Reciting the Exsultet?

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truthseeker90

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Hello,

Does anyone know if it is permissible for the Exsultet to be recited rather than chanted during the Easter Vigil? I recently became the Director of Music at a very small parish that has only one priest and no deacons. We had a liturgy meeting the other night, and I found out that the pastor recites the Exsultet. In my previous parishes, we have always chanted it, and for some reason, I thought it was forbidden to recite it. I know a deacon is supposed to do it, and if not, then either a priest or cantor. When I brought up the question, the liturgist wasn’t even sure. If it is supposed to be chanted, either I or a cantor will do it. I’ve done it before in previous parishes, so it’s not a problem. It’s just that the pastor seems pretty adamant about him reciting it.

Thanks for your help. God Bless.
 
truthseeker90 said:
Hello,

Does anyone know if it is permissible for the Exsultet to be recited rather than chanted during the Easter Vigil? I recently became the Director of Music at a very small parish that has only one priest and no deacons. We had a liturgy meeting the other night, and I found out that the pastor recites the Exsultet. In my previous parishes, we have always chanted it, and for some reason, I thought it was forbidden to recite it. I know a deacon is supposed to do it, and if not, then either a priest or cantor. When I brought up the question, the liturgist wasn’t even sure. If it is supposed to be chanted, either I or a cantor will do it. I’ve done it before in previous parishes, so it’s not a problem. It’s just that the pastor seems pretty adamant about him reciting it.

Thanks for your help. God Bless.
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If the pastor has decided to recite it himself, then that is his decision to make (unless, of course, there is a qualified deacon participating).

There is no requirement that the Exsultet be sung–only that it be proclaimed.

Pastors are never required to appoint laypersons to extraordinary functions.

A lay cantor is the very last option, and the least desirable one. It is not that it should be done by either a priest or a layperson. It may be done by a layperson only if all other options are exhausted.

The pastor made his decision. The best thing to do (the right thing) is to support him in his decision.
 
Everything I’ve seen says it should be sung. I beleive it is one of the reasons there is an option for a cantor to sing it in the Ordinary Form, if necessary (less a couple parts reserved for members of clergy).
 
I don’t know what the Roman Missal itself says but I found these related statements…

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Roman Missal And The Easter Vigil”:
Having asked for and received the blessing, the deacon announces the Easter proclamation from the ambo or at a lectern. This poetic text captures the whole Easter mystery placed within the context of the economy of salvation. In the absence of a deacon the priest himself or another concelebrating priest may announce the Easter proclamation. If, however, a lay cantor announces the proclamation, the words, My dearest friends, up to the end of the invitation are omitted, along with the greeting, *The Lord be with you *(nos. 18-19). (source)

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Exultet: Christ Our Light”:
As is fitting for a text of this importance and solemnity, the Exsultet should always be sung – unless singing it worthily would be truly impossible. (source)
 
FrDavid96 said:
If the pastor has decided to recite it himself, then that is his decision to make (unless, of course, there is a qualified deacon participating).

There is no requirement that the Exsultet be sung–only that it be proclaimed.

Pastors are never required to appoint laypersons to extraordinary functions.

A lay cantor is the very last option, and the least desirable one. It is not that it should be done by either a priest or a layperson. It may be done by a layperson only if all other options are exhausted.

The pastor made his decision. The best thing to do (the right thing) is to support him in his decision.
Click to expand...
Excellent. Thank you for the clarification. I really appreciate it!
 
Todd977 said:
I don’t know what the Roman Missal itself says but I found these related statements…

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Roman Missal And The Easter Vigil”:
Having asked for and received the blessing, the deacon announces the Easter proclamation from the ambo or at a lectern. This poetic text captures the whole Easter mystery placed within the context of the economy of salvation. In the absence of a deacon the priest himself or another concelebrating priest may announce the Easter proclamation. If, however, a lay cantor announces the proclamation, the words, My dearest friends, up to the end of the invitation are omitted, along with the greeting, *The Lord be with you *(nos. 18-19). (source)

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Exultet: Christ Our Light”:
As is fitting for a text of this importance and solemnity, the Exsultet should always be sung – unless singing it worthily would be truly impossible. (source)
Click to expand...
Thank you! I’m familiar with what the Roman Missal says, but I’ll take a look at the other document you mentioned.
 
Todd977 said:
I don’t know what the Roman Missal itself says but I found these related statements…

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Roman Missal And The Easter Vigil”:
Having asked for and received the blessing, the deacon announces the Easter proclamation from the ambo or at a lectern. This poetic text captures the whole Easter mystery placed within the context of the economy of salvation. In the absence of a deacon the priest himself or another concelebrating priest may announce the Easter proclamation. If, however, a lay cantor announces the proclamation, the words, My dearest friends, up to the end of the invitation are omitted, along with the greeting, *The Lord be with you *(nos. 18-19). (source)

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, “The Exultet: Christ Our Light”:
As is fitting for a text of this importance and solemnity, the Exsultet should always be sung – unless singing it worthily would be truly impossible. (source)
Click to expand...
One must be careful in looking at such sources.

