Reciting the Alleluia

[LVP]

We are having an issue in my Church with weekday lectors who want to recite or sing the alleluia. It was our understanding, that the alleluia is never recited and if sung, sung only with music. Can anyone clarify this for me and please tell me where it states that the alleluia must never be recited? Thank you.

 

[benedictgal]

Hello. The alleluia is not to be recited. If it is not sung, it is omitted. No, you don’t have to use music. You can chant the Gospel Acclamation. Here is the reference from the GIRM:

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.
63. When there is only one reading before the Gospel,

During a season when the Alleluia is to be said, either the Alleluia Psalm or the responsorial Psalm followed by the Alleluia with its verse may be used;

During the season when the Alleluia is not to be said, either the psalm and the verse before the Gospel or the psalm alone may be used;

The Alleluia or verse before the Gospel may be omitted if they are not sung.

Now, it does look confusing because it notes “said”, but, the rule is that if it is not sung, it is not done. Even the missallettes make that point.

Now, here is what the General Introduction to the Lectionary notes:

c) THE ACCLAMATION BEFORE THE READING OF THE GOSPEL

1. The Alleluia or, as the liturgical season requires, the verse before the Gospel is also a “rite or act standing by itself.” [41] It serves as the greeting of welcome of the assembled faithful to the Lord who is about to speak to them and as an expression of their faith through song.

The Alleluia or the verse before the Gospel must be sung, and during it all stand. It is not to be sung only by the cantor who intones it or by the choir, but by the whole of the people together. [42]

I hope this answers your question.

 

[bpbasilphx]

alleluia is never recited and if sung, sung only with music.

How do you sing WITHOUT music?

 

[LilyM]

alleluia is never recited and if sung, sung only with music.

How do you sing WITHOUT music?

obviously they meant ‘without musical instruments’

 

[benedictgal]

alleluia is never recited and if sung, sung only with music.

How do you sing WITHOUT music?

I think the OP may have meant musical accompanyment like an organ. Of course, the human voice is the original instrument.

In all seriousness, in the sections of the documents that I quoted, there is no direct reference to a requirement that musical instruments be used for the Gospel acclamation. Therefore, I don’t know from where the lectors the OP spoke to got their sources. It seems to not be from the documents.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The sentence

The Alleluia or verse before the Gospel may be omitted if they are not sung.

has always confused me. It seems obvious that it cannot be omitted if it is sung.

 

[benedictgal]

The sentence has always confused me. It seems obvious that it cannot be omitted if it is sung.

Joe, if you go back to my initial response, you will note that the section from the General Introduction to the Lectionary clarifies this point:

c) THE ACCLAMATION BEFORE THE READING OF THE GOSPEL

1. The Alleluia or, as the liturgical season requires, the verse before the Gospel is also a “rite or act standing by itself.” [41] It serves as the greeting of welcome of the assembled faithful to the Lord who is about to speak to them and as an expression of their faith through song.

The Alleluia or the verse before the Gospel must be sung, and during it all stand. It is not to be sung only by the cantor who intones it or by the choir, but by the whole of the people together. [42]

Therefore, in this case, it is not enough to just look at the GIRM, you also should look at what the General Introduction of the Lectionary has to say as well. This clarifies what is written in the GIRM. I hope this helps clear things up.

 

[Aramis]

alleluia is never recited and if sung, sung only with music.

How do you sing WITHOUT music?

Plainchant in psalmtone. Or even in monotone.

One Roman Monsignor of my acquaintance, now of eternal memory, was noted for his monotone A-flat below middle C… he sang everything on one note, always the same note. Never varied in pitch, only in volume and rhythm. (He was truly tone-deaf, but blessed by god with an inerrant pitch.)

He often sang the alleluia in his resonant A-flat. (Much to his Organist’s consternation, I’m told.)