Questions regarding the singing of the Gospel Acclamation

[Chorister]

Hi! I’m sorry if these questions have been answered before, but I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for, so I hope you guys can help me out.

Firstly, is it permissible to change the verse sung during the Gospel Acclamation? At church, we sing an Alleluia (Mass of God’s Promise) which has 10 verses written to music; we have been simply picking one of them to sing each week. Is this allowed? I do understand that the GIRM states that the verse must come from the lectionary, but it does not state that it must come from the lectionary readings for that particular week.

Secondly, I was told that if the verse to the Alleluia is not song, the Alleluia itself should be omitted altogether. I have never heard of this and haven’t read anything on it. Could anyone shed some light?

Citations from Church documents would be very much appreciated. I don’t want to make myself look like a fool pointing fingers at people with unsubstantiated claims as my only support!

Thanks!

 

[benedictgal]

Hi! I’m sorry if these questions have been answered before, but I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for, so I hope you guys can help me out.

Firstly, is it permissible to change the verse sung during the Gospel Acclamation? At church, we sing an Alleluia (Mass of God’s Promise) which has 10 verses written to music; we have been simply picking one of them to sing each week. Is this allowed? I do understand that the GIRM states that the verse must come from the lectionary, but it does not state that it must come from the lectionary readings for that particular week.

Secondly, I was told that if the verse to the Alleluia is not song, the Alleluia itself should be omitted altogether. I have never heard of this and haven’t read anything on it. Could anyone shed some light?

Citations from Church documents would be very much appreciated. I don’t want to make myself look like a fool pointing fingers at people with unsubstantiated claims as my only support!

Thanks!

This is what the GIRM says regarding the Gospel Acclamation:

1. After the reading that immediately precedes the Gospel, the Alleluia or another chant indicated by the rubrics is sung, as required by the liturgical season. An acclamation of this kind constitutes a rite or act in itself, by which the assembly of the faithful welcomes and greets the Lord who is about to speak to them in the Gospel and professes their faith by means of the chant. It is sung by all while standing and is led by the choir or a cantor, being repeated if this is appropriate. The verse, however, is sung either by the choir or by the cantor.

The Alleluia is sung in every season other than Lent. The verses are taken from the Lectionary or the Graduale.
During Lent, in place of the Alleluia, the verse before the Gospel is sung, as indicated in the Lectionary. It is also permissible to sing another psalm or tract, as found in the Graduale.

I hope this helps.