Singing during the elevation

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DallasCatholic

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Recently a visiting Priest instructed the choir to sing a short (30 seconds or so) hymn during the elevation. After Mass I explained to the Priest that this deeply disturbed me and I asked him to show me where in the rubrics this was allowed. The Priest explained that he did this with the intention of drawing more people to adore our Lord (which is what one should be doing during the elevation). The Priest further explained that while this was not expressly allowed in the rubrics neither was it forbidden and that he felt he was within his authority as a Priest to allow the singing. Since he felt this was within his authority he said that unless the Bishop told him to stop, he would continue this practice. I thanked him for his explanation and told him I would seek more counsel on this and then decide whether to take this to the Bishop. So, I am looking for feedback. I at first thought this was a serious liturgical abuse but after talking with the Priest I wonder whether I was overreacting. The Priest will be in my Parish for another six months or so, should I just ride it out? I appreciate, in advance, all feedback.
 
DallasCatholic said:
Since he felt this was within his authority he said that unless the Bishop told him to stop, he would continue this practice. I
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The statement from the priest is all the feedback you need. The liturgy is NOT his to change or otherwise “enhance.” Since he has stated only the bishop’s direction will get hi to change, go ahead and contact the vicar general or Bishop’s assist to address.

Here’s why you don’t “let it ride.” How many RCIA candidates or inquirers will pass through the church while this fellow is visiting? What is the impact of attending a mass with this anomaly and then going somewhere and wondering why it isn’t done that way at the other church~ they begin to see these inconsistencies and raise even more questions…:eek:

Gnats don’t need to be strained for, but a dragon fly needs to be chased down and dealt with.This guy is introducing a dragon fly. 😉
 
From Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum
[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]
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That seems pretty clear to me. Other than the prescribed responses, there is to be nothing, musically or spoken, from anyone other than the priest during the entire Eucharistic Prayer.
 
Michael_Welter said:
From Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum
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That seems pretty clear to me. Other than the prescribed responses, there is to be nothing, musically or spoken, from anyone other than the priest during the entire Eucharistic Prayer.

I assume Bell’s are still permissible?
 
Dallas, I would try one last time before taking this to the Bishop or further by showing him the section from the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum that Michael posted. If he still continues :tsktsk: then by all means I myself would take it all the way to Rome if I had to.:highprayer:
 
Thanks Michael for the information and feedback. I actually plan to go my Pastor first to make him aware of what this visiting Priest is doing in his parish. If that doesn’t work then I have a friend who is on speaking terms with Cardinal Arinze. I just wanted to make sure that I was not over reacting, and it looks like my instincts were correct.
 
Keep us posted on how it goes. I’d like to hear the outcome.
 
To help in making an informed decision about proceeding …

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“150. A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.
If incense is used, a server incenses the host and the chalice when each is shown to the people after the consecration.”

If the priest is using “Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children II” then the rubrics have:
“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.”
And:
“He shows the chalice to the people while all say:
Jesus has given his life for us.”
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, pages 1110-1111).

So if writing to the bishop it may help to include what was sung and which Eucharistic Prayer was used.
 
John_Lilburne said:
To help in making an informed decision about proceeding …

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“150. A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.
If incense is used, a server incenses the host and the chalice when each is shown to the people after the consecration.”

If the priest is using “Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children II” then the rubrics have:
“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.”
And:
“He shows the chalice to the people while all say:
Jesus has given his life for us.”
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, pages 1110-1111).

So if writing to the bishop it may help to include what was sung and which Eucharistic Prayer was used.
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Well, he had the choir singing “How Great Thou Art”. While that is an awesome song that I love dearly…it has no place being sung during the elevation.

thanks.
 
The visiting Priest was confronted this morning with Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum and after much discussion about how he was trying to enhance worship (with the rebuttal that no, he was trying to entertain) he finally admitted that he was wrong and would stop the practice immediately. Thanks for all of the comments and encouragement and thanks again to Michael for the link to Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum.
 
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