Wednesday Liturgy: Agnus Dei, Beyond the Norms
ROME, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: It has always been my understanding that the Agnus Dei was a set part of the Mass, consisting in singing twice "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us"; and concluding with "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant us peace." However, at the Mass which I attend in my parish, it is used as an opportunity for creative expression, with the cantor singing such phrases as "Prince of Peace," "Lord of Lords," and other expressions to the refrain from the congregation of "Have mercy on us" until the end of the Communion procession, at which time it will segue (unannounced) into "grant us peace." While this can be very edifying and pleasing, it does not seem to me to meet the requirements of the liturgical norms. -- C.C., Dallas, Texas
A: The norms regarding the singing on the Agnus Dei are found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 83: "…The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words 'dona nobis pacem' (grant us peace)."
Therefore, as a rule, the invocations may be repeated if the rite of fraction is prolonged. But there is no mention of inserting new invocations or of prolonging the Agnus Dei as a Communion song. Thus the invocation "Grant us peace" should be said at the end of the fraction and no extra invocations introduced.
That said, the melody used in the Agnus Dei may be taken up again after the "Lord, I am not worthy" and used as a Communion song. In this case there is no obstacle to introducing adequate new invocations as described above.
This can be a way of using certain classical polyphonic versions which would be too long for the present rite. A system similar to the one described by our reader is long-established custom in some European cathedrals.
The then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger considered this practice legitimate in a conference given at Regensburg on the occasion of his older brother's retirement as music director of that city's cathedral.
Q: It has always been my understanding that the Agnus Dei was a set part of the Mass, consisting in singing twice "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us"; and concluding with "Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant us peace." However, at the Mass which I attend in my parish, it is used as an opportunity for creative expression, with the cantor singing such phrases as "Prince of Peace," "Lord of Lords," and other expressions to the refrain from the congregation of "Have mercy on us" until the end of the Communion procession, at which time it will segue (unannounced) into "grant us peace." While this can be very edifying and pleasing, it does not seem to me to meet the requirements of the liturgical norms. -- C.C., Dallas, Texas
A: The norms regarding the singing on the Agnus Dei are found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 83: "…The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words 'dona nobis pacem' (grant us peace)."
Therefore, as a rule, the invocations may be repeated if the rite of fraction is prolonged. But there is no mention of inserting new invocations or of prolonging the Agnus Dei as a Communion song. Thus the invocation "Grant us peace" should be said at the end of the fraction and no extra invocations introduced.
That said, the melody used in the Agnus Dei may be taken up again after the "Lord, I am not worthy" and used as a Communion song. In this case there is no obstacle to introducing adequate new invocations as described above.
This can be a way of using certain classical polyphonic versions which would be too long for the present rite. A system similar to the one described by our reader is long-established custom in some European cathedrals.
The then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger considered this practice legitimate in a conference given at Regensburg on the occasion of his older brother's retirement as music director of that city's cathedral.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
4:36 PM
1 Comments:
During the "Fracture Rite" (Agnes Dei), May anyone other than a priest, or deacon break the consecrated large host.
I have seen a priest break the large host into 4 equal parts, and then a lay man came forward and broke it into the small parts...Is this valid?
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Anonymous, at 7:16 AM
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