Music during communion

[Michael96]

During mass we commonly play music while people are going up to commuinion. People are invited to join in singing but few do, which is quite understandable if they are either still going up to communion or are having a quiet reflection/prayer after their communion. But what are your feelings on music being played (with optional singing): do you think it’s appropriate or do you think there should be silence?

This is the one part of the mass I’m not sure what’s best.

(We generally pick a quiet/restful song, e.g. Taize chant).

 

[Phemie]

During mass we commonly play music while people are going up to commuinion. People are invited to join in singing but few do, which is quite understandable if they are either still going up to communion or are having a quiet reflection/prayer after their communion. But what are your feelings on music being played (with optional singing): do you think it’s appropriate or do you think there should be silence?

This is the one part of the mass I’m not sure what’s best.

(We generally pick a quiet/restful song, e.g. Taize chant).

I find that the easiest way to get the congregation to sing at Communion is to use a hymn with a refrain that they will easily pick up – after all you can’t take a hymnal up with you when you’re going to receive.

That said, there is nothing wrong with only the choir singing during Communion. It’s one of the options listed in the GIRM. A post-Communion hymn, OTOH, is to be congregational.

 

[BigFeet]

It’s quite appropriate to either have silence, or soft, meditative organ music while people receive Communion. This allows people to pray. Our parish sings an appropriate Communion hymn after Communion is finished.

 

[japhy]

Gee, the choir could sing the Communion Antiphon proper to the Mass of the day!

 

[agapewolf]

It is required by the GIRM to have singing during Communion

 

[nightwalker]

It is required by the GIRM to have singing during Communion

Not really, and if you go to daily Mass I doubt you will find Communion songs very often. What is required would be at least the Communion Antiphon, preferably chanted (usually just spoken). It is possible to have a valid, licit Mass without any singing whatsoever, just really, really sad.

 

[agapewolf]

I didn’t say it was invalid…

but this IS the GIRM:

**86. 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.

 

[benedictgal]

It is required by the GIRM to have singing during Communion

However, if the communion antiphon is recited by the priest, as in the case of daily Mass, then the Communion hymn does not take place. You can do one or the other, but not both.

When we don’t have any music for the Sunday evening Mass, my PV recites the Entrance and Communion antiphons. If I am proclaiming the second reading, then, I’ll intone the Gospel Acclamation. My PV will then intone the Eucharistic Acclamations.

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.

Therefore, one does, at least in the United States, have the option to recite the Communion antiphon if there is no music.

Now, regarding the issue of silence, it is certainly most helpful and a practice that we’ve forgotten. As Pope Benedict reminds us in Sacramentum Caritatis:

Furthermore, the precious time of thanksgiving after communion should not be neglected: besides the singing of an appropriate hymn, it can also be most helpful to remain recollected in silence. (152)

This certainly helps a lot. In this day and age, with TV’s and radios blaring, it’s hard to find some place to recollect. Silence is a wonderful tool that we’ve forgotten how to use.

 

[agapewolf]

The question was regarding when there are musicians. If there are musicians, the communion song should be sung

 

[cecilia97]

I find that the easiest way to get the congregation to sing at Communion is to use a hymn with a refrain that they will easily pick up – after all you can’t take a hymnal up with you when you’re going to receive.

That said, there is nothing wrong with only the choir singing during Communion. It’s one of the options listed in the GIRM. A post-Communion hymn, OTOH, is to be congregational.

Our choir does both of these at different Sundays. I’m big on singing along at Mass, but lately I’ve gotten fond of my quiet time at Communion and I never sing along unless it’s just one of my favorites.

Seems to go over well in our parish.

 

[HelenRose]

During mass we commonly play music while people are going up to commuinion. People are invited to join in singing but few do, which is quite understandable if they are either still going up to communion or are having a quiet reflection/prayer after their communion. But what are your feelings on music being played (with optional singing): do you think it’s appropriate or do you think there should be silence?

This is the one part of the mass I’m not sure what’s best.

(We generally pick a quiet/restful song, e.g. Taize chant).

I like to have a meditative song while communion is being distributed. This gives a certain amount of emotional privacy as people as are going forward. I like silence after that.

 

[John_Lilburne]

People should being singing during Communion on Sunday.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“40. Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of the people and abilities of each liturgical assembly. Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the texts that are of themselves meant to be sung, every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.”
(My bold text). And:

“86. 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.”

