We come to Mass every weekend and participate in the celebration of the Mass. Let's take some time and explore the church's intent for the liturgical rites of the Mass….beginning today with the Entrance Chant (better known to us as the Entrance Hymn). A common belief among Catholics is that the Entrance Hymn is meant to accompany the procession of the celebrant and other ministers. This is true, but the reality is much richer than that.
What does the church say? No. 47 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (the instructions for celebrating Mass) say the following: "When the people are gathered, and as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers, the Entrance Chant (hymn) begins. Its purpose is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers."
The choice of the Entrance Chant (hymn) is determined very much by the season of the year, the readings of the Mass, the written Entrance Antiphon in the Roman Missal, and by the above-mentioned intentions for the Entrance Hymn: 1) Open the celebration 2) foster the unity of those who have been gathered 3) introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and 4) accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers.
A good example of why a hymn is chosen on a particular Sunday would be the First Sunday of Advent. The music will be seasonal….thus introducing us to the mystery of the liturgical time of Advent. The readings for Cycle C of the First Sunday of Advent speak of the fulfillment of the promise that a Savior will come who will bring justice for all nations; Paul's message that we are to love one another; and the Gospel from Luke of the coming of the Son of Man at the end of time.
These themes should be echoed in the Entrance Hymn. A good example would be "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns."
The King shall come when morning dawns, and light triumphant breaks,
when beauty gilds the eastern hills and life to joy awakes.
Not, as of old, a little child, to suffer and to die,
but crowned with glory like the sun, that lights the morning sky.
The King shall come when morning dawns and earth's dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn, whose day shall ever last.
And let the endless bliss begin, by weary saints foretold,
when right shall triumph over wrong, and truth shall be extolled.
The King shall come when morning dawns and light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ, the Lord! your people pray; Come quickly, King of kings.
The Entrance Antiphon for the First Sunday of Advent Cycle C is Psalm 25 verses1-3, but Psalm 25 is also the responsorial psalm, so we won't choose it as the Entrance Chant (Hymn). If it was not the responsorial psalm, Psalm 25 would be very appropriate as the Entrance Hymn for this Sunday.
Because the Entrance Chant (hymn) is to foster unity and open celebration, it is very important that the assembly be able to sing this hymn with whole heart and voice. So it is the job of the musicians to make sure the assembly KNOWS the hymn, and that it is in the appropriate tempo and a voice range that is not too high for the average person to sing.
Does the Entrance Chant (hymn) end when the Priest reaches the presider chair. No. The Roman Missal No. 50 says "When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest stands at the chair and, together with the whole gathering, signs himself with the Sign of the Cross." There is a musical and theological integrity to the Entrance Chant (hymn) that must not be arbitrarily cut short. As you can see from this article, the text of the Entrance Chant (hymn) matters and has purpose beyond accompanying a procession.
Another very good example of a powerful Entrance Chant (hymn) was the Entrance hymn for the Papal Mass in honor of the Blessed Mother in Philadelphia last week. They sang Immaculate Mary….and powerfully united the assembly, brought everyone to the festivity of Mary, and was sung by all with full heart and voice, thus opening the prayerful celebration of the Mass in a wonderful way!
And finally No. 40 in the Roman Missal is so encouraging of the important of the singing of the assembly (YOU): "Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of peoples and abilities of each liturgical assembly.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Thursday, July 16, 2015
The Choir of Hope
St. Therese has an important music ministry called "The Choir of Hope". This group of men and women sings for funerals, giving to those who have lost a loved one support and comfort. The music of the Choir of Hope is also a prayer for the one who has died and for his/her family and friends. <br><br>
You are invited to join this choir. You need to have a flexible schedule that allows you to sing for 11:00AM (usually) funerals with only a few days notice. We realize that there will be times when you cannot sing for a particular funeral because of your own schedule conflict. <br><br>
When a time and date for a funeral has been set, you will be notified by phone and asked if you are available to sing. <br> <br>
The only requirement is that you can sing. You do not have to be able to read music.
