Singing during the preparation of the gifts?

[cydonian]

In our parish the musicians quite fequently play and/or sing music almost entirely through the preparation of the gifts. (They stop after the priest purifies himself).
This does not seem right to me since you cannot hear what the priest is saying and the focus is taken off what he is doing.
Is it okay to sing and/or play music during the preparation of the gifts?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Yes, it is okay.

In the Mass, some actions belong to the priest, and others to the laity.

At that point of the Mass, the priest offers the gifts of bread and wine on our behalf. The laity do not have an “active” role at this point, i.e., specific prayers to say, etc. The priest’s prayers, “Blessed are You,” etc., may be spoken out loud by the priest if there is no music, or silently whether or not there is music. The people only respond if the priest prays the prayers out loud; so this participation by the laity is “optional.”

It is a good idea for you to mentally offer yourself, your actions, sufferings, etc. to God as the priest raises the host and chalice, but it is not necessary to speak any audible words in doing so.

So music is appropriate at this time.

 

[musicmantg11]

It says in the Sacramentary:

Preparation of the Gifts

The following is said by the Priest inaudibly before placing the bread on the altar. If no song is sung, it will be said aloud.

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
People (if said aloud): Blessed be God for ever.

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
People (if said aloud): Blessed be God for ever.

The priest then says inaudibly: Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts. Then he washes his hands, and say inaudibly: Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.

Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all the Church.

 

[japhy]

It says in the Sacramentary:

Preparation of the Gifts

The following is said by the Priest inaudibly before placing the bread on the altar. If no song is sung, it will be said aloud.

My 1985 Chapel Sacramentary says “If no offertory song is sung, the priest may say the preceding words in an audible voice…”

 

[Sarabande]

Agree with the others. At our parish, unless it is during the Easter season or other important season, they always do either an organ instrumental or silence (like during Lent) for the Offertory. Although most of the time, it is usually an instrumental piece.

 

[japhy]

Agree with the others. At our parish, unless it is during the Easter season or other important season, they always do either an organ instrumental or silence (like during Lent) for the Offertory. Although most of the time, it is usually an instrumental piece.

I’d really like to see my parish adopt a choral piece for the Offertory.

 

[cydonian]

Thank you all for your thoughts.
I guess I prefer no music or singing so that the priest can be heard.

 

[Sarabande]

I’d really like to see my parish adopt a choral piece for the Offertory.

Oh, yes, I failed to mention that at our 11:00 masses during the year when the choir is here, they do have a choral piece. The rest of the masses would either be instrumental or silent.

 

[japhy]

I guess I prefer no music or singing so that the priest can be heard.

Well, the priest doesn’t always have to be heard. He and the deacon have quite a few silent prayers in the Ordinary Form of Mass:

If the Gospel is read by a deacon, then beforehand (during the Alleluia) he asks the priest, in a low voice, for a blessing (Iube, domne, benedícere), and the priest blesses him in a low voice (Dóminus sit in corde tuo et in lábiis tuis: ut digne et competénter annúnties Evangélium suum: in nómine Patris, et Fílii, + et Spíritus Sancti).

Otherwise, the priest prays privately for a blessing (Munda cor meum ac lábia mea, omnípotens Deus, ut sanctum Evangélium tuum digne váleam nuntiáre).

When the Gospel is finished, the deacon/priest kisses the book and says privately Per evangélica dicta deleántur nostra delícta.

The priest can choose to say the offertory prayers (over the bread and wine) in a low voice. The priest or deacon also says the prayer of the mingling of the wine and water privately (Per huius aquae et vini mystérium eius efficiámur divinitátis consórtes, qui humanitátis nostrae fíeri dignátus est párticeps).

After those prayers, and before he washes his hands, the priest prays privately that he might offer a pleasing sacrifice (In spíritu humilitátis et in ánimo contríto suscipiámur a te, Dómine; et sic fiat sacrifícium nostrum in conspéctu tuo hódie, ut pláceat tibi, Dómine Deus).

Then he washes his hands, praying privately (Lava me, Dómine, ab iniquitáte mea, et a peccáto meo munda me).

After the priest has broken the consecrated Host (around the time of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)), as he places a piece of the Host in the Chalice, he prays privately (Haec commíxtio Córporis et Sánguinis Dómini nostri Iesu Christi fiat accipiéntibus nobis in vitam aetérnam).

After the Agnus Dei, the priest prays a preparatory prayer in private (either Dómine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, qui ex voluntáte Patris, cooperánte Spíritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum vivificásti: líbera me per hoc sacrosánctum Corpus et Sánguinem tuum ab ómnibus iniquitátibus meis et univérsis malis: et fac me tuis semper inhaerére mandátis, et a te numquam separári permíttas or Percéptio Córporis et Sánguinis tui, Dómine Iesu Christe, non mihi provéniat in iudícium et condemnatiónem: sed pro tua pietáte prosit mihi ad tutaméntum mentis et córporis, et ad medélam percipiéndam).

Just before he consumes the Host, he prays privately (Corpus Christi custódiat me in vitam aetérnam); he does the same right before drinking from the Chalice (Sanguis Christi custódiat me in vitam aetérnam).

Finally, during the ablutions and purification of the sacred vessels, he says one more private prayer (Quod ore súmpsimus, Dómine, pura mente capiámus, et de múnere temporáli fiat nobis remédium sempitérnum).