Church Documents and Rubrics - MusicaSacra Church Music Forum https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/categories/church-documents-concerning-sacred-music/feed.rss Sun, 10 May 26 22:57:21 +0000 Church Documents and Rubrics - MusicaSacra Church Music Forum en-CA Musicam Sacram https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23384/musicam-sacram Mon, 04 May 2026 23:13:36 +0000 deo27 23384@/forum/discussions
-Entrance Rite/Dismissal
-Acclamations at the Gospel
-Preface with its dialogue, followed by the Sanctus
-Final doxology of the Canon
-Our Father
-Pax Domini

27. For the celebration of the Eucharist with the people, especially on Sundays and feast days, a form of sung Mass (Missa in cantu) is to be preferred as much as possible, even several times on the same day.

28. The distinction between solemn, sung and read Mass, sanctioned by the Instruction of 1958 (n. 3), is retained, according to the traditional liturgical laws at present in force. However, for the sung Mass (Missa cantata), different degrees of participation are put forward here for reasons of pastoral usefulness, so that it may become easier to make the celebration of Mass more beautiful by singing, according to the capabilities of each congregation.

These degrees are so arranged that the first may be used even by itself, but the second and third, wholly or partially, may never be used without the first. In this way the faithful will be continually led towards an ever greater participation in the singing.

29. The following belong to the first degree:

(a) In the entrance rites: the greeting of the priest together with the reply of the people; the prayer.

(b) In the Liturgy of the Word: the acclamations at the Gospel.

(c) In the Eucharistic Liturgy: the prayer over the offerings; the preface with its dialogue and the Sanctus; the final doxology of the Canon, the Lord's prayer with its introduction and embolism; the Pax Domini; the prayer after the Communion; the formulas of dismissal.


30. The following belong to the second degree:

(a) the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei;

(b) the Creed;

(c) the prayer of the faithful.


31. The following belong to the third degree:

(a) the songs at the Entrance and Communion processions;

(b) the songs after the Lesson or Epistle;

(c) the Alleluia before the Gospel;

(d) the song at the Offertory;

(e) the readings of Sacred Scripture, unless it seems more suitable to proclaim them without singing.

]]> Preface to the Graduale Romanum (1974) https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23375/preface-to-the-graduale-romanum-1974 Sat, 02 May 2026 14:53:17 +0000 deo27 23375@/forum/discussions
1. After the people have assembled, and while the priests
and ministers are approaching the altar, the entrance
antiphon is sung. Its intonation may be shortened or protracted,
or even better, the chant may be begun immediately by
everyone. In that case, the asterisk, which in the Graduale
indicates the cantor's part, is only to be taken as an indicative sign.

Before the final repetition of the antiphon, the Gloria Patri
and the Sicut erat may be sung together as the final verse.

If the singing becomes too protracted through the repetition
of the Gloria Patri and the antiphon, the doxology may be omitted.
When the procession is very short, only one verse of the psalm
need be used, or the antiphon alone may be sung without adding any verses.


8. When the sequence occurs, it is sung after the final 'alleluia
by the cantors and choir alternating or by two parts of the choir alternating.
Amen is omitted at the end. If the Alleluia and its verse is not sung, the sequence is omitted.]]> Organ after the Gospel https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23306/organ-after-the-gospel Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:22:26 +0000 Andrew_Malton 23306@/forum/discussions Tenebrae service according to the modern LOTH https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/14738/tenebrae-service-according-to-the-modern-loth Tue, 21 Mar 2017 05:57:25 +0000 PLTT 14738@/forum/discussions
I thought I would share this in case anyone is interested. Before others chime in: yes, I realize that many people find the traditional Tenebrae more evocative/better/etc., and prefer to use the Traditional texts or a paraliturgy making use of some or all of the traditional texts, in Latin or the vernacular. The following is offered simply as another idea for those who are using the revised liturgical books for whatever reason (constraint, convenience, preference.....).

History:This service was used in a formation community for a couple of years, and then in a parish. It is rather flexible and can be used in a highly expanded form, or an abbreviated form. In its most expanded form, it can serve as an alternative Good Friday service in the morning with many similar elements (hymns, readings, Passion Gospel, prayers.....) to the afternoon liturgy, or a service for Holy Saturday morning. It can be used on Holy Thursday morning, but that is part of Lent, and so does not have a lot of proper material.

