Singing during the Consecration

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Recently, one of the priests in my parish has started something new. During the Consecration, as he raises our Lord for adoration (first with the bread, and later with the wine), he leads the choir and congregation in singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him.”

Though I have not been Catholic for very long, I have been going to mass for many years, and have never seen or heard this (singing during the Consecration). While I personally find it very moving, I wonder if it is proper.

Any thoughts?
 
Not proper. Adoration is reserved for outside of the Mass.

He’s not to add or change anything during the Consecration.

What he’s doing is an abuse.
 
Talk to the liturgist and see if this is part of some published way to do the mass.
 
Talk to the liturgist and see if this is part of some published way to do the mass.
It isn’t.

See the document Redemptoris Sacramentum:

**2. The Eucharistic Prayer

[51.] Only those Eucharistic Prayers are to be used which are found in the Roman Missal or are legitimately approved by the Apostolic See, and according to the manner and the terms set forth by it. “It is not to be tolerated that some Priests take upon themselves the right to compose their own Eucharistic Prayers”[129] or to change the same texts approved by the Church, or to introduce others composed by private individuals.[130]

[52.] The proclamation of the Eucharistic Prayer, which by its very nature is the climax of the whole celebration, is proper to the Priest by virtue of his Ordination. It is therefore an abuse to proffer it in such a way that some parts of the Eucharistic Prayer are recited by a Deacon, a lay minister, or by an individual member of the faithful, or by all members of the faithful together. The Eucharistic Prayer, then, is to be recited by the Priest alone in full.[131]

[53.] While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer “there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent”,[132] except for the people’s acclamations that have been duly approved, as described below.

[54.] The people, however, are always involved actively and never merely passively: for they “silently join themselves with the Priest in faith, as well as in their interventions during the course of the Eucharistic Prayer as prescribed, namely in the responses in the Preface dialogue, the Sanctus, the acclamation after the consecration and the “Amen” after the final doxology, and in other acclamations approved by the Conference of Bishops with the recognitio of the Holy See”.[133]

and this:

[59.] The reprobated practice by which Priests, Deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the Sacred Liturgy that they are charged to pronounce, must cease. For in doing thus, they render the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy unstable, and not infrequently distort the authentic meaning of the Liturgy.**

I’m sure the priest is well intentioned, but he is not to add anything outside the norms of the liturgical texts, no matter how “nice” it seems.

Perhaps he could put together a series of teaching homilies that could be focused on the Real Presence of the Blessed Sacrament at Mass and at Adoration.
 
Not proper. Adoration is reserved for outside of the Mass.

He’s not to add or change anything during the Consecration.

What he’s doing is an abuse.
What about actually singing the words of consecration? (We had a guest priest from India who did this - brought people to tears - beautiful tenor…)
 
The priest is permitted (even encouraged) to sing the Eucharistic Prayer.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“147. Then the priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer. In accordance with the rubrics (cf. below, no. 365), he selects a Eucharistic Prayer from those found in the Roman Missal or approved by the Apostolic See. The Eucharistic Prayer demands, by its very nature, that the priest say it in virtue of his ordination. The people, for their part, should associate themselves with the priest in faith and in silence, as well as through their parts as prescribed in the course of the Eucharistic Prayer: namely the responses in the Preface dialogue, the Sanctus, the acclamation after the consecration, the acclamatory Amen after the final doxology, as well as other acclamations approved by the Conference of Bishops and recognized by the Holy See.
It is very appropriate that the priest sing those parts of the Eucharistic Prayer for which musical notation is provided.

For the second Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children, it has:
“He shows the consecrated host to the people while all say:
Jesus has given his life for us.
He places the consecrated host on the paten, and genuflects in adoration.”
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, pages 1110-1111). Everyone makes the same acclamation when the chalice is show to the people.
 
What about actually singing the words of consecration? (We had a guest priest from India who did this - brought people to tears - beautiful tenor…)
I have heard the words of the Consecration chanted beautifully by some priests and other priests have used it to “showcase” their singing voices (my opinion). Most do not sing the Eucharistic Prayer, but it sure can be beautifully moving when done well.

Here’s a take on the subject:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur128.htm
 
One of our priests sings David Haas’ version of the Eucharistic Prayer. The organ is played during this time. The priest is blessed with a beautiful voice, and hearing the prayer sung has brought me to tears at times.

I have heard that David Haas’ Eucharistic Prayer is “based on” Eucharistic Prayer #4 in the missal. I’m not sure about the extent of any changes, or if it’s just a matter of some phrases being re-worded so that it’s easier to sing.

I know that according to the GIRM there’s not supposed to be any music played during the Eucharistic Prayer, to minimize distractions. I don’t know if this priest needs the notes to sing it or not.

Does anyone know whether or not David Haas’ Eucharistic Prayer has been approved for singing during mass?
 
Recently, one of the priests in my parish has started something new. During the Consecration, as he raises our Lord for adoration (first with the bread, and later with the wine), he leads the choir and congregation in singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him.”

Though I have not been Catholic for very long, I have been going to mass for many years, and have never seen or heard this (singing during the Consecration). While I personally find it very moving, I wonder if it is proper.

Any thoughts?
Not allowed.
 
One of our priests sings David Haas’ version of the Eucharistic Prayer. The organ is played during this time. The priest is blessed with a beautiful voice, and hearing the prayer sung has brought me to tears at times.

I have heard that David Haas’ Eucharistic Prayer is “based on” Eucharistic Prayer #4 in the missal. I’m not sure about the extent of any changes, or if it’s just a matter of some phrases being re-worded so that it’s easier to sing.

I know that according to the GIRM there’s not supposed to be any music played during the Eucharistic Prayer, to minimize distractions. I don’t know if this priest needs the notes to sing it or not.

Does anyone know whether or not David Haas’ Eucharistic Prayer has been approved for singing during mass?
He can’t use any version except those in the approved liturgical books. Even if it is “based” on an approved Eucharistic prayer. He may Chant the Consecration.
 
It seems like what the priest is doing falls into the realm of pious devotion. While it probably isn’t ideal or most appropriate, neither do I necessarily see it as forbidden. It would be no different, really, if the organist played chimes with the same tune (as I have heard done at a very orthodox parish). I wouldn’t encourage him to continue this practice, but I wouldn’t really worry about it, either.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies and advice.

This particular priest is somewhat new (to my parish), and from a foreign country. He does sing parts of the Eucharist prayer as well, and will sometimes sing during the homily.

What concerns me, however, is that the entire congregation sings along as he elevates the host and as he elevates the cup. For me, at least, this draws my attention away from the miracle that has just occurred.

I don’t want to be pedantic, or second guess the priest, as I’ve clearly got a lot to learn. Perhaps I should speak with the senior pastor.

TCMD
 
It is not proper because it deviates the proper rubrics both of the Traditional Latin Mass and Novus Ordo Missae.
They could chant not sing other liturgical prayers, but not the Consecration words because Jesus did not sing during the last supper nor it is prescribed by the Chruch.

Pax
Laudater Jesus Christo
Instaurare omnia in Christo
 
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