Greetings from St. Charles Department of Music and Worship
In the coming weeks, we will begin the inclusion of congregational participation for the singing of the Entrance and Communion Antiphons. Previously, the antiphons have been sung by the cantor or choir prior to these Processions. Therefore, I am providing a brief explanation for the inclusion of the antiphons in the liturgical celebrations at St. Charles Borromeo.
The new translation of the Roman Missal, 3rd Edition, 2010 has provided us the what, when and how we are to conduct ourselves during Mass. In the Missal are rubrics we are to follow called “General Instructions” which I will refer to as General Instructions of the Roman Missal or GIRM. It is interesting to note that the GIRM in force in Rome and every other diocese of the world outside of the USA, does not list the antiphons of the Roman Missal as sung text. However, particular law which canonically trumps universal law in the USA, states the antiphons of the Roman Missal form a part of the first option for the sung text of these processions.
With regard to the singing of the Entrance Antiphon:
47. When the people are gathered, and as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers, the Entrance Chant begins. Its purpose is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thought s to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers.
48. The chant is sung alternately by the choir and the people or in similarly by a cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone.
In the Dioceses of the USA, there are four options for the Entrance and Communion Chants:
1. The antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, as set to music there or in another setting.
2. The antiphon and Psalm of the Graduale Simplex for the liturgical time.
3. A chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons.
4. Another liturgical chant that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of the year.
(All chants are to be approved by the Conference of Bishops) (GIRM, pg. 32, 38)
The importance of singing during the Mass is encouraged in the GIRM in this way:
“The Christian faithful who come together as one in expectation of the Lord’s coming are instructed to sing together Psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles.” Within the scope of this article, I did not have the luxury of providing a history of the antiphons in the Church. I hope with the support of the Roman Missal, I was able to provide some explanation as to why we are incorporating the singing of the Entrance and Communion Antiphons at Mass. In addition to the singing of the antiphons, we will be learning a new Mass Setting this summer. There will be a brief time before each weekend Mass for you to hear and practice the new Mass Settings. This will happen before the singing of the Entrance Antiphon. We encourage you to join not only in the reciting of the prayers and responses at Mass but also in the singing together of our antiphons , Psalms, hymns and Mass parts. As worshipers, we are called to full, active, conscious participation in the liturgy.
“Whoever sings well prays twice over.”
Dennis Altschul