The idea was to attempt to have a Tenebrae service that uses a lot of material from the traditional repertoire of Holy Week (hymns, responsories, Lamentations, even the tonus planctus from the old Passion, etc.), while staying within the bounds of the modern liturgical books. It was also an attempt to find something that would work more smoothly within the flow of the post-conciliar liturgy.

In many places that use the revised Liturgy of the Hours, it seemed that a bit of a patchwork had emerged when it came to celebrating the modern LOTH while using elements of the traditional Tenebrae. Often the traditional elements were sandwiched between the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer or elements of the revised Office were moved around. There did not for example, seem to be any justification in the revised books for traditional customs such as omitting the versicles and hymns. In addition, the few post-conciliar liturgical authors that mention a liturgical Tenebrae service often assert (without a lot of justification) that elements can be amplified and added and modified (a little dubious, in the light of GILH 247)

Ceremonial: The point of departure for the ceremonial was Tenebrae as laid down in 1961, when a revised Holy Week had already been introduced. The 1957 Pontifical Rite for Holy Week (and earlier changes to the breviary) adapted elements of the classical Tenebrae service to the new Holy Week rites. The strepitus was removed, the single candle was left lit at the end, and the extinguishing of 6 candles at the Benedictus was changed (6 candles were extinguished on Holy Thursday, none on Good Friday since the altar was stripped, and 4 candles around the crucifix on Holy Saturday). The ceremonial is really the only thing that could be said to be outside the book since the modern books do not really treat it at all. However, the 1957 ceremonial is in harmony with the ideas found in Paul VI Holy Week (e.g. the decor of the church and the altar, the norms found in Paschale Solemnitatis, etc.)


OUTLINE OF THE SERVICE


Introductory versicle

Invitatory Psalm and Antiphon

OFFICE OF READINGS


Hymn (e.g. Pange Lingua)

3 Psalms with antiphon

Versicle and Response

Reading 1 - the readings were taken from Lamentations following the 2 year cycle of LOTH, published in Notitiae, and also at the back of DSP Christian Prayer books. On Good Friday, an extract from Lamentations 3 is read and on Holy Saturday from Lamentations 5. Traditional tones can be used - we went for the Mozarabic ones when the cantors were up to it.
Regrettably here, the use of the NAB had to be ditched in favour of the RSV. We were reluctant since the NAB is the version of the lectionary in the USA - however, the translation of Lamentations missed many of the references to the Passion that were the reason for the selection of the Lamentations in the first place.

Responsory 1 - either from the LOTH, or from those given in the Ordo Cantus Officii (OCO), especially if chant/polyphony was desired (e.g. from the Victoria settings)

Reading 2 - from LOTH

Responsory 2 - either from LOTH or OCO

[Responsories from OCO match up with LOTH on Holy Saturday better than on Good Friday]

EXTENDED VIGIL

Antiphon: either LOTH or OCO

3 Canticles (unfortunately, on Holy Saturday, there is a repetition between one of the canticles and the reading)

Gospel Reading: on Good Friday, can be chanted in the Passion tone. On Holy Saturday, can be chanted in the old pre-56 'tonus planctus'

Homily if desired.

MORNING PRAYER

Hymn (e.g. Crux fidelis)
GILH can be interpreted as allowing for a single hymn for the combined offices, or two hymns. We moved to 2 hymns only to give people a change in posture from continuous sitting, especially if the Extended Vigil was not used)

2 Psalms + OT Canticle with antiphons

Scripture Reading
We chanted this an adapted Lamentation tone.

Christus factus est


Benedictus and its antiphon


Intercessions
The chanted response was Kyrie eleison from the Antiphonale Romanum. It was reminiscent of the medieval practice of singing the Kyries at the conclusion of the service

Our Father
Regular melody, but we went with recto tono as sounding more plaintive

Prayer and blessing as usual.


