Silence after communion?

[archangel04]

Was reading through the GIRM and I notice that is states:
45. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.54 Its purpose, however, depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus within the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; but at the conclusion of a reading or the homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard;** then after Communion, they praise and pray to God in their hearts.**

Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.

But I was trying to see if there should be music during communion? I’ve notice lately that the music played during communion is really loud and distracts one when praying right after receiving communion. Can someone give me a better explanation on what I highlighted? Thank you

 

[JMJ_coder]

GIRM 86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.

Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion with ease.

So yes, there should be singing during Communion (keeping in mind the august dignity of the moment – that means no monster ballads!).

 

[CDNowak]

GIRM 86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.

Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion with ease.

So yes, there should be singing during Communion (keeping in mind the august dignity of the moment – that means no monster ballads!).

Actually, that quote tells you not only to sing but what ought to be sung, the Communion Chant (aka antiphon). And the fact that it is a liturgical chant in the Latin Rite would suggest a Gregorian Tone or variation thereof, including polyphony.
Then, if you must, you may have your hymns .

 

[Victorious]

I’ll take silence after Communion as an alternative to…well, what we usually get after Communion. Silence, by the way, is a sign of true active participation.

One of the things I like about Mass in the Extraordinary Form is that the Holy Sacrifice itself takes place in silence.

 

[MarkThompson]

One of the things I like about Mass in the Extraordinary Form is that the Holy Sacrifice itself takes place in silence.

Well, at a low Mass, sure. At a high Mass, not so much, especially for instance when you get a polyphonic Sanctus and Benedictus that bleed over through most of the Canon, a polyphonic Agnus Dei, etc. If you ever get to see a Requiem in one of the great settings like Mozart’s or Faure’s, not too much silence there either!

 

[Mea_Culpa]

At my parish, they have a group of children that sing during and after communion, and when they’re done, everybody claps for them. It takes the focus off of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The songs they sing are “I’m a flower” and things like that. There are other parishes in my area, but none of them are any more reverent.

 

[Phemie]

So yes, there should be singing during Communion (keeping in mind the august dignity of the moment – that means no monster ballads!).

Singing is even an option instead of silence after everyone has received:

GIRM 88. When the distribution of Communion is finished, as circumstances suggest, the priest and faithful spend some time praying privately. If desired, a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may also be sung by the entire congregation.

This is actually the only hymn where there is no option for the choir alone to sing. How often do we see that done as instructed?
Isn’t this where we usually experience solos or children’s performance?

 

[JMJ_coder]

Singing is even an option instead of silence after everyone has received:
This is actually the only hymn where there is no option for the choir alone to sing. How often do we see that done as instructed?
Isn’t this where we usually experience solos or children’s performance?

That makes reference to after Communion. I’m confused now, what period of time in the Mass are we discussing here?

 

[Phemie]

That makes reference to after Communion. I’m confused now, what period of time in the Mass are we discussing here?

During the Communion rite there is the possibility of two songs at two different moments: the one that accompanies the Communion procession (starting when the priest is receiving and continuing until at least everyone has received) and a song of praise by the entire congregation in the period after Communion has been received by all and the priest has returned to the chair. We usually get a period of silence then, short though it may be.

In many parishes that is the time when the choir will sing alone or you’ll get a solo - in direct contradiction to the GIRM which dictates a congregational hymn/canticle/psalm if something is going to be sung.

 

[benedictgal]

Even though the GIRM does state that, I would rather have silence than a lot of the OCP drek we are faced with singinig. The Holy Father, however, does make a case for silence in Sacramentum Caritatis:

Furthermore, the precious time of thanksgiving after communion should not be neglected: besides the singing of an appropriate hymn, it can also be most helpful to remain recollected in silence. (152)

I think that, lamentably, we have forgotten what it is like to have sacred silence. If we do all of the talking, I believe that it makes it hard for the Lord to get a word in edgewise. God is too much of a gentleman to interrupt us. We need to give Him some time to speak to us, especially after we have just received Him.

 

[frenchbeatle]

Personally, I would prefer complete silence during and after Communion. I have a hard enough time concentrating on prayer as it is, then to have a song being sung/played while I’m giving thanks… Makes it almost impossible for me to have quiet in my mind, especially when it’s a song I like.

 

[archangel04]

THanks for the information. I feel a gently tone of music without singing would help a lot. It would put one in the setting to pray and drown out any talking (which one should not be doing, but it happens) and there you have it lol. Thanks again for the info.