In GIRM, it says:

Chapter II The Structure of the Mass, Its Elements and Its Parts
Section III. THE INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THE MASS
86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is
to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy
of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive
Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the
faithful. If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be
ended in a timely manner.

Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion with ease.

87. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion
chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to
music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple
Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in
responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86
above. This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.
If there is no singing, however, the Communion antiphon found in the Missal may be recited
either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector. Otherwise the priest himself says it
after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.

Chapter IV The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass
Section III. MASS AT WHICH ONLY ONE MINISTER PARTICIPATES
269. Before Communion is given to the minister, the Communion Antiphon is said by the
minister or by the priest himself.

So ... thoughts on the Communion antiphon done as a post-communion meditation?

I've always wondered why people (priests and / or musicians) wait until after the priest has received communion before starting any music. The GIRM quoted above clearly states "While the priest is receiving the Sacrament" - not after he has finished - "the Communion chant is begun." Waiting here also introduces an awkward pause at this point in the mass.

Sam Schmitt

I begin the antiphon while he is drinking from the chalice. However, I would think some of you nit-pickers should be rejoicing that we are singing communion antiphons - AT ALL! They are a relatively recent restoration in my parish - I began them a bit less than a year ago, as best I remember. So far, they have been very well-received by the congregation.

It sounds like your parish is a bit different. You could take the approach that any communion antiphon is better than none at all. Once the use of antiphons becomes habit, it could be easier to move it in the future. Also, how long could you have this pastor? Maybe the next one will give you more support as you work to improve music in the liturgy.

Yes, my parish is different ... We've actually had him for a few years, and he does encourage better music, like chant, etc., but neither of us are in an ideal situation.

I am only concerned that moving the Communion antiphon would be some sort of slight liturgical abuse, like if you move anything else around in the Mass where it's not suppose to be.

According to "Ceremonial for Sacred Music EF 1962 Missale Romnum" (by Rev. Scott A. Haynes, S.J.C. The Canon Regular of Saint John Cantius), "Communion: Once the Celebrant begins to distribute Holy Communion the choir chants the Communion proper to the day." (p.29)

Don't forget about GIRM 88, which says that after communion has been distributed, a song may be sung "by the entire congregation." There is no room for a choir-only or solo-only piece after communion.

At the Pittsburgh Oratory of St. Philip Neri we do the/a communion proper during distribution and a congregational post-communion hymn once everything is cleaned up. It works pretty well, but I maintain that it's silly to expect a congregation to sing well while they're sitting down.

Joyously can mean many things to different people.

I guess for some, it means tambourines.

I see that this is an older thread and hope that my comment returns this thread to to top of the Discussion menu... I'm new on the forum and my question is in specific regards to the placement of the Communion Chant (From "Simple English Propers").
I have the luxury of being a cantor with two different organists; both have their own strengths, but approach the timing and length of the Communion Chant differently as follows:

1. The congregation sings a Communion Hymn from our common hymnal and THEN I sing the Communion Chant with as many verses that time permits, and then complete it with the Glory Be.

2. I, or the Organist, sings the Communion Anitphon ONLY; no verses, no Glory Be. The congregation then sings a hymn together.

I know that you have discussed this already but you've used acronyms I'm just not familiar with. I've only been a Cantor for just over a year so please give me the Cliff Notes Version. :-)

Thank you chonak! I'm glad to hear that both are liturgically correct.

In the OF we usually wait for the priest to finish the "Behold the Lamb of God" and for us to say our response, after which we sing the English communion antiphon, normally followed by the Gregorian communion antiphon (with or without the Gloria Patri).
After this (or after the Communion motet, too, if we have one), we sing the congregational Communion Hymn.

In the EF I always wait until the priest finishes the "Ecce Agnus Dei" and we have all completed the 3-fold "Domine, non sum dignus" before beginning the Communio, usually with a verse + GP, antiphon.
If I am canting by myself then I usually receive Communion after I have finished this, but if I am leading a schola, we always make our way forward immediately after the Agnus Dei so that we are kneeling by the "Ecce Agnus Dei" and ready to receive immediately after the servers. After receiving, we head back and chant the antiphon as described above.

For us, the communion chant begins just as the priest receives. Then, as an older comment says, there is a very long awkward period while the EMs are sorted out. The organist typically vamps on the tune of the communion chant during this time. The choir receives, then returns to the choir loft and sings something, a motet or something. After everybody who wishes has received, the congregation sings a hymn.

I looked at this thread in part because I had a long meeting yesterday with our DM, and one of the things we discussed is how to handle this part of the mass better. We're working on it.

IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, and if the rules haven't changed, the Agnus Dei accompanies the fraction, and so the Communion Antiphon will, necessarily, follow that. It should (ordinarily) precede any other music sung or played.

In the EF, especially in parishes which still use the "third Confiteor", the choir coming down from the choir loft receives, and then sings the antiphon, upon its return to its proper place. Of course, that leaves a question in my mind: could the antiphon be sung during the procession to the altar rail.... or something similar? (And before someone here dismisses me as a crank, chanting and walking are not mutually exclusive activities, or we wouldn't have music assigned to be sung during Maundy' Thursday's procession to the altar of repose.)

its purpose being to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the “communitarian” character of the procession to receive the Eucharist.

Not to drag the thread off its topic, but is this (block quote) the reason why everyone must receive Holy Communion, why ushers must shepherd us by rows, why people seem to think the Mass is about them?

It’s also why Communion at the altar rail is generally frowned upon. And for what it is worth, the antiphon used to be sung at the ablutions, which is the custom still in quite a few places which use the traditional Mass even though general Communion is normal.