We have about one month before we start the new responses in the new Roman Missal which will commence on November 27th, the first Sunday of Advent. Congregations are becoming more used to the fact that there will be changes in the wording of Mass responses. Since there will be worship aids in the pews and in the missalettes, these will guide the members of the congregation in making the proper responses. As has been emphasized, the more we sing parts of the Mass the easier it will be when we say the responses during the week instead of singing. As a member of the praying community, the priest presider has to be confident in the changes to the Gloria; the Sanctus (Holy, Holy); the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God); the memorial acclamations after the consecration; and the Creed. The documents dealing with the new wording advise the priest presiding at Mass to sing according to his capability. Even if the priest cannot sing well, at least he should try to sing. It is a positive statement encouraging singing so the congregation would be “merciful” if the priest does not have the best voice but tries his best.

The U.S. Bishops produced another document a few years back about the place of music in the Mass. Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship reminds the priest about his role in singing the Mass in #19:

The importance of the priest’s participation in the Liturgy, especially by singing, cannot be overemphasized. The priest sings the presidential prayers and dialogues of the Liturgy according to his capabilities, and he encourages sung participation in the Liturgy by his own example, joining in the congregational song. “If however…the priest or minister does not possess a voice suitable for the proper execution of the singing, he can render without singing one or more of the more difficult parts which concern him, reciting them in a loud and distinct voice. However, this must not be done merely for the convenience of the priest or minister.”

The GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) gives priests, musicians and all involved in the liturgical celebration the guidelines for singing. In #40, the GIRM says, “In choosing of the parts actually to be sung,… preference should be given to those that are of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the priest and people together.” Both Sing to the Lord and the GIRM emphasize singing the more significant parts of the Mass if we limit ourselves only to these parts. The emphasis is on singing the parts of the Mass. Too many parishes only sing traditionally four hymns (entrance, offertory, communion and recessional hymns) and the Church urges us to go beyond these and sing the common parts of the Mass which are present at every Mass. So we are urged to sing not just the four hymns but as much as possible the common parts.

The first document issued by Vatican II was the (CSL) Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1963). It had a much quoted statement (#14) that said that the full, conscious and active participation of the people is their right and obligation as the priestly people of God (1 Pt. 2:9). This document called for a participation in Mass that was not only “active”, but also “full” and “conscious.” So active participation meant to respond to the words of Mass and perhaps take part in some ministry at each celebration. The CSL gave examples for more participation through acclamations, responses, psalms, antiphons, hymns, gestures, movement of the body by kneeling, standing, sitting, giving the sign of peace, etc. There was a call for both external and internal participation. Fr. Paul Turner, a Missouri pastor and liturgical writer states that our Catholic “Sunday obligation” according to the Code of Canon Law goes beyond our placing ourselves in Church on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation but also participating as much as possible at Mass on these days. “The obligation is more than just being there. It is to sing and respond from the heart.” He states “as a result, when you come to Mass you have words to say, songs to sing, gestures to make, and postures to assume. But all these external actions should be supported by an internal sense that gives them deliberate meaning.”

Once we have put our actions into place and our heart and mind behind all these ways of participating we receive the Lord in the Eucharist and then bring the Christ we have received to the waiting world which needs the Savior of all. Since we celebrate “Mission Sunday” this weekend it is important to realize that our Christian life extends beyond the doors of the Church. We must permeate our community with the example of good Christian lives that assert we have been commissioned to spread the good news by the lives we live outside the doors of the Church. The new dismissal or final words that the priest or deacon will use in the near future tell us about the work all of us have to do. The priest or deacon may say “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” or “Go in peace”, but our mission outside the doors of the church is seen explicitly in the two other dismissal options. “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” We enter the waiting world with a mission.

Very Rev. Michael T. Driscoll, O. Carm.
Administrator Pro-Tem