Your suggestion for songs for First Communion Mass

[benedictgal]

Nothing is wrong with silence, but you haven’t met OUR congregation!!!

However, with some catechesis from both the pulpit and the bulletin, it could work very well.

VAC, I thought of something. Since each child is entering one at a time (don’t quite understand the purpose of that, even at the Papal Masses, the concelebrants don’t enter one at a time), why not have the Litany of the Saints? Surely there would be enough saints to include in the mix to cover each child, maybe their patron saints. There is a precedent for having the Litany of the Saints as an opening hymn, since this was done for the funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II and for the installation Mass for Pope Benedict XVI.

The faithful could either sing “pray for us”, “ora por nosotros” or, better still, “ora pro nobis.” The litany may even cover the entrance for the celebrant and concelebrants. Heck, if it could cover 115 cardinals at both Masses, it can certainly work for your group.

 

[VAC]

However, with some catechesis from both the pulpit and the bulletin, it could work very well.
I think when we move out of the high school cafeteria and into a building things might also improve.
VAC, I thought of something. Since each child is entering one at a time (don’t quite understand the purpose of that, even at the Papal Masses, the concelebrants don’t enter one at a time), why not have the Litany of the Saints? Surely there would be enough saints to include in the mix to cover each child, maybe their patron saints. There is a precedent for having the Litany of the Saints as an opening hymn, since this was done for the funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II and for the installation Mass for Pope Benedict XVI.

The faithful could either sing “pray for us”, “ora por nosotros” or, better still, “ora pro nobis.” The litany may even cover the entrance for the celebrant and concelebrants. Heck, if it could cover 115 cardinals at both Masses, it can certainly work for your group.

II don’t get it either,I think it has something to do with the photography/videotaping… but I’m not in charge of that area. I like the idea of the litany of saints…I’ll keep it in mind for the future

 

[VAC]

To add to this, our Church doesn’t sing Table of Plenty or any song with the word “table” in it because it’s not a table, it’s an altar. We’re also not singing “City of God” anymore because it’s not us building heaven…God already made it.

The last supper was at a table.

 

[Elizabeth502]

In case anyone’s still taking suggestions, I like,

Eat This Bread (already mentioned)
and
I Am The Bread of Life
He Who Comes to me shall not hunger
He who Believes in me shall not thirst, etc.

Sorry don’t know the composer!)

 

[benedictgal]

II don’t get it either,I think it has something to do with the photography/videotaping… but I’m not in charge of that area. I like the idea of the litany of saints…I’ll keep it in mind for the future

Why not try it this year? Besides, First Holy Communion is still a good ways off. The music you’ve chosen doesn’t have to be set in stone. Remember, there was a three-week lag time between Pope John Paul’s funeral and Pope Benedict’s Installation Mass. What I mean is that you have plenty of time to amend the selections.

Something else to bear in mind is that in Sacramentum Caritatis, the Holy Father noted that Masses in more than one language should have an element of Latin in them. Thus, you could do the Litany of the Saints in Latin. During our Christmas bilingual Mass, my PV said the Eucharistic prayer in Latin, rather than go back and forth between English and Spanish (which is not really supposed to be done).

 

[benedictgal]

The last supper was at a table.

However, we tend to focus more on the meal aspec than the Sacrifice. The Last Supper foreshadows the Sacrifice that Christ was going to make on the Altar of the Cross. Thus, the “table” is the Altar as well. The problem with these songs is that they treat the notion of Sacrifice as an afterthought.

 

[VAC]

Why not try it this year? Besides, First Holy Communion is still a good ways off. The music you’ve chosen doesn’t have to be set in stone. Remember, there was a three-week lag time between Pope John Paul’s funeral and Pope Benedict’s Installation Mass. What I mean is that you have plenty of time to amend the selections.

Something else to bear in mind is that in Sacramentum Caritatis, the Holy Father noted that Masses in more than one language should have an element of Latin in them. Thus, you could do the Litany of the Saints in Latin. During our Christmas bilingual Mass, my PV said the Eucharistic prayer in Latin, rather than go back and forth between English and Spanish (which is not really supposed to be done).

The readings will all be in English; we just have a tradition of using a few bilingual songs. I haven’t started teaching the kids yet; (I start after first reconcilliation), but I gave a CD I burned to the DRE, she usually makes copies for all the first communicants, so it might be too late to make a change.