The Choir of Hope is going to gather for a morning of rehearsal and will learn some new music
on Monday, July 20th from 10AM - 11:30AM, in the church music room. If you are considering joining the Choir of Hope, you are invited to come and enjoy the fellowship and the music. If you are already a member of the Choir of Hope…..you received an invitation by mail and in person and we look forward to seeing you on Monday. <br><br>
You are invited to join this choir. You need to have a flexible schedule that allows you to sing for 11:00AM (usually) funerals with only a few days notice. We realize that there will be times when you cannot sing for a particular funeral because of your own schedule conflict. <br><br>
When a time and date for a funeral has been set, you will be notified by phone and asked if you are available to sing. <br> <br>
The only requirement is that you can sing. You do not have to be able to read music.
The Choir of Hope is going to gather for a morning of rehearsal and will learn some new music
on Monday, July 20th from 10AM - 11:30AM, in the church music room. If you are considering joining the Choir of Hope, you are invited to come and enjoy the fellowship and the music. If you are already a member of the Choir of Hope…..you received an invitation by mail and in person and we look forward to seeing you on Monday. <br><br>
Thursday, April 9, 2015
In Gratitude!!
I would like to give profound thanks to all of the musicians that inspired us in this journey, and walked the pathway of the liturgies through Lent and Holy Week. The choir rehearsed every week and sang every Sunday at 11AM. They also sang Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday morning. What commitment of time and talent!! Who are the choir members? Sopranos: Nancy Jenkins, Taylor Sarrazine, Jeanne Nes, Pam Trittipo, Pat Waltke, Mary Glass, Barbara Rice Altos: Marie Reith, Cindi Schmitt, Kim Wyss, Debra Cumins, Jean McCammant, Peg Sadler, Kayla Peat Tenors: Steve Leffers, Larry Colchin, Bob Cayot, John Tescula Basses: Jim Jur, Bob Denney, Dick Schmidt.
The guitar group rehearsed and played during Lent and on Palm Sunday. Another great commitment of preparation time, rehearsal time and liturgy. Guitar Group: Al Olry, Mike Koehl, Mary Czech, Steve Leffers, Bob Koehl, Patty Koehl. Thank you to all!!
The Hargis family rehearsed and played/sang for Easter Sunday morning: Todd and Stacy Hargis, Bernadette and Richard. Thank you!!
Laura Dailey rehearsed and played flute for Holy Thursday and the Easter Vigil. Thank you!!
Our cantors spent hours and hours in rehearsal….Jim Jur who also rehearsed and proclaimed the Exsultet at Easter; Nancy Jenkins, Patty Colchin, Deb and Greg Mitchell, Elaine Cooper, Susan Maloney, Mike Maloney, Cindy Schmitt, Kim Wyss, Steve Leffers, Michelle Dellinger, and Wesley Hutson who rehearsed and proclaimed the Easter Sequence and Prayers of the Faithful at Easter Sunday morning. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all!!
A big thank you also to the Choir of Hope who sang for six funerals since the last blog. Their ministry of music is very important to the family that is mourning the loss of a loved one.
Thank you to the One Voice Children's Choir who sang with the adult choir for the closing Mass (with Bishop Kevin Rhoades) of our parish mission…the music that you sang was truly inspirational and beautiful.
We always welcome new members of the choirs, cantors, instrumentalists, members of the guitar group.
Interested? Just e-mail Beverly Rieger at music@sttheresefw.org, or call Beverly at 413-1233. You can also stop by after Mass and talk with me.
May this Easter season be a time of renewal and a deepening in faith for all. Beverly.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Ordinary Time Isn't So Ordinary!
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated the weekend of January 10 and 11, is the last celebration in the Christmas Season. The Christmas decorations come down, and we enter into a pretty short period of time (this year) called Ordinary Time. Lent begins early, so ordinary time is from January 12 to February 17th.
Ordinary time isn't really so ordinary. The readings call us to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus in every aspect of our lives…sort of a retreat. In the scripture of these Sundays, you will hear Samuel say "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." John the Baptist acclaims:"Behold, the Lamb of God". Jesus invites his disciples (and us): "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand." and "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
"We also celebrate the beautiful feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day) on February 2nd, and bless throats on the memorial of St. Blaise February 3rd. In the diocese of the USA, we observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22nd. During these dark days of January and early February, we ponder and grow in our Faith.
THE MUSIC OF THE ASSEMBLY
The Music of the Assembly is an important aspect of the prayer life of the church. When the assembly sings its prayer as one body, the individual members who are assembled are supported and grow in their individual prayer in powerful ways. For this reason, the documents of the church do not permit Sunday and Holyday liturgies to be without music, unless the reason is very urgent.