Ceremonial-wise (as I mentioned, there is no rubric regarding this): We stuck with the Traditional tenebrae hearse of 15 candles. Candles were extinguished at the psalms and responsories (for which there is early and medieval precedent) and the hymns. If the full service is abbreviated, then either multiple candles have to be extinguished at the various points, or candles have to be extinguished also at other points (e.g. readings).]]> St John Henry Newman, Priest and Doctor of the Church - the updating of the calendar and propers https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23130/st-john-henry-newman-priest-and-doctor-of-the-church-the-updating-of-the-calendar-and-propers Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:37:39 +0000 Liam 23130@/forum/discussions
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/03/260203a.html]]> Candlemas Ant. Exsurge Domine adiuva nos https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23114/candlemas-ant.-exsurge-domine-adiuva-nos Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:01:06 +0000 Andrew_Malton 23114@/forum/discussions
It's not on the (few) list of “changes in the ’62” that I consulted, but I probably just missed it

Can someone say why this antiphon was removed?]]> One Antiphon, Multiple Psalms https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23052/one-antiphon-multiple-psalms Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:00:48 +0000 FKulash 23052@/forum/discussions
Thanks.]]> Marian music at funeral rites https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23060/marian-music-at-funeral-rites Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:57:40 +0000 ChurchMusician 23060@/forum/discussions Ave Maria by Schubert will be sung by a soprano soloist after Communion. I explained to this individual that we follow church guidelines from the OCF and so we try to involve the family of the deceased in planning the liturgy; and that in this case the family chose the hymns and made the choice for silence after Communion, which is a valid option.]]> Liturgical Music - a compilation of The Three Judgements? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22911/liturgical-music-a-compilation-of-the-three-judgements Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:35:46 +0000 JKW 22911@/forum/discussions
I am assembling a spreadsheet with lists of hymns and my own attempts at evaluating hymns based on these three criteria, but even though I am a music ministry leader, I recognize an authoritative resource would be better. ]]> Martyrology New Texts https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22655/martyrology-new-texts Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:39:07 +0000 monasteryliturgist 22655@/forum/discussions Modifications (and re-prohibitions) on the Alleluia and Great Amen -- where did it start? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22548/modifications-and-re-prohibitions-on-the-alleluia-and-great-amen-where-did-it-start Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:59:19 +0000 mikecharliebravo 22548@/forum/discussions
This last Pentecost mass was... a bit of a doozy. For context, I am a student organist at my Newman center, and a rather... interesting integration of musical choices were made by our Charismatic priest and other directors (for da youth, of course), including starting off the mass with CCM/praise and worship and having a CCM/praise and worship set post-communion. Perhaps you can also help me with this-- whether or not it counts as liturgical abuse-- but rather than this turning into a liturgical abuse discussion, there are some things that have bugged me on top of those.

The mass setting we use (a hodgepodge of Mass of Glory and Mass of Saint Ann along with student compositions) utilizes a pre-2011 rendering of the Alleluia and Great Amen which included words "Alleluia, give the glory and the honor..." or "Amen, amen, alleluia, amen". I am rather sure that this is not permitted, but it would be rather propitious if I could be pointed in the direction of where it is prohibited, or when it became prohibited.

Thank you!

mcb]]> Thoughts on the unpublished Charlotte liturgical letter https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22524/thoughts-on-the-unpublished-charlotte-liturgical-letter Wed, 28 May 2025 14:13:17 +0000 NihilNominis 22524@/forum/discussions this letter, allegedly a draft of a letter (I certainly hope it is not authentic!) intended for publication in the Diocese of Charlotte, came to light. It is shockingly restrictive of any musical and aesthetic diversity, imposing a kind of 1980’s norm of liturgical praxis. Diocese-wide.

If it is authentic, it has not been published, and I hope it never is. Perhaps commenting on it before it is might prevent that, or it might just make them madder. Or, more likely, no one will care either way.

Nonetheless, I compiled my thoughts in a Facebook post, which I would also like to share here for any comments people might have:

=====================================

I normally don’t comment on controversial current happenings in the Church. Nevertheless, I couldn’t ignore this. I offer the perspective of someone who has learned, sadly often at great pain for self and others, a certain degree humility and charity through nearly two decades working in and trying to navigate the current Catholic liturgical landscape.

To this as-yet-unpublished letter, I will only say that it can be very tempting to minister *exclusively* to the “average” denizen of one’s Diocese / region / etc. This is the ‘Rebuilt’ model, constructing a profile of ‘Timonium [Maryland] Tim’ and designing a church around what one expects he is after. In our very mobile society, perhaps this kind of thing can work at a parochial level. But people will be missed. Not everyone is average — or maybe, no one is.