 

[benedictgal]

The readings will all be in English; we just have a tradition of using a few bilingual songs. I haven’t started teaching the kids yet; (I start after first reconcilliation), but I gave a CD I burned to the DRE, she usually makes copies for all the first communicants, so it might be too late to make a change.

Maybe, but, it wouldn’t hurt to try. Do you have a cantor? He or she could intone the names of the saints and the response would be “ora pro nobis.” There’s more than one way to skin a rattler.

I just believe that when it comes to First Holy Communion Masses, we should make every attempt to have theologically and liturgically correct songs that stem from our Sacred Tradition. Remember that the Church has also used Sacred Music to help teach Sacred Truths. In fact, one of the hymns, “Father, We Thank Thee Who has Planted” comes from the Didache, a first/second century document of the Early Church.

 

[Feanor]

I’m the Rel. Ed teacher for our 2nd grade class this year and I’m working on the music. Our DRE has asked for my (name removed by moderator)ut but we don’t really see eye-to-eye. (She want’s clapping and sign language… I do not)

I’ve already taught my class Panis Angelicus for them to sing after communion but was looking for ideas for the rest of Mass.

Thanks and let the ideas flow

I’m totally with you on the music bt what’s wrong with sign language. Do you mean a person to sign the Mass? I cant see a problem with this at all. If you are talking about the kids doing it- yeah, I guess that may be different.

 

[JPUSC]

I’m totally with you on the music bt what’s wrong with sign language. Do you mean a person to sign the Mass? I cant see a problem with this at all. If you are talking about the kids doing it- yeah, I guess that may be different.

I think she meant those annoying hand gestures teachers make children do to make them look cute so the parents could say “aww how cute” and take pictures.

 

[jmcrae]

In case anyone’s still taking suggestions, I like,

Eat This Bread (already mentioned)
and
I Am The Bread of Life

I wish someone would change the words of this song to “Jesus is the bread of life,” since “I” am certainly not the bread of life - Jesus is.

(Isn’t making ourselves to be God the sin of Adam and Eve?)

 

[VAC]

Maybe, but, it wouldn’t hurt to try. Do you have a cantor? He or she could intone the names of the saints and the response would be “ora pro nobis.” There’s more than one way to skin a rattler.

I just believe that when it comes to First Holy Communion Masses, we should make every attempt to have theologically and liturgically correct songs that stem from our Sacred Tradition. Remember that the Church has also used Sacred Music to help teach Sacred Truths. In fact, one of the hymns, “Father, We Thank Thee Who has Planted” comes from the Didache, a first/second century document of the Early Church.

In my group there are 2 willing to cantor, one is expecting a baby next month, the other is me . (plus my piano player quit back in October ) There are 2 other cantors I could possibly recruit from the other choirs.
I’ve never heard that song you mentioned.
Over the last few years of leading music, I’ve read every church document I can get my hands (or browser) on. I’ve noted the huge discrepancies in the Vatican and the USSCB’s documents.
I have been slowly putting in more traditional songs over the last couple years. We have a rather traditional priest who has no problem with it, However, I do want people to SING!!. hence teaching the kids, and using commonly known songs, as the crowd will come from everywhere. Lots to factor in, but the missal is where I start for the Sunday masses I plan. I could probably start a thread on Lent music suggestions…I’m a little behind on that .

 

[VAC]

I wish someone would change the words of this song to “Jesus is the bread of life,” since “I” am certainly not the bread of life - Jesus is.

(Isn’t making ourselves to be God the sin of Adam and Eve?)

It’s a direct quote from scripture. John 6

 

[jmcrae]

It’s a direct quote from scripture. John 6

Which only the priest is allowed to proclaim out loud, or else when a lay person is proclaiming it for a Bible study or small group, he includes the words “Jesus said,” He does not make himself appear to be Jesus.

 

[benedictgal]

In my group there are 2 willing to cantor, one is expecting a baby next month, the other is me . (plus my piano player quit back in October ) There are 2 other cantors I could possibly recruit from the other choirs.
I’ve never heard that song you mentioned.
Over the last few years of leading music, I’ve read every church document I can get my hands (or browser) on. I’ve noted the huge discrepancies in the Vatican and the USSCB’s documents.
I have been slowly putting in more traditional songs over the last couple years. We have a rather traditional priest who has no problem with it, However, I do want people to SING!!. hence teaching the kids, and using commonly known songs, as the crowd will come from everywhere. Lots to factor in, but the missal is where I start for the Sunday masses I plan. I could probably start a thread on Lent music suggestions…I’m a little behind on that .