The leaders of the musical prayer of the assembly have special responsibilities. When they are acting in their leadership roles as choir, cantor or instrumentalists, they must be fully present to the assembly and fully in the embrace of prayer. All of what they do comes from God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit working through them.
However, the assembly is the primary "maker of music" and when you are present at Mass as one of the assembly, it is particularly important that you participate in the song of the assembly. Why? Because, as a member of the assembly, singing the prayer of the church, you are supporting one another. This is important to the liturgy of the church.
Here is a portion of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal for you to meditate upon and enjoy: 16. The celebration of Mass, as the action of Christ and of the People of God arrayed hierarchically, is the center of the whole of Christian life for the Church both universal and local, as well as for each of the faithful individually.[22]
For in it is found the high point both of the action by which God sanctifies the world in Christ and of the worship that the human race offers to the Father, adoring him through Christ, the Son of God, in the Holy Spirit.[23]
In it, moreover, during the course of the year, the mysteries of redemption are celebrated so as to be in some way made present.
[24] As to the other sacred actions and all the activities of the Christian life, these are bound up with it, flow from it, and are ordered to it.[25] 17. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that the celebration of the Mass or the Lord’s Supper be so ordered that the sacred ministers and the faithful taking part in it, according to the state proper to each, may draw from it more abundantly[26] those fruits, to obtain which, Christ the Lord instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his Body and Blood and entrusted it as the memorial of his Passion and Resurrection to the Church, his beloved Bride.[27]
18. This will fittingly come about if, with due regard for the nature and other circumstances of each liturgical assembly, the entire celebration is arranged in such a way that it leads to a conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful, namely in body and in mind, a participation fervent with faith, hope, and charity, of the sort which is desired by the Church and which is required by the very nature of the celebration and to which the Christian people have a right and duty in virtue of their Baptism.[28]
"We also celebrate the beautiful feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day) on February 2nd, and bless throats on the memorial of St. Blaise February 3rd. In the diocese of the USA, we observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22nd. During these dark days of January and early February, we ponder and grow in our Faith.
THE MUSIC OF THE ASSEMBLY
The Music of the Assembly is an important aspect of the prayer life of the church. When the assembly sings its prayer as one body, the individual members who are assembled are supported and grow in their individual prayer in powerful ways. For this reason, the documents of the church do not permit Sunday and Holyday liturgies to be without music, unless the reason is very urgent.
The leaders of the musical prayer of the assembly have special responsibilities. When they are acting in their leadership roles as choir, cantor or instrumentalists, they must be fully present to the assembly and fully in the embrace of prayer. All of what they do comes from God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit working through them.
However, the assembly is the primary "maker of music" and when you are present at Mass as one of the assembly, it is particularly important that you participate in the song of the assembly. Why? Because, as a member of the assembly, singing the prayer of the church, you are supporting one another. This is important to the liturgy of the church.
Here is a portion of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal for you to meditate upon and enjoy: 16. The celebration of Mass, as the action of Christ and of the People of God arrayed hierarchically, is the center of the whole of Christian life for the Church both universal and local, as well as for each of the faithful individually.[22]
For in it is found the high point both of the action by which God sanctifies the world in Christ and of the worship that the human race offers to the Father, adoring him through Christ, the Son of God, in the Holy Spirit.[23]
In it, moreover, during the course of the year, the mysteries of redemption are celebrated so as to be in some way made present.
[24] As to the other sacred actions and all the activities of the Christian life, these are bound up with it, flow from it, and are ordered to it.[25] 17. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that the celebration of the Mass or the Lord’s Supper be so ordered that the sacred ministers and the faithful taking part in it, according to the state proper to each, may draw from it more abundantly[26] those fruits, to obtain which, Christ the Lord instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his Body and Blood and entrusted it as the memorial of his Passion and Resurrection to the Church, his beloved Bride.[27]
18. This will fittingly come about if, with due regard for the nature and other circumstances of each liturgical assembly, the entire celebration is arranged in such a way that it leads to a conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful, namely in body and in mind, a participation fervent with faith, hope, and charity, of the sort which is desired by the Church and which is required by the very nature of the celebration and to which the Christian people have a right and duty in virtue of their Baptism.[28]
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