As I once heard it attributed to Monsignor Richard Schuler about the music of the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale and the liturgical life of St Agnes, “It doesn’t need to happen everywhere, but it should happen somewhere.” Shouldn’t this be true in making full use of the riches of our patrimony?

I know plenty of people ‘off the street’, for whom the beauty of choral singing felt more inclusive than a strictly congregational-singing diet. Why? Because they don’t know the hymns, or don’t feel comfortable with their own voice, but the beauty of the singing was accessible and enriching to everybody with ears to listen.

Indeed, to speak to the missionary aspect, I have occasionally been tracked down after sung services by people off the street who happened to walk in to some beautiful work of perhaps Mozart, in the context of a splendid, multi sensory liturgical environment, were not Catholic, but had their heart opened in a very particular way by it.

Letting aside (important) questions of older forms of the Missal, it is worth reflecting that the current Missal offers a wide berth in terms of ritual and musical choices, allowing a unity in diversity in the Church that can truly bring Schuler’s words to life, namely, “it can happen somewhere”.

Do we really want to artificially restrict this broadness to one fairly narrow, arbitrary set of options on a regional level?

I’m not going to pretend that everyone I work with in a variety of liturgical environments is an incredibly well-formed Catholic with an open mind and open heart to forms of liturgical expression that are not their preference, that they don‘t find expressive of their piety.

Nevertheless, in my experience, rather arbitrarily depriving people of legitimate options to which they have become accustomed, through the use of bare legal force, is not a corrective to that, but rather breeds entrenchment and resentment.

It is the desire to return nearly instantly by legal fiat to a complete uniformity of practice - trying to impose the praxis of the 1980’s as though it were still the 1950’s -, in my opinion, that is the true antiquarianism, not the desire for the old Latin Mass or any particular kind of celebration of the current Mass.

That perspective fails to appreciate the complexity of the Church since the postconciliar liturgical reforms, the fact that different parts of those reforms were or were not accepted tranquilly by certain segments of the faithful; that there were real injuries to ecclesial communion owing in no small measure to the confusion and hurt experienced by some Catholics by the change in liturgical praxis or music; that there was also alienation among some of the faithful who had become attached to the new forms by clergy attempting to redress what they thought was excessive of the reforms.

It is a fraught environment, and should not be navigated with a sledgehammer. Hearts are at stake. Souls are at stake.

Navigating the complex environment of Catholic worship in the 21st-century, particularly in the always multicultural, multi expressive, and extremely diverse situation of the United States, requires a good deal of meeting people where they are, and having an open heart to the options that are available and the customs that have developed.

It also means being willing to forgive people, to be understanding, of theit often closed-mindedness and narrowness, recognizing that very often generations of confusion and hurt are behind those sentiments, and dealing to forcefully with the situation will only re-open, rather than healing, such old wounds.

And I truly mean that on both sides of the equation. I speak of course to those who love the older form of the Mass, but I have also experienced very faithful communities that had becomed accustomed to worship exclusively in the vernacular, with music in very different idioms, who when a well-meaning priest re-introduced Latin and chants, reacted with the sentiments of the women in the garden, “Where have they taken the Lord?”

We eye each other was a great deal of suspicion when it comes to divine worship, probably because we have unfortunately developed a habit of continually hurting each other.

That is ultimately what is most satisfying to me about the work that I currently do. Along time ago, I realized that there is no path forward in matters this close to the human heart that is not gentleness. At the same time, I have developed a love for and a very particular expertise in musical and liturgical expressions that run very deep in the heritage and tradition of the Western Church.

I know that, at this historical moment, that manner of music and liturgy cannot be done immediately everywhere while respecting the law of charity, but I am very firm in the conviction that they still have a lot, a countercultural value, to offer the 21st Century, and that they “need to be done _somewhere_”.

I am so grateful, then, to ply my trade in a “somewhere” where these practices were never lost, and so where they are received simply, gratefully, with tranquility, with love, and with great devotion.]]> Frequently Asked Questions about the GIRM https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/7869/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-girm Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:29:15 +0000 chonak 7869@/forum/discussions
Over the years, we've hashed out answers to some common rubrical questions about the current Roman Missal (for Masses offered according to the Ordinary Form). For the convenience of readers, this post will be a place to keep some of those answers available.

