Singing and/or music during Communion

[barneybee]

I have always had a rpoblem with the choir singing or the music minister playing during Communion. To my way of thinking it should be a time of silence, when we can truly “communicate” with our Lord. Instead our intimacy is overpowered by song/music, making it difficilt to pray. I have attended Masses in about five different churches in our Diocese, and all play/sing during Communion. Is this a part of the Liturgy dictated by the Bishop, or is it universal? I contacted our Pastor, and in so many words, he turned me off.

 

[Faustina]

I don’t mind if the music is soft. I do not like the singing. What I do not like is we have two collections, one for the parish and the other for a charity. The second collection is taken up right after Communion while the priest is “washing the dishes” (Sorry, I do not know the correct term for this) I find it extremely disturbing. I am usually praying/mediating during this time.

 

[tkdnick]

Faustina:

I don’t mind if the music is soft. I do not like the singing. What I do not like is we have two collections, one for the parish and the other for a charity. The second collection is taken up right after Communion while the priest is “washing the dishes” (Sorry, I do not know the correct term for this) I find it extremely disturbing. I am usually praying/mediating during this time.

To answer just thread…I am in the band at our church and we usually play 3 songs during communion. With the last song of course being the meditation which is slower and quieter. Been that way as long as I have been going to church.

About the second collection…We used to do that at our parish, but decided right after communion was not the time for it since people were supposed to be genuflecting (right?). So we now have our double collection back to back. The first collection happens and is dumped into one container then the ushers head right back out for the 2nd collection. Seems to work well at our parish. It is certainly something that I would bring up to your liturgy and worship committee (or whatever it’s called at your parish).

 

[LarryM]

barneybee:

I have always had a rpoblem with the choir singing or the music minister playing during Communion. To my way of thinking it should be a time of silence, when we can truly “communicate” with our Lord. Instead our intimacy is overpowered by song/music, making it difficilt to pray. I have attended Masses in about five different churches in our Diocese, and all play/sing during Communion. Is this a part of the Liturgy dictated by the Bishop, or is it universal? I contacted our Pastor, and in so many words, he turned me off.

Singing during and after Communion are options listed in the GIRM. Exactly how the options are exercised in a particular Mass is up to the celebrant.

Here is the excerpt from the current GIRM.

1. 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.74 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.

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the *Roman Gradual *as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above. This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.

If there is no singing, however, the Communion antiphon found in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.

1. 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.

Larry

 

[Mysty101]

LarryM:

Singing during and after Communion are options listed in the GIRM. Exactly how the options are exercised in a particular Mass is up to the celebrant. Here is the excerpt from the current GIRM.

Larry

(4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above

And this leaves the door wide open. You may state your preference, but you do not have documentation for anything.
.

 

[LarryM]

Mysty101:

And this leaves the door wide open. You may state your preference, but you do not have documentation for anything.
.

??

I do not understand what you are saying. I offered no personal preference. I offered only documentation.

The GIRM states it’s ok to sing or not to sing during and after Communion, and it gives a list of options of things may be sung or chanted.

So yes, the door is wide open to the preference of the celebrant.

Larry

 

[Podo2004]

barneybee:

I have always had a rpoblem with the choir singing or the music minister playing during Communion. To my way of thinking it should be a time of silence, when we can truly “communicate” with our Lord. Instead our intimacy is overpowered by song/music, making it difficilt to pray. I have attended Masses in about five different churches in our Diocese, and all play/sing during Communion. Is this a part of the Liturgy dictated by the Bishop, or is it universal? I contacted our Pastor, and in so many words, he turned me off.

Weird, my opinion is the total opposite… i think that singing should be more encouraged especially for the congregation to sing because after all you are celebrating mass and it should be a joyful event… and BTW you still can pray with music too
Podo

 

[puzzleannie]

I have often been heard to say I would kill for 60 seconds silence after communion - no singing, no announcements, no kneeler banging, no shuffling, no doors banging as people leave early, no collection. just silence. well I got my wish last night at the all souls Mass. There were only about 20 people there until we brought the jr hi kids in, they were not too restless during Mass, very attentive to father’s great sermon on purgatory. but after communion they really surprised me. for almost 5 full minutes you could have heard a pin drop. it was refreshing, enlightening, reverent silence. I hope they teach the rest of the parish the value of sacred silence.