 

[benedictgal]

People should being singing during Communion on Sunday.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“40. Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of the people and abilities of each liturgical assembly. Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the texts that are of themselves meant to be sung, every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.”
(My bold text). And:

“86. 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.”

Now, as agapewolf, noted, that is provided that there are musicians or a cantor, at least. However, as I pointed out in my post, in the United States, we do have the option of reciting the communion antiphon if there is no singing. That was the adaptation I quoted in my post.

 

[Phemie]

Now, as agapewolf, noted, that is provided that there are musicians or a cantor, at least. However, as I pointed out in my post, in the United States, we do have the option of reciting the communion antiphon if there is no singing. That was the adaptation I quoted in my post.

Also it’s more important to sing the Ordinary of the Mass than hymns, at least if you accept that Musicam Sacram has never been abrogated.

 

[benedictgal]

Also it’s more important to sing the Ordinary of the Mass than hymns, at least if you accept that Musicam Sacram has never been abrogated.

You got it, my sister!

There is a hierarchy of singing that we tend to forget about where the Mass is concerned. Certainly, in order of importance, the Acclamations rank highest. These include the Gospel and Eucharistic (Sanctus, Memorial, Great Amen) acclamations. Then, either as secnod or third, come the responsorials like the psalm and the Kyrie, and then the Gloria and the Agnus Dei. The hymns are the last ones in the hierarchy. For all of its faults, even the new USCCB document on music recognizes that point.

 

[AMDG1]

It’s quite appropriate to either have silence, or soft, meditative organ music while people receive Communion. This allows people to pray. Our parish sings an appropriate Communion hymn after Communion is finished.

That is the old correct way to incorporate music into Holy Communion. Sadly, we’re encouraged to sing which distracts from prayerful medition.

 

[agapewolf]

That is the old correct way to incorporate music into Holy Communion. Sadly, we’re encouraged to sing which distracts from prayerful medition.

Did you read the GIRM? The CORRECT way is for the Communion hymn to continue until all have received.

 

[benedictgal]

Did you read the GIRM? The CORRECT way is for the Communion hymn to continue until all have received.

Then what is your interpretation of the adaptation allowed for the United States? There are some priests who use this as an escape hatch to avoid having questionable music. Furthermore, while the GIRM does speak to singing during Communion, it doesn’t necessarily indicate, according to the U.S. adaptation, that a lack of having a choir, a cantor or a musician would prevent the Communion antiphon from being used. Any one of the four choices is legitimate.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

When I’m playing the organ without a choir, I start a soft meditation that lasts for a couple of minutes, beginning after the priest has received the Precious Blood and the EEM’s begin to come forward. By the time it is finished, the cantor (down in front) has received the Eucharist and has had time to make his thanksgiving. We then begin the Communion hymn, and once it is over (I never repeat verses!), I play quietly until the chalice is purified and the priest goes to the credence table to purify the other vessels (we remain kneeling until he finishes and sits down). Then it is silence until he prays the closing prayer.

In selecting the Communion hymn, I only use hymns that make reference to the Body and Blood of Christ, not just bread and wine, or us turning into bread and wine. Given the kind of hymnals we use, my choices are quite limited.

 

[benedictgal]

When I’m playing the organ without a choir, I start a soft meditation that lasts for a couple of minutes, beginning after the priest has received the Precious Blood and the EEM’s begin to come forward. By the time it is finished, the cantor (down in front) has received the Eucharist and has had time to make his thanksgiving. We then begin the Communion hymn, and once it is over (I never repeat verses!), I play quietly until the chalice is purified and the priest goes to the credence table to purify the other vessels (we remain kneeling until he finishes and sits down). Then it is silence until he prays the closing prayer.

In selecting the Communion hymn, I only use hymns that make reference to the Body and Blood of Christ, not just bread and wine, or us turning into bread and wine. Given the kind of hymnals we use, my choices are quite limited.

That’s pretty fair, considering the dearth of sacred music we have for Communion.

One thing I need to point out is that there is no such creature as an EEM. I don’t want to go too off-topic, but, we need to get our terminology right. Only the priest and the bishop are the ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist because only they can confect the sacrament. The deacon is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion. By his ordination, the deacon distributes Holy Communion, but, he cannot confect the sacrament. Laity who are commissioned can only be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (unless an emergency pops up and they can be “deputized” on the spot, from what I’ve read, but these are few and far between).