Singing during Communion?

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We do something similar to what others have described. We sing the Communion hymn. Then, one of the EMHC’c comes up to the choir loft for those who want to receive. While she is doing that, the choir director will play some quiet music, and/or he will start a new hymn where the cantor sings the verses and the choir sings the chorus. But the choir director always tells us to feel free to not sing after we recieve, until we feel ready. There are usually a few people there that have either already recieved (such as the cantors or choir director who received at an earlier Mass), or are not receiving that particular day. They carry the song until the rest of us can join in.

So I pray for a bit and make sure I have completely consumed the Host before I join in singing the hymn in progress.
 
One of the most ambiguous passages in the GIRM is the one dealing with how the musicians are to receive Communion.
 
I actually thought it was in the girm to have silence after communion, but that is amiguous as well in the GIRM. It says that one can pray privately, but then it adds that an additional song can be sung.

Another thought…you never trully have real silence at Mass. Coughing, babies crying, outside traffic, etc. Although when the girm tells us to have it,we should try, I think that soft music can actually serve as a “white noise” that covers distractions.

I play music during the purifying of the vessels until the priest gets back to his chair. It is up to the priest then how much silence he wants to add.

People here say they “prefer” soft background music to a sung hymn. Well, sorry, but the GIRM disagrees with you.

From the 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.
  2. To bring to completion the prayer of the People of God, and also to conclude the entire Communion Rite, the priest says the Prayer after Communion, in which he prays for the fruits of the mystery just celebrated.
 
agapewolf said:
  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.
  2. To bring to completion the prayer of the People of God, and also to conclude the entire Communion Rite, the priest says the Prayer after Communion, in which he prays for the fruits of the mystery just celebrated.
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Thank you for your post!!

In Peace,
DS
 
Dear DaughterSorrow,

Good greetings … You’re not alone to feel like you do.

In my case, when I was a child I was part of the choir, and considered singing immediately after Communion quite a sacrifice to make. Now that I’m an adult, I am not a member of the choir for various reasons. While I do my best to sing the songs I know during other parts of the Mass, I no longer sing the Communion hymn but instead pray quietly.

Meanwhile, I am highly grateful to all those like you who are in the choir … You are very good and inspirational, if you’re anything like the singers in my parish! 🙂

IMHO , simply do what you feel the Lord is calling you to do … whether that means praying quietly, or singing beautifully.

~~ the phoenix
 
PPP Purely a Personal Prejudice. I like silence during Communion, but if there has to be singing the preference is something sacred, reverent…no drums, no keyboards, no Haugen, no Cumbaya, no pop.**
 
mystified said:
PPP Purely a Personal Prejudice. I like silence during Communion, but if there has to be singing the preference is something sacred, reverent…no drums, no keyboards, no Haugen, no Cumbaya, no pop.**And really, with the exception of silence during Communion, the GIRM agrees with you. 😉
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MusicMan said:
In the scenario you give, I am curious about when the organist gets his/her opportunity to pray after receiving.
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I would go to receive and then go back to the bench and the improvisation for the communion procession was my prayer…

A Communion hymn followed.

Joe B
 
There is always a song that is played durning commuion in our parish. I love the music while I’m praying.
 
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