Priorities

by Gary D. Penkala

One of the most fundamental things that the "reform of the reform" has taught us musicians and liturgists, is to be attentive to what the Church asks of us. We need to stop "creating" liturgy and music, and to stop being satisfied with substitutes and alternatives to real liturgical music.

One of the principles we know regarding documents and rubrics, is that order counts. When a rubrics says "sings or says," the preference is for singing. If we look in the GIRM at the rubrics for the Introit, we see the following order:

1. Graduale Romanum
2. Graduale simplex
3. approved psalm settings
4. approved song

Let's take a look at five scenarios, five choices of music, coming totally from each of the choices above, with an additional "composite" outline. We'll focus on the Third Sunday of Advent [Gaudete Sunday].

1. All from the Graduale Romanum

• Entrance – Introit: Gaudete in Domino, p.21
• Music after First Reading – Gradual: Qui sedes Domine, p.22
• Music before Gospel – Alleluia: Excita Domine, p.23
• Offertory – Offertory: Benedixisti Domine, p.23
• Communion – Communion: Dicite, pusillanimes, p.23
• Closing – None is called for in the rubrics. Perhaps an organ recessional?

2. All from the Graduale simplex

• Entrance – Rorate cæli desuper, p.59
• Music after First Reading – Psalmus responsorius: In domum Domini, p.60
• Music before Gospel – Alleluia: Qui pacis Israel, p.61
• Offertory – Antiphona ad offertorium: Ave Maria, p.62
• Communion – Antiphona ad communionem: Benedixisti Domine, p.63
• Closing – None is called for in the rubrics. Perhaps an organ recessional?

3. All from approved Psalm settings

• Entrance – "Cry out with joy and gladness" [Resp Psalm for 3 Advent C]
• Music after First Reading – Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146, "Lord, come and save us." [3 Advent A]
• Music before Gospel – Alleluia: "The Spirit of the Lord" [3 Advent A]
• Offertory – "The Lord is my light and my salvation" [Resp Psalm for Friday of 1 Advent]
• Communion – "Our God will comes to save us" [Resp Psalm for Monday of 2 Advent]
• Closing – None is called for in the rubrics. Perhaps an organ recessional?

4. All songs

• Entrance – Hymn: Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
• Music after First Reading – "Cry out with joy and gladness" [Resp Psalm for 3 Advent C]
• Music before Gospel – Alleluia: "The Spirit of the Lord" [3 Advent C]
• Offertory – Hymn: On Jordan's Bank
• Communion – Hymn: Creator of the Stars of Night
• Closing – Hymn: When the King Shall Come Again

5. Composite

• Entrance – Introit:Gaudete in Domino, Graduale Romanum, p.21
• Music after First Reading – Psalmus responsorius: In domum Domini, Graduale simplex, p.60
• Music before Gospel – Alleluia: "The Spirit of the Lord" [3 Advent A]
• Offertory – Hymn: Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
• Communion – "Our God will comes to save us" [Resp Psalm for Monday of 2 Advent]
• Closing – Organ recessional

If your musical planning for Sundays looks a lot like scenario #4 above, you've got some work to do in bringing your program in line with the rubrics of the Church. Scenario #3 represents a simple option for cantor and congregation, wherein the latter needs sing only refrains. Scenarios #1 and #2 are quite faithful to the rubrics, but not always possible (although #2 is easier). Scenario #5 is a composite of all four of the other styles, and is perhaps most likely to happen at the average Sunday Mass. It still requires a schola to sing the Introit from the Graduale Romanum, and the Responsorial Psalm from the Graduale simplex. Since Gregorian chant should be given "principal place" in Roman Rite liturgies, these two examples during Mass are fully worthwhile. This last scenario seems like a practical option — a system to use on the road to better liturgies more in line with Church thinking.