Singing the Words of Consecration

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Lucyabe

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Is it proper for the priest to sing the Words of Consecration? I have seen and heard many other parts of the Mass sung or chanted, but never before the exact words that Jesus SAID : " take this and eat it, this is my Body"… and “take and drink it, this is my Blood which will be shed for you… do this in memory of me”. I cannot picture Jesus singing these words, and I just wonder if it is within the rubrics for the priest to do it?
 
I’ve only found the most musically proficient priests who could pull off singing the Eucharistic prayer, including the consecration. It seems to be something that they don’t spend much time on, in the seminary.

When it’s done well, which is the only way to do it, then it’s really nice.

And, at that, I’ve only heard it in English, never in Latin, in the old days.
 
I’ve been to Mass where the priest “performed” and was accompanied by “dinner music” … the pianist played during the Eucharistic Prayer. I knew something wasn’t right, so I looked into the rubrics. I found that the priest is permitted to sing the consecration, but the musical instruments are to be silent.
 
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Crumpy:
I’ve only found the most musically proficient priests who could pull off singing the Eucharistic prayer, including the consecration. It seems to be something that they don’t spend much time on, in the seminary.

When it’s done well, which is the only way to do it, then it’s really nice.

And, at that, I’ve only heard it in English, never in Latin, in the old days.
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Well, it is nice to learn that others have heard this done. This priest does have a beautiful voice, and does it with much reverence, but he is accompanied by light piano music too. It does take me from prayer to a dinner theatre type feeling, since he does not sing anything leading up to these special words. I guess I will have to learn to get used to it. He is not doing it during Lent, thank God!
 
I don’t remember the name of the Mass setting from which it came, but we had a priest who could sing - and it was a capella. The first time he did it, it was so poignant that people were dabbing their eyes…me included. But I can’t remember which Mass setting it came from.
 
The priest really ought only to be chanting the parts of the Mass which the Missale allows it.

There was a time, over a thousand years ago, where the Pope’s official liturgy chanted the words of consecration. It was certainly forbidden a little later. Now the situation might be more ambigous, but I know of no indult permitting the practice.
 
The Official Roman Missal in its Latin Edition actually has Music Options in the apendix in which the words of consecration are song. During Ephiany Pope Benedict XVI sung the words of consecration… which would be a sign that it is okay. I would think that it depends on the music setting. You definitley would not use jazz or rock music!
 
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Lucyabe:
Is it proper for the priest to sing the Words of Consecration? I have seen and heard many other parts of the Mass sung or chanted, but never before the exact words that Jesus SAID : " take this and eat it, this is my Body"… and “take and drink it, this is my Blood which will be shed for you… do this in memory of me”. I cannot picture Jesus singing these words, and I just wonder if it is within the rubrics for the priest to do it?
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Yes but not accompanied by any music. It’s not sung either it’s chanted.
 
That is correct! Good Anwer. Liturgically speaking none of the priests parts are sung: they are chanted. And my bishop told me that chanting is allowed but without the accompainment!
 
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brotherhrolf:
I don’t remember the name of the Mass setting from which it came, but we had a priest who could sing - and it was a capella. The first time he did it, it was so poignant that people were dabbing their eyes…me included. But I can’t remember which Mass setting it came from.
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The priest at my Newman Center sometimes uses a setting called the “Rangueil Mass.” It’s like a combination of Gregorian and Slavonic melodies. Is that the one you heard?
 
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totustuusmaria:
the situation might be more ambigous, but I know of no indult permitting the practice.
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The situation is not ambiguous. The practice is explicitly permitted by the ruberics (as someone has already noted).
 
As has been stated, the missal of Paul VI allows the entire eucharastic prayer to be sung and the English and Latin editions both provide chant settings for this.

In fact, every syllable of the Mass may be sung, including the Orate, fratres. (Not the words Corpus Christi when distributing communion, but that is not part of the Mass rite itself.)
 
I really enjoyed during Christmas (Advent-you know what I mean) when the Gloria and other parts of the mass were sung at my home parish (not the ones I complain about in other posts).

It would be great if the priest could pull off singing the Eucharistic Prayer and other parts. It makes the mass feel more fulfilling.

We have a semi-permanent substitute priest that comes in when Father is ill or on vacation, and he sings some of the prayers. It adds a nice touch.
 
Well, it is nice to hear from so many people on this subject. I am still a bit confused as to whether it is permissable or not. With music or without? He does not CHANT, he Sings, with a beautiful voice that sounds like he could perform on stage anywhere, but he does have light piano accompaniment.

When the pope SANG the words of Consecration was it Singing, or Chanting? And did music accompany it?

When seeing the horrible DISCO Mass on this web page, I suppose I should not be a bit concerned about the Reverent Singing of the words of Consecration! And I guess I wouldn’t be, except I love those words when SPOKEN with sincerity and reverence, as this pastor does at daily Mass, and now during Lent.

I do wish a Theologian would give me a real answer to this question. I have asked but not gotten one from any yet. :confused:
 
The documents of the Church explicitly state that the whole of the Liturgy can be chanted using one of the approved options provided in the appendix of the Missale Romanum (formerly known as the Sacramentary). This means that if the priest so chooses the mass from the Processional Antiphon to the Ite Missa Est can be sung according to the proper and approved tones. All mass settings must be approved by the local Bishops Conference and the Holy See. There is even provision for the readings to be sung in the proper tone associated with the Epistle, Psalm, or Gospel each being different. The liturgical documents of the Church (in particular Redemptionis Sacramentum) forbid the use of music during the recitation of the Canon of the Mass - meaning the Eucharistic prayer apart from the ordinaries of the mass.
 
well the consecration is chanted in the Dinvine Liturgy so perhaps some Latin Rite preists want to chant it as well. I have never heard it done though. I rarely even here the through him with him in him part sung anymore.
 
Here they mostly chant especially the Eucharistic Prayer. Though most of the time it’s recto tono with an occassional lower note.
 
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CatholicRevert:
I’ve been to Mass where the priest “performed” and was accompanied by “dinner music” … the pianist played during the Eucharistic Prayer. I knew something wasn’t right, so I looked into the rubrics. I found that the priest is permitted to sing the consecration, but the musical instruments are to be silent.
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Same here. And to top it off, the priest who does this regularly in our area really doesn’t have a nice voice at all, especially when he tries to reach the high notes. It’s very distracting.

Whatever happened to good old chanting? It’s beautiful when done correctly. One of our younger priests does this through much of the Mass occasionally (but not the consecration) and it is so moving. He has a beautiful voice which I’m sure makes the difference though.
 
Though I have never heard the Words of Consecration Chanted, I know I could handle that better, than having them sung out loud as in a theatre, even though done reverently.
I suppose I should just be grateful it is NOT a Disco Mass as in Australia!!
 
I have seen/heard the Consecration sung. It was magnificent… but the priest had an excellent voice.

I’m not a priest, but I am prohibited by the Geneva Convention and my insurance company from singing because people pass out and glass breaks when I sing. Shower tiles crack. Dogs howl in pain.

So, if I were a priest, I would not be able to carry it off. It would be really offensive if I attempted to sing.

In all probability, they wouldn’t ordain a fellow who flunked music.
 
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