The article “Christ Our Light” is an article written by an individual priest. It has no force of law.

That’s not to say that I disagree with him; on the contrary, I agree entirely.

But the words there are not “from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document” as you posted. It is merely an article that happens to be available via their website. There is a considerable difference between an actual document of the USCCB and an article written by an individual.

Don’t misunderstand me here. The article is very well-written. I take no issue with anything he wrote. I only want readers here to understand the difference between something that is an official document of the Church and that which is not.
 
FrDavid96 said:
If the pastor has decided to recite it himself, then that is his decision to make (unless, of course, there is a qualified deacon participating).

There is no requirement that the Exsultet be sung–only that it be proclaimed.

Pastors are never required to appoint laypersons to extraordinary functions.

A lay cantor is the very last option, and the least desirable one. It is not that it should be done by either a priest or a layperson. It may be done by a layperson only if all other options are exhausted.

The pastor made his decision. The best thing to do (the right thing) is to support him in his decision.
Click to expand...
Furthermore, the layperson must be a man. Women are not permitted to chant the Exsultet.
 
FrDavid96 said:
One must be careful in looking at such sources.

The article “Christ Our Light” is an article written by an individual priest. It has no force of law.

That’s not to say that I disagree with him; on the contrary, I agree entirely.

But the words there are not “from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document” as you posted. It is merely an article that happens to be available via their website. There is a considerable difference between an actual document of the USCCB and an article written by an individual.

Don’t misunderstand me here. The article is very well-written. I take no issue with anything he wrote. I only want readers here to understand the difference between something that is an official document of the Church and that which is not.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that was another question I had after reading the document. I know on the USCCB website, there are many articles in addition to actual official documents. I agree too, it is a beautifully written article. Thank you again for your help!
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
Furthermore, the layperson must be a man. Women are not permitted to chant the Exsultet.
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Really? I’m a stickler for rules and I’ve never seen that one.

We’ve had a woman sing the Exsultet! in our parish every year for the 17 that I’ve been here simply because we have no deacon, our pastors didn’t sing and wanted it sung and the only singers who could pull it off are women.

Must admit that until I came here I never heard it sung.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
Furthermore, the layperson must be a man. Women are not permitted to chant the Exsultet.
Click to expand...
Do you have something official to back this up? Not meaning to cause trouble, but I have never heard of this, and the documents cited seem to say “layperson”, which is neither male nor female.
 
We are blessed to now have priests who can sing it beautifully. Our wonderful Deacons are tone-deaf, and the one time I heard one of them sing it, it was horrible. This beautiful work of art deserves to be sung by a voice that does justice to it, if possible.
 
Phemie said:
Really? I’m a stickler for rules and I’ve never seen that one.

We’ve had a woman sing the Exsultet! in our parish every year for the 17 that I’ve been here simply because we have no deacon, our pastors didn’t sing and wanted it sung and the only singers who could pull it off are women.

Must admit that until I came here I never heard it sung.
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Now if we could only convince her to learn the new one rather than continually singing the illicit version.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
Furthermore, the layperson must be a man. Women are not permitted to chant the Exsultet.
Click to expand...
I don’t mean to pile on the comments here, but since that was addressed to me, I have to say that there’s no such requirement (in the United States).

I don’t know the universal norm on this–whether or not the permission for a layperson to sing the exsultet is only a Bishops Conference adaptation for (at least) the U.S. and for Canada.
 
CB_Catholic said:
Do you have something official to back this up? Not meaning to cause trouble, but I have never heard of this, and the documents cited seem to say “layperson”, which is neither male nor female.
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The Latin version of the GIRM uses the masculine when referring to layman and not the gender neutral, which is a limitation of the English language.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
The Latin version of the GIRM uses the masculine when referring to layman and not the gender neutral, which is a limitation of the English language.
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OK, but that is not actually proof, as the term “layman” can refer to either sex also, in a generic sense. I was looking for an actual statement from an official source, rather than a supposition that something means something in Latin. Something that says only men can read the Exsultet. After all, there are documents saying only men can be priests and deacons, so I am looking for something official (other than a Bishop’s preference or some Cardinal at the Vatican’s opinion).
 
truthseeker90 said:
Hello,

Does anyone know if it is permissible for the Exsultet to be recited rather than chanted during the Easter Vigil?.
Click to expand...
Permissible to be recited or not, I hope it will be chanted where you are.
I’ll let bigger minds delve into that question for you. It looks like they already are.

I’m aware there’s a lot of things a small parish may want to do, that it just can’t. I’m in a small parish myself. If the Priest really can’t chant it, he can’t. And if you’re like my Parish, who else is there? But really the Exsultet is so beautiful and historic… maybe you can work something permissible out. You have time…
 
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