, regardless of how much music is used. It is permissible to sing every part of the Mass including the readings, as is the norm in most of the Eastern Rites, but silence is still a part of the liturgy.

When I’m playing the organ, I’ll play soft preludes for about ten minutes before Mass begins. This tends to quiet people and, according to most people I’ve spoken with, minimizes distraction while they pray. I do not rehearse hymns that will be played during Mass. Later on, after the last people have received Holy Communion, I continue playing softly until the priest moves from the altar to purify the vessels at the credence table (the main chalice is purified at the altar; the cups are done at the credence table on a spread corporal). In our diocese, the people remain kneeling until the vessels have been purified and the priest sits down, so this provides an excellent time to have prayerful silence for two or three minutes. At the end of the recessional hymn, I play a postlude at a rather strong volume, which drives the “talkers” out of the church.

Practicing music before Mass is unprofessional and disruptive. Any rehearsals should be done in another room, and since the cantor usually chants the psalm and Gospel acclamation immediately before the people sing it, rehearsing this before Mass is a waste of time.

 

[wjp984]

Silence personally drives me insane. I can handle it for short periods of time but nothing more than a couple minutes. I think music is the best part of mass short of receiving the Eucharist.

 

[pnewton]

Silence personally drives me insane. I can handle it for short periods of time but nothing more than a couple minutes. I think music is the best part of mass short of receiving the Eucharist.

Short periods are all that are required, and are most effective.