Vatican II Liturgy?

by Gary D. Penkala

I came upon a worship aid for a particular diocesan liturgy. It was a celebratory, festive liturgy held on Tuesday of the First Week of Lent. The music was typical of what might be used at many cathedrals and churches throughout the country, churches purporting to uphold the ideals of Vatican II liturgy. But do the choices reflect that?

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Liturgical Element	Choice	Ideal
Entrance Hymn	God, We Praise You [tune- Nettleton]	Entrance Antiphon: O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation; from age to age you are.
Penitential Act	recited	Kyrie from Missa XVIII [Deus Genitor alme] for ferias of Advent and Lent
Collect	recited	sung, using Roman Missal Solemn or Simple Tone
First Reading	Isaiah 55:10-11	Isaiah 55:10-11
Responsorial Psalm	Psalm 34 (Michel Guilmant) Refrain: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.	Psalm 34 Refrain: From all their afflications, God will deliver the just.
Gospel Acclamation	Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.	any option
Gospel	Matthew 6:7-15	Matthew 6:7-15
Homily
Universal Prayer
Presentation of the Gifts	The King of Love My Shepherd Is [tune- Saint Columba]	Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi Dominus, et sub pennis ejus sperabis: scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus. [Offertorium from First Sunday of Lent]
Prayer over the Offerings	recited	sung, using Roman Missal Solemn or Simple Tone
Preface Dialog	recited	sung
Preface	recited	sung
	Holy, Holy from Sing Praise and Thanksgiving Mass (Michael Joncas)	Sanctus from Missa XVIII [Deus Genitor alme] for ferias of Advent and Lent
Mystery of Faith	When we eat this Bread from Sing Praise and Thanksgiving Mass (Michael Joncas)	When we eat this Bread from Roman Missal
Amen	Amen from Sing Praise and Thanksgiving Mass (Michael Joncas)	simple Amen response from Roman Missal
Lord's Prayer	sung using familiar melody	sung using familiar melody
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God from Sing Praise and Thanksgiving Mass (Michael Joncas)	Agnus Dei from Missa XVIII [Deus Genitor alme] for ferias of Advent and Lent
Communion Music	Gift of Finest Wheat [tune- Bicentennial]	Communion Antiphon: When I called, the God of justice gave me answer; from anguish you released me; have mercy, O Lord, and hear my prayer!
Communion Meditation	Panis angelicus (César Franck)	Ave Regina cælorum (chant) -or- God, We Praise You [tune-Nettleton] -or- setting of Psalm 34
Prayer after Communion	recited	sung, using Roman Missal Solemn or Simple Tone
Blessing & Dismissal
Recessional Hymn	The Church's One Foundation [tune- Aurelia]	Ave Regina cælorum (chant) -or- any appropriate hymn -or- a Lenten antiphon

From a pastoral perspective in most parishes, the use of the Ideal in total would not be possible. Look, however, at how distant the choices were from the ideal in almost every case. Why has this stereotypical, four-hymn sandwich Mass become the norm, where singing is plugged in to replace legitimate parts of the Mass, but the Mass texts themselves (Orations, Dialogues, etc) are never sung?

This was an episcopal liturgy in the bishop's cathedral. Where is the authentic liturgical catechesis for the rest of the diocese when this format is seen as normative by episcopal example?

Article written 02 March 2015

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