Please don’t think I’m jumping on you, VAC. Having planned these things myself, I know the headaches they can cause.

What I have done is go by what the Holy See says. The USCCB documents do not carry the recognitio. They might be teaching documents, but, without the necessary recognitio from Rome, it’s as though they were recommendations.

“Father We Thank Thee Who Has Planted” is sung to a German tune that is also used for other hymns. It’s not very hard to learn. In fact, you will find that the older, traditional songs are easier to sing than the stuff that OCP shovels out.

For Lent, the best ones are:

Attende Domine (Have Mercy on Us O Lord)
The Glory of These Forty Days
Where Charity and Love Prevail
Our Father We Have Wandered (based on O Sacred Head Surrounded)
O Sun of Justice
Forty Days and Forty Nights
What Wondrous Love is This (Perfect for Palm Sunday)

The Church has a plethora of magnificent hymns in her vast treasury of sacred music.

 

[armywife]

I think she meant those annoying hand gestures teachers make children do to make them look cute so the parents could say “aww how cute” and take pictures.

Well kind of. Our DRE is a special ed teacher, which is great… but none of our kids or any of our congregation is deaf, so it would be kind of just a show off type of thing. She wanted to teach them a song in sign language and I said how about Latin, she about fell out of her chair saying that would be way too hard. Half my kids speak Spanish so I told her Latin wouldn’t be that difficult.

On a side, I’m perfectly fine with an sign interpreter.

 

[agapewolf]

I think she meant those annoying hand gestures teachers make children do to make them look cute so the parents could say “aww how cute” and take pictures.

That’s pretty judgemental of intent there.

I teach my kids hand motions to songs, and they LOVE it, and they learn the songs so much better and faster, and they sing louder. It don’t teach it to them “to be cute”. They are praying with more than one sense.

 

[Little_Katie]

I know this one has already been mentioned by other people, but I have always loved the hymn ‘One Bread One Body’. It’s a really sweet song and very simple for the little ones.

 

[benedictgal]

I know this one has already been mentioned by other people, but I have always loved the hymn ‘One Bread One Body’. It’s a really sweet song and very simple for the little ones.

But, again, we also need to look at what we are teaching them. Becasue they are young, these kids should have the Sensus Fidei (sense of the faith) instilled in them. One Bread, One Body doesn’t work. It may be scripturally based in some parts, but, it really doesn’t drive at the heart of the Eucharist. It doesn’t speak to the fact that this is really the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

It is not about being cute and simple, It is about communicating a Truth that is fundamental to Catholic worship.

Regarding the hand signs, these are also not appropriate for use in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If you want to do this during CCD, have at it, but, not during the Mass. I am with JPUSC on this one. Having seen this too many times at my father’s fromer parish, it just turns into a Kodak moment performance. It adds nothing to the Mass. In fact, it detracts from the sacredness of the Mysteries that are supposed to be unfolding before us.

 

[VAC]

Please don’t think I’m jumping on you, VAC. Having planned these things myself, I know the headaches they can cause.

What I have done is go by what the Holy See says. The USCCB documents do not carry the recognitio. They might be teaching documents, but, without the necessary recognitio from Rome, it’s as though they were recommendations.

“Father We Thank Thee Who Has Planted” is sung to a German tune that is also used for other hymns. It’s not very hard to learn. In fact, you will find that the older, traditional songs are easier to sing than the stuff that OCP shovels out.

For Lent, the best ones are:

Attende Domine (Have Mercy on Us O Lord)
The Glory of These Forty Days
Where Charity and Love Prevail
Our Father We Have Wandered (based on O Sacred Head Surrounded)
O Sun of Justice
Forty Days and Forty Nights
What Wondrous Love is This (Perfect for Palm Sunday)

The Church has a plethora of magnificent hymns in her vast treasury of sacred music.

I don’t feel jumped on . In fact I was just debating the practicality of using ‘again we keep this solemn fast’ which is the same tune as ‘the glory of these 40 days’…with the practice time I have and the people who show up