Introductory Rites:
=============
* Q: Why do the texts of proper antiphons in the Roman Missal (Entrance Antiphon, Communion Antiphon) often differ from the corresponding antiphons in the Graduale Romanum (Introit, Communion)?
A: It was done by design. Jeffrey Ostrowski's article on the subject explains the difference and the confusions that can result from it. More information on the historical background of the decision is in an article by Christopher Tietze.

* Q: Are the Kyrie and Gloria included in Wedding Masses?
A. The Penitential Act (e.g., Confiteor) is omitted. The Gloria is included. Whether the Kyrie is included is somewhat unclear, as some rubrics indicate that the Kyrie is not part of the Penitential Act, whereas some rubrics suggest that it is. Until this is clarified, check with your diocesan office for worship for guidance. Also, the Creed is included on Sundays and solemnities.


Liturgy of the Word:
==============
* Q: Is it permitted for a cantor to sing the Responsorial Psalm from the choir loft?
A: GIRM 61 says "Psalmista proinde, seu cantor psalmi, in ambone vel alio loco apto profert versus psalmi..." ("Hence the psalmist, or cantor of the psalm, presents the verses of the psalm at the ambo or another suitable place...") If your choir loft is a suitable place, it qualifies.

* Q: What psalm texts can be legitimately used for the Responsorial Psalm?
A: In the USA, the following norms apply: When the psalm is read, it must be taken from the current Lectionary. It may be the text assigned to the day or a text suited for the occasion (e.g., the conferral of a sacrament), or one chosen according to the season.
If the Psalm is to be sung, then the text may be from any approved Scripture translation (see the next question also). Also, a sung psalm may be taken from a collection of psalms and antiphons approved by the bishop. Such a collection may include metrical psalm paraphrases.

* Q: Which Scripture translations have the approval needed for use in a sung psalm?
In the US, in addition to the psalm texts in the approved Lectionary, the following translations have been approved for liturgical use, either at present or in the past, and therefore appear to qualify for use in a sung responsorial psalm: New American Bible, Grail (1963), Revised Grail (2010), RSV-Catholic Edition, Jerusalem Bible (1966). Beyond those is an open question: that is, whether approval of a translation for reading is sufficient, or whether the translation must also be approved specifically for liturgical use. Translations which use the holy name YHWH are excluded.

* Q: Is the Sequence presented before the Alleluia or afterward?
A. GIRM 64 prescribes that the Sequence be sung before the Alleluia. This positioning differs from the historic placement of the Sequence, which was after the Alleluia.

* Q: In what Masses is the Sequence required?
A. GIRM 64 indicates that the sequence is required for Easter and Pentecost. It is not required in other cases (Our Lady of Sorrows, Corpus Christi, etc.) The sequence is not used in vigil Masses.


Liturgy of the Eucharist
=================
* Q: After Communion has ended, the GIRM allows for the singing of a psalm or canticle by the congregation. May a choral work be sung?
A. GIRM 88 provides: "When the distribution of Communion is over, if appropriate, the Priest and faithful pray quietly for some time. If desired, a Psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may also be sung by the whole congregation." It does not expressly permit other forms of singing. (There is an unsettled question here about whether this passage intends to exclude choral works, or whether choral works might be permitted where they are customary.)

National and Regional Adaptations of the GIRM
==================================
* Q. It is easy to find the U.S. edition of the GIRM on the internet, but where can I find editions for other countries?
A.

Preludes and Postludes
=================
* Q. Is there any regulation of preludes and postludes?
A. The document Musicam Sacram (1967) gives express permission for instrumental music on the organ and other approved instruments before the priest's entrance, and after the Mass: see paragraphs 65ff. However, during Advent and Lent, or at Masses for the Dead, instrumental music is limited to accompanying the singing.]]> Monastic Tenebrae for Triduum - special modifications? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19772/monastic-tenebrae-for-triduum-special-modifications Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:13:44 +0000 MonasticChantress 19772@/forum/discussions
I had been reading documents on the liturgy last year, following footnotes to the relevant places in Notitiae (of which I had been ignorant previously!). Regarding the Office of Readings, they offer the possibility to contemplative communities to expand the office with three more psalms from an alternate week of the LOTH. Later, they have an answer in French to some questions about what to do when a psalm repeats, or when there isn't a response, etc.

