Problems with Easter Vigil?

[romanholiday]

The church I attended for Easter Vigil was not my home parish. My wife and I were in another town to witness the confirmation of a future in-law. The following things that occurred at the Mass really bothered me, but I was wondering where I might find documentation or other things supporting my thoughts that things are illicit.

1. Only had 5 of the 9 readings (they read every other one)
2. Of the 4 “psalm” responses, only 2 were actually psalms. One response was actually “Go Down, Moses” The “let my people go” spiritual song!!

In addition to these things I believe are illicit, there was the hideous music. They had a xylophone, tambourine, plugged in guitar and the whole thing (instruments and choir) were so over-amplified that I felt like I was at a bad folk/rock concert.

Not exactly a reverent celebration of Holy Mass. Any help on the above things would be appreciated!

 

[carol_marie]

In addition to these things I believe are illicit, there was the hideous music. They had a xylophone, tambourine, plugged in guitar and the whole thing (instruments and choir) were so over-amplified that I felt like I was at a bad folk/rock concert.

!

I HATE it when they do this at mass. I find it so distracting and it makes my head hurt.

(maybe I’m getting old )

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Only reading III (from Exodus) of the Old Testament readings is mandatory. That would be coupled with a reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans and the Gospel (this year from Luke). That would be the “minimum” to be licit. So, in terms of readings, what you saw was valid.

The substitution of non-psalms for the psalms is wrong, but of course it doesn’t invalidate the Mass itself. Musical taste is always personal (although from what you describe I probably would not have liked it either).

Deacon Ed

 

[lizaanne]

Yes - we had to witness some interesting creative changes to the Mass at Easter Vigil.

Only three of readings, plus the Gospel. I assume this is because so much music and drama was included that there just wasn’t time to do all the readings. Something had to go - so instead of giving up the entertainment factor, they cut the readings.

A liturgical dancer. She danced and swirled around with a bamboo urn shaped thing that was oozing incense smoke, and wafting it toward the book of the Gospel as Father processed with the book. She danced all around him, I can’t tell you how embarassed I was for him and for his parish.

The use of crystal chalices for Holy Communion.

I’ve written to the priest at this particular parish already, and I do not expect to hear back from him.

~Liza

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:
“[62.] It is also illicit to omit or to substitute the prescribed biblical readings on one’s own initiative, and especially “to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God. [footnote 138: Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 57; cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Vicesimus quintus annus, n. 13: AAS 81 (1989) p. 910; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration, Dominus Iesus, on the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, 6 August 2000: AAS 92 (2000) pp. 742-765.]”

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 57: “Moreover, it is unlawful to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God.”

From the Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass:
“12. In the celebration of Mass the biblical readings with their accompanying scriptural chants may not be omitted, shortened, or, worse still, replaced by nonbiblical readings.”

The rubrics for the Easter Vigil include:
“23. … “Instead of the responsorial psalm a period of silence may be observed. In this case the pause after Let us pray is omitted.”
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 187).

The 2002 Latin edition of the Roman Missal seems to have the same:
“23. … Loco psalmi responsorii servari potest spatium sacri silentii, omissa hoc in casu pausa post Oremus.”
(Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 356)

 

[Caesar]

I am quite sorry for your experience Roman. I too had a rather unfortunate East Vigil (and in the Diocesan Cathedral no less!). However, I can give you a little treat for your ears to help take away the memories of your Easter Vigil .

The entirety of the Exsultet, chanted in Latin as it was done for nearly 1300 years, along with a beautiful explaination in a podcast by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf - wdtprs.com/podcazt/07_04_07.mp3

 

[Lil_M]

I had the same experience as you with the omission of readings and psalms, though the music was okay. And I also had the pleasure of seeing the “parish council” wash the feet of anyone who wanted to wander up, on Holy Thursday, and a very odd Good Friday too :nope: Welcome to my world.

 

[Unexpected_Dawn]

I’m so sorry for everyone who had disappointing Easter Vigil Masses. I think it would devastate me!

We omitted some of the Psalms. But we had about a dozen Baptisms, and about 2 dozen Confirmations–that made up for it! The Mass still lasted well over three hours.

I wish every Mass could be the Easter Vigil Mass (done properly)!