 

[barneybee]

Thank you all for responding. To expand a bit on why it has become difficult for my wife and I to “live” with the music/singing during Communion, the choir is quite large, we have an organ, but it hasn’t been used in years, so the director uses a piano (amplified), accompanied by a base fiddle, a flute, a guitar, a violin, and a trumpet. Put all this together and it almost impossible to think or pray. Soft, organ music only, we could handle. I still remember a healing Mass/retreat we attended a few years ago. The visiting celebrant told the small music group, that was there, to neither sing nor play during Communion, and the silence was precious. It is the music/singing only during Communion that we struggle with, but nowhere else during Mass, since it is part of our Catholic heritage and tradition. Guess we can roll over and accept that which we cannot change!

 

[tkdnick]

barneybee:

Thank you all for responding. To expand a bit on why it has become difficult for my wife and I to “live” with the music/singing during Communion, the choir is quite large, we have an organ, but it hasn’t been used in years, so the director uses a piano (amplified), accompanied by a base fiddle, a flute, a guitar, a violin, and a trumpet. Put all this together and it almost impossible to think or pray. Soft, organ music only, we could handle. I still remember a healing Mass/retreat we attended a few years ago. The visiting celebrant told the small music group, that was there, to neither sing nor play during Communion, and the silence was precious. It is the music/singing only during Communion that we struggle with, but nowhere else during Mass, since it is part of our Catholic heritage and tradition. Guess we can roll over and accept that which we cannot change!

Have you expressed your concern with the music director and/or your priest? I would suggest talking to one or both of them in a charitable way about your concern with the music during communion.

 

[Erich]

Podo2004:

and BTW you still can pray with music too

I agree… He who sings, prays twice!

Our parish is rather large (3800+ families), and we have 7 Masses each weekend (5 PM Sat, 7, 9, 11, 12:30 Sun, 4 PM Sun Spanish, and 5:45 PM Sun Life Teen). Most Masses are full; the 5 PM Sat, 9 AM Sun, and 11 AM Sun atre typically SRO (standing room only). I never make it to the 7 AM Mass or the Spanish Mass, but I do know that the 5 PM Sat, 9 AM Sun, and 11 AM Sun Masses have an instrumental or soft vocal choir meditation as the priest/lectors/cantor/EM’s/altar servers are communing; this is followed by one or two congregational hymns while the rest of the congregation is communing.

 

[otm]

Since singing during Communion goes way back, long before Vatican 2, I wonder what the issue is? Perhaps it is that people do not realize that singing a hymn is praying?

And the GIRM makes strong reference to silence, and a provision for silence after Communion…

 

[barneybee]

tkdnick:

Have you expressed your concern with the music director and/or your priest? I would suggest talking to one or both of them in a charitable way about your concern with the music during communion.

Thanks, tkdnick. . .
Yes, I have discussed this issue with our Pastor. He simply told me that music and singing are ancient, and always have been part of the Mass. In other words, nothing has changed. I did not discuss this with the music minister, since he only does what he has been told. Again, it is only during Communion that singing disturbs us, but nowhere else during the Celebration. Yes, singing is praying, but would much prefer a few moments of silence after receiving Our Lord.

 

[ICXCNIKA]

barneybee:

I have always had a rpoblem with the choir singing or the music minister playing during Communion. To my way of thinking it should be a time of silence, when we can truly “communicate” with our Lord. Instead our intimacy is overpowered by song/music, making it difficilt to pray. I have attended Masses in about five different churches in our Diocese, and all play/sing during Communion. Is this a part of the Liturgy dictated by the Bishop, or is it universal? I contacted our Pastor, and in so many words, he turned me off.

I agree with you. I’d rather have silence. My Lord and I are communing. I find it disturbing to hear the singing.

What’s more, before Mass I always say a rosary for the entire Church. At my Parish they want to practice singing the songs for Mass.

It seems to me that, while we should have sacred singing in church, the Choir Masters should understand that most parishoners are not trained musicians. We shouldn’t be forced into singing difficult note arrangements.

 

[ICXCNIKA]

Yes, singing is praying, but would much prefer a few moments of silence after receiving Our Lord.
Silence is also praying.

 

[Kurziemom]

I have to say I agree with all sides on this one. Last Sunday I’d have cut off my left foot for even one small moment of silence at any point during mass. It was a children’s liturgy and it was just plain NOISY. Honestly, you’d think these kids were at a playground instead of God’s house.

I think if they tried for silence during communion it would have been worse-at least I could sing along with the song-there was no way I was going to be able to pray silently.

 

[khkhk]

Podo2004:

Weird, my opinion is the total opposite… i think that singing should be more encouraged especially for the congregation to sing because after all you are celebrating mass and it should be a joyful event… and BTW you still can pray with music too
Podo

I agree with you too. I pray both before and after, but I sing too. I like the singing…I epsecially like Holy is Your Name, and We Are Many Parts. And The Servant Song, and We Walk By Faith…and many others!