Why are there songs in the Pauline Mass?

[John_Hiner]

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

I am trying to understand the history of songs during the Mass. When I do a search of online copies of the 1962 and 1970 Missals (in English) I find the following:

The words “hymn” and “song” do not appear in the 1962 Missal at all.

The word “hymn” appears in the 1970 Missal in association with the Gloria, which is called a hymn.

The word “song” appears in the 1970 Missal in the following contexts:
Entrance Song
A song during the Asperges
Offertory Song
Communion Song
A song after communion under the heading “Period of Silence or Song of Praise.”
(There is no reference to a recessional or closing song.)
My question is where did all of these songs come from? In the 1962 Missal parts of the text of the Mass are sung, however, there does not seem to be any mention of none liturgical text being sung during the Mass.

Were there entrance songs or recessional songs done before or after the Mass as it was said in 1962?

Were songs added to the Mass during the transition time before the adoption of the 1970 Missal?

What arguments support the singing during the Mass of texts that are not liturgical?

Was the addition of these songs an expansion of the “personal devotions” or prayers which had been done individually during the Tridentine (Johannine) Mass into communal devotions which consisted of songs from outside the liturgical texts but which were encouraged during the liturgy as a means of gaining uniform activity by the faithful? (This is just a thought that occurred to me.)

Any history, information, or explanations would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Pax Christi nobiscum.

John Hiner

 

[japhy]

I don’t know the history behind it, but you’re hard-pressed nowadays to find a Mass in the Ordinary Form whose songs/hymns follow the guidelines for choosing what to sing. What I mean is, every Mass has prescribed: an Entrance Antiphon, a Responsorial Psalm, a Gospel Acclamation, and a Communion Antiphon… but most parishes do their own thing when it comes to selecting music.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Despite what you’re reading, there were hymns bprior to Vatican II at Mass. They wee not folky or contemporary in structure, but could sometimes be overly sentimental.

At Nuptial Masses in some places, including the midwest, one never heard anything anybody said, including the vows. The whole thing was sung over or played over. Schubert’s “Ave Maria” was a staple for weddings and funerals, and required one hire a tenor or soprano.

 

[dandn5000]

I thought it was because technically the entrance and recessional songs were before and after the Mass, so they weren’t really specified in rubrics. Maybe not though.

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

I thought it was because technically the entrance and recessional songs were before and after the Mass, so they weren’t really specified in rubrics. Maybe not though.

That is technically true.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

There still aren’t songs in the Mass - that is to say, although they are allowed to be sung at certain points, they do not form an integral part of the Mass but are rather purely optional. Now the Introit, Gradual, etc*., are* Mass parts, but we wouldn’t know they exist because they are never opted for.

In the old rite NOW, which I’m sure is at least fairly close to immediately pre-conciliar practice, there are typically hymns sung as pro- and recessionals, and hyms are also allowed, as I am sure they were in 1962, at the offertory and at communion time (though these may have had to be in Latin). Now exactly what is allowed when probably depends on the form of Mass being said (low, sung, solemn).

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I remember there being hymns at mass before 1962. At the beginning and end of mass, after communion, and maybe when the collection was being collected. Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All was a popular one after communion. The language in a lot of them was old fashioned and/or flowery and devotional. The priest was doing his thing and we followed along in our missals and got to sing sometimes.

One of our parish Sunday masses each week was a high mass, meaning the songs were in Latin and were actually part of the mass, there was also incense. In fourth grade my class learned and practiced much of the mass in Gregorian chant. We sang the Gloria, Kyrie, Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei at the children’s mass which the 700 parochial school students were required to attend in the school auditorium(attendance was taken). The children’s mass was usually a low mass monitored by the sisters, no parents in sight. Also, no talking, no Cherios or crayons.

As I recall, sometimes the congregation sang the Kyrie or Agnus Dei. At a high mass, the choir took over and we listened. The tridentine mass could be beautiful and full of mystery but it should be remembered that we were ordinary people and the liturgy was not always carried out beautifully.