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CatholicZ09
Guest
Sometimes at funerals, the responsorial psalm is a hymn or song, like for instance, the responsorial psalm will be “On Eagle’s Wings.” Isn’t this abuse?
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
On Eagle’s Wings is a version of Psalm 91.
I hope that the family found it comforting.
I hope that the family found it comforting.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
On Eagle’s Wings is a version of Psalm 91. I don’t know whether that particular version is considered acceptable for the responsorial psalm or not.
I hope the family found comfort in it.
I hope the family found comfort in it.
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bpbasilphx
Guest
Did you know the term “liturgical abuse” appears NOWHERE in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, according to the serarchable version on St. Charles Borromeo Parish’s website?
Furthermore, I’ve not been able to find the term in the CCL, either.
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Shin
Guest
You’re looking in the wrong place. Try Redemptionis Sacramentum.
You can try for example, Chapter 7, part 6. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters [183-184]
[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism.
[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[290] It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.
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Phemie
Guest
It is.
GIRM 61. (…) The responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should, as a rule, be taken from the Lectionary. (…) Songs or hymns may not be used in place of the responsorial Psalm.
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GabrielPenfield
Guest
I disagree that “On Eagle’s Wings” would be abuse. While it would certainly not be my first choice, it is perfectly acceptable as a setting of Psalm 91 and furthermore, because it has a refrain, is responsorial in nature.
The point about substituting hymns and songs is there to keep you from choosing your favorite hymn, for example “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” instead of a setting of Psalm 23, or worse, a favorite song such as “Let There Be Peace on Earth” which isn’t even a psalm.
Clarification from Sing to the Lord : Music in Divine Worship, which is an official publication of the USCCB:
The point about substituting hymns and songs is there to keep you from choosing your favorite hymn, for example “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” instead of a setting of Psalm 23, or worse, a favorite song such as “Let There Be Peace on Earth” which isn’t even a psalm.
Clarification from Sing to the Lord : Music in Divine Worship, which is an official publication of the USCCB:
Saying “On Eagle’s Wings” is just a song or hymn, and therefore abusive, is more a matter of taste.
Using “On Eagle’s Wings” for Responsorial Psalm 91 is an abuse because it’s not the proper translation. For the United States, there is only one approved translation for the Psalms at Mass, and that is the Revised Grail. Anything else, such as NAB, RSV, NRSV, or a paraphrase like “On Eagles’ Wings” is liturgically incorrect and therefore an abuse.
Old thread… but whatever…
The verses for “On Eagles Wings” make up a pretty good translation of the text of psalm 91. And I believe that psalm 91 is an appropriate psalm to be used at funerals.
The problem is that not all Catholic translations of psalm 91 are acceptable for the Responsorial Psalm. And to the best of my knowledge, the refrain is not an acceptable response for any translation.
The verses for “On Eagles Wings” make up a pretty good translation of the text of psalm 91. And I believe that psalm 91 is an appropriate psalm to be used at funerals.
The problem is that not all Catholic translations of psalm 91 are acceptable for the Responsorial Psalm. And to the best of my knowledge, the refrain is not an acceptable response for any translation.
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FatHead
Guest
psst: Sing to the Lord has no authority in the US, unless it is quoting authorititative sources, or a given bishop gives it authority in his diocese.
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FatHead
Guest
its a paraphrase, so its simply not acceptable for use as a psalm
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MarkThompson
Guest
This is wrong on two counts. First, the primary “approved text” for the responsorial psalm is the one that is in the Lectionary. I’m not sure exactly which translation it is, but it’s definitely not the brand-new Revised Grail. When the psalm is spoken rather than sung, the text must be taken from the Lectionary. Second, when the psalm is sung, there is no inherent restriction on which translation can be used. For the U.S., instead of what is in the Lectionary, it is completely licit to sing “an antiphon and Psalm from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, including Psalms arranged in metrical form, providing that they have been approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.” (GIRM 61).
No abuse, I’m happy to say.
To the best of my knowledge On Eagles Wings was never intended to be a psalm for liturgical purposes and as such would not be included in an approved “collection of Psalms and antiphons”.
But the general principle still stands for other psalms, of course.
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MarkThompson
Guest
Right, I wasn’t speaking about On Eagle’s Wings specifically. Although OEW is very closely based on Ps. 91 (90), to my knowledge neither was it written to be, nor is it strictly acceptable as, a replacement for the responsorial psalm.
If you’re not yet hearing the revised Grail, then it’s still the 1970 NAB. The revised Grail is now the sole liturgical psalter for future editons.
And while conceding the point on GIRM61,I still am not aware of On Eagle’s Wings being approved for theResponsorial Psalm.
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FAB
Guest
In planning funeral liturgies there is a lot more lee way than for a Sunday Mass. It is planned to remember those who have gone to meet the Lord but also to Comfort the family and mourners.
Not all responsorial psalms come from the the book of Psalms. The are many different musical version of them as well. “On Eagles wings” is as well.
Although I have never had a request as liturgy director to use it as the psalm, other places yes, I would see no reason that it couldn’t be used.
Don’t look for abuse were there is none.
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GabrielPenfield
Guest
Okay, so I should have quoted GIRM, instead of Sing to the Lord, but they do say the same thing about the Dioceses of the United States.
The question remains, then, will the USCCB actually create an approved list of these psalms and songs? In the meantime, I think pastoral judgment comes into play.
Again, I would not encourage someone to choose it. There is enough time during a funeral Mass for “On Eagle’s Wings” without it having to be used as the psalm, when there are good choices which use the official text.
It’s hard to say what USCCB will eventually come up with. We do not have a U.S. national hymnal, as do the Canadians, which makes it more difficult. We possibly have too many choices. But again, pastoral judgment and local bishop can make all the difference.
Regarding the Revised Grail Psalter, I expect that we will start using it in the United States when a new edition of the Lectionary is published. Till then we stick to the current Lectionary.
There are far worse liturgical abuses to be concerned with, and I feel those should be a higher priority for us.
The question remains, then, will the USCCB actually create an approved list of these psalms and songs? In the meantime, I think pastoral judgment comes into play.
Again, I would not encourage someone to choose it. There is enough time during a funeral Mass for “On Eagle’s Wings” without it having to be used as the psalm, when there are good choices which use the official text.
It’s hard to say what USCCB will eventually come up with. We do not have a U.S. national hymnal, as do the Canadians, which makes it more difficult. We possibly have too many choices. But again, pastoral judgment and local bishop can make all the difference.
Regarding the Revised Grail Psalter, I expect that we will start using it in the United States when a new edition of the Lectionary is published. Till then we stick to the current Lectionary.
There are far worse liturgical abuses to be concerned with, and I feel those should be a higher priority for us.
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FAB
Guest
On what basis. It is a psalm, and I will suggest to you that very few psalms set to music are a direct translation. Also we are talking about the funeral Liturgy which there is a great deal more leeway in the selections used.No there isn’t any leeway. In fact it should be regulated more strictly.
The GIRM is clear: any collection of psalms outside the Lectionary or Gradual must be approved. For liturgical texts, this means a concordat cum originali. does such a collection exist with On Eagle’s Wings?
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