Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons

- Gary D. Penkala

Use: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter
Required Resources: Unison voices
Optional Resources: Congregation, Handbells
Language: English

Our collection of Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons promotes the ideal, as stated in the Roman Missal, of a congregational antiphon repeated between verses of a psalm sung by cantor or choir during the Communion Procession. Each season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter) has its own antiphon drawn from Scripture. The antiphons are set to an easily-sung melody, accompanied by organ, with Christmas and Easter antiphons also employing a few handbells. Psalm texts from the New American Standard Bible are pointed to be sung to original psalm tone formulas. A single communion antiphon helps the people delineate a season, while the selected psalm for each Sunday allows for a variety of themes to be explored. Each psalm concludes with the Doxology and the number of verses used may be adapted to suit the time of Communion.

This collection is a wholly appropriate way to reinstitute the early Christian tradition of chanting psalms during liturgical processions. While it is not a vehicle for singing the exact Communion antiphon for every Sunday, it does provide a first step in using these Propers, by offering seasonal antiphons and by familiarizing the musicians and congregation with the traditional pattern of the Propers.