Why "Mass of Reconciliation" on Christmas?

[C_S_P_B]

Is it appropriate for a priest to use the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses of Reconciliation for Christmas Mass?

It seems to me that the Church has such beautiful Eucharistic prayers with specific opening prayers for use during Advent and the various different Christmas masses. My parish uses the Haugen “Mass of Remembrance” for the entire season - including Christmas day (I specifically asked). The Memorial Aclaimation is even different (not one of the approved 4).

This is done because it the mass can be sung by the priest and the liturgical director thinks this is a special way to celebrate, during the advent and lenten seasons.

I want to adore and celebrate on Christmas! A mass about penance and reconciliation seems out of place and wrong to replace the rich liturgical treasure and numerous reverant songs available for Christmas.

 

[MusicMan]

I did a little checking into Mr. Haugen’s “Mass of Remembrance” for you. From what little GIA is showing me, all of the parts of the Mass in this particular setting should work just fine with any Eucharistic Prayer.

It looks like Mr. Haugen designed this Mass to work best with the 2nd Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation Masses, as he wrote a setting for an optional Memorial Acclaimation for use with that particular Eucharistic Prayer. In fact, he has an entire Presider’s edition of his setting with that Eucharistic Prayer (which I assume is a complete musical setting that your music director is having your priest sing), including a Preface (I’m hoping it’s the proper one for the 2nd Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation).

However, it also looks like he has setting of the sung parts for the normal Eucharistic Prayers in this collection as well.

Your priest and music director should simply be using the sung parts for the normal Eucharistic Prayers during the Masses that aren’t for Reconciliation, and that way the music director has the uniformity they want, and the Mass has the licity that it commands. This does mean, it appears, that the priest won’t be singing the entire Eucharistic Prayer. I’m not sure that “singing” it with a musical accompaniment is all that licit. Chanting it using the approved chant forms in the Sacramentary isn’t really that hard and is far more beautiful than almost any musical setting out there.

 

[C_S_P_B]

Thanks for the research. I agree.

Your points about using parts of the Mass of Remebrance are good. Unfortunatly there is no modification to include the special preliminary prayers for Advent or Christmas. The normal Eucharistic Prayers are not used since there seems to be no modification of the score. As you guesed the priest is accompanied by the piano and we sing the optional Memorial Aclaimation.

I think the special nature of the Christmas Mass ends up being seriously masked.

 

[MusicMan]

A musical accompaniment to the Eucharistic Prayer isn’t allowed. An accompaniment to the chanted responses (The Lord be with you… etc) is, but the Prayer itself doesn’t allow that. If your music director wants the Prayer sung, have the priest chant it.

Liturgists/Music Directors only THINK they are in charge. The priest should be making the final ruling.

You parish should be using the proper responses for normal masses that Mr. Haugen included in this setting. The priest should be using one of the four normal Eucharistic Prayers for Christmas (and Advent too, I think).

 

[C_S_P_B]

Yes these things I know. Unfortunately bringing up to issue with the priest or the liturgist just leaves the impression that I am a stickler for details and too concerned with the “minor details”. “I should be more community oriented and celebrate with the community. I should be tolerant and not so intent on telling others how they should worship. Just celebrate the birth of Jesus like everyone else in our Catholic Faith Community.”

Lex orandi, lex credendi - The rule of prayer is the rule of belief. This phrase is not well understood by many.

Studying the Mass can be a real burden when you begin to understand the true meaning and purpose of prayers and you desire full communion with the entire Church and treasure the common celebration of the Mass throughout the whole world.