 

[Titus]

From the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:
“[62.] It is also illicit to omit or to substitute the prescribed biblical readings on one’s own initiative, and especially “to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God. [footnote 138: Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 57; cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Vicesimus quintus annus, n. 13: AAS 81 (1989) p. 910; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration, Dominus Iesus, on the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, 6 August 2000: AAS 92 (2000) pp. 742-765.]”

I’m pretty sure the Vigil Readings are an exception, as they do not constitute the normal mass readings but an introductory part, is this correct?

 

[John_Lilburne]

The readings at the Easter Vigil are part of the Mass.

The Roman Missal rubrics for the Easter Vigil do allow a reduced number of readings. The 1975 Roman Missal required at least 4 readings, the 2002 Roman Missal requires at least 5 readings. The Psalms are not counted as readings.

From the 1975 Roman Missal, for the Easter Vigil:
“20. In this vigil, the mother of all vigils, nine readings are provided, seven from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament (the epistle and gospel).
21. The number of readings from the Old Testament may be reduced for pastoral reasons, but it must always be borne in mind that the reading of the word of God is the fundamental element of the Easter Vigil. At least three readings from the Old Testament should be read, although for more serious reasons the number may be reduced to two. The reading of Exodus 14, however, is never to be omitted. …
23. Instead of the responsorial psalm a period of silence may be observed. In this case the pause after Let us pray is omitted.”

From my understanding of Latin the 2002 Roman Missal requires three readings from the Old Testament. It also requires the reading of Exodus 14 and, I think, its psalm. It has:

“21. … Legantur saltem tres lectiones e Vetere Testamento desumptae, et quidem ex Lege et Prophetis, et canantur respectivi Psalmi responsorii. Numquam autem omittatur lectio cap. 14 Exodi cum suo cantico.”
In 23 it seems to allow silence instead of a psalm, but perhaps this does not include the psalm with Exodus 14. It has:
“23. … Loco psalmi responsorii servari potest spatium sacri silentii, omissa hoc in causa pausa post Oremus.”
(Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 356.)

 

[John_Lilburne]

I’m pretty sure the Vigil Readings are an exception, as they do not constitute the normal mass readings but an introductory part, is this correct?

More generally, the liturgical books do allow a wide range of choosing which bible reading is read.
As I quoted, the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum has: “[62.] It is also illicit to omit or to substitute the prescribed biblical readings on one’s own initiative,”.

But this should be understood as within the wide range of choice allows. Some extracts from the Introduction to the Lectionary which highlight the choices:

“**a. Options in the choice of some texts **
78. The Order of Readings sometimes leaves it to the celebrant to choose between alternative texts or to choose one from the several listed together for the same reading. The option seldom exists on Sundays, solemnities, or the greater feasts in order not to obscure the proper character of the particular liturgical season or needlessly interrupt the semi continuous reading of some biblical book. On the other hand, the option is given readily in celebrations of the saints, in ritual Masses, Masses for various needs and occasions, votive Masses, and Masses for the dead. These options, together with those indicated in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the Ordo cantus Missae, have a pastoral aim. In planning the liturgy of the word, then, the priest should consider ‘the general spiritual good of the assembly rather than his personal outlook. He should be mindful that the choice of texts is to be made in consultation with the ministers and others who have a function in the celebration and should listen to the faithful in regard to the parts that more directly belong to them.’”

“4 Weekday readings
82. The arrangement of weekday readings provides texts for every day of the week throughout the year. In most cases, therefore, these readings are to be used on their assigned days, unless a solemnity, feast, or memorial with proper readings occurs.107 The one using the Order of Readings for weekdays must check to see whether one reading or another from the same biblical book will have to be omitted because of some celebration occurring during the week. With the plan of readings for the entire week in mind, the priest in that case arranges to omit the less significant selections or suitably combines them with other readings, if they contribute to an integral view of a particular theme.
*5 Celebrations of the saints *
83. When they exist, proper readings are given for celebrations of the saints, that is, biblical passages about the saint or the event in the saint’s life that the Mass is celebrating. Even in the case of a memorial these readings must take the place of the weekday readings for the same day. This Order of Readings makes explicit note of every case of proper readings on a memorial.”

The Introduction to the Lectionary is available as a PDF document at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteMissal.html .

 

[Toni]

I am sorry to hear that your Mass was not reverent. I enjoyed ours but they did not read all the readings either but as the Deacon stated they do not have to.