It would be helpful to be able to have the three extra psalms, but I didn't see anything mentioned about how to do this for Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I am able to read enough Latin and make out enough French that I don't think that information was there.

This may be somewhat arcane, but if anyone has helpful information, we would be grateful!



]]> new music director - recommended reading? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22410/new-music-director-recommended-reading Tue, 15 Apr 2025 03:31:33 +0000 wren 22410@/forum/discussions Altar Stone Consecration and Blessing of Altar Cross Order https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22294/altar-stone-consecration-and-blessing-of-altar-cross-order Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:52:04 +0000 OMagnumMysterium 22294@/forum/discussions Guidelines for composing gradual and alleluia for EF? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22222/guidelines-for-composing-gradual-and-alleluia-for-ef Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:21:49 +0000 raph 22222@/forum/discussions
1 - Is it allowed to repeat the antiphon of the gradual more than once? I was thinking about, for meditation questions, compssing them like how slavs churches perform the prokeimenon at Divine Liturgy.

For example:

Cantor - Christus factus est pro nobis obediens
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

Choir - Christus factus est pro nobis obediens
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

Cantor - Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum et dedit illi nomen,
quod est super omne nomen.

Choir - Christus factus est pro nobis obediens
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

Cantor - Christus factus est pro nobis obediens
usque ad mortem,
Choir - mortem autem crucis.

As you can se, the choir repeats the antiphon after the cantor sings something, and at the end the cantor sings half of the antiphon and the choir the rest. Is it licit to perform a gradual according to this scheme?


2 - I've noticed that Byrd and some other composers often repeat the alleluia a lot. Is it licit to perform it in a similar fashion to the prokeimenon?

Example:

Cantor - Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Choir - Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Cantor - Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam: et salutare tuum da nobis.

Choir - Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ]]> Officiant's parts for Tenebrae https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22238/officiant039s-parts-for-tenebrae Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:13:13 +0000 OMagnumMysterium 22238@/forum/discussions 2-year lectionary latin readings for Holy Week on the Liturgia Horarum https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19210/2-year-lectionary-latin-readings-for-holy-week-on-the-liturgia-horarum Sun, 25 Jul 2021 22:14:35 +0000 ARC_Jols 19210@/forum/discussions
On the Notitiae 320 (1993, vol. 29; http://www.cultodivino.va/.../indici-annate/1993/320.html) there are the latin readings/responsories for the 2 year cycle of the Office of Readings, for Holy Week.

My question is: can these readings be used instead of the one-year-cycle readings provided on most (if not all) printed versions and be used on the public recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours?

Or are they just a proposal that can't be used and its their for the sake of discussion? Thank you!]]> LOTH Ordo Cantus Officii acronym question https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22204/loth-ordo-cantus-officii-acronym-question Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:21:58 +0000 Rivegauche 22204@/forum/discussions Bea Psalter in «Communio» (2008) by Rice (ed.)? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/20367/bea-psalter-in-communio-2008-by-rice-ed. Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:46:10 +0000 Geremia 20367@/forum/discussions Communio: Communion Antiphons with Psalms, edited by Richard Rice?]]> Why does the church allow the 4 options during the propers https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22078/why-does-the-church-allow-the-4-options-during-the-propers Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:09:47 +0000 jstanford1026 22078@/forum/discussions
My question is why does the church allow these 4 options and specifically why does it allow the fourth option if it prefers that the propers be chanted?

With all due respect, I am not looking for peoples' personal take and opinions on the issue but I am wondering if there is any church document that explains why the 4 options are given. Or at the very least if there is some writing from the church that shows why these options are given. I believe that understanding why the church gives these options will give us a better understanding of their importance and will help us to make the most appropriate decision between these 4 options.]]> Our Lady of Guadalupe - Credo? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22088/our-lady-of-guadalupe-credo Tue, 03 Dec 2024 21:19:29 +0000 Josaphat1934 22088@/forum/discussions History of choir lofts? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19985/history-of-choir-lofts Sat, 21 May 2022 00:36:51 +0000 Geremia 19985@/forum/discussions
They seem to be a relatively late invention, since the choir is part of the sanctuary (or closer to the altar), according to 13th cen. liturgist Durandus (Rationale Divinorum Officiorum bk. 1, ch. 1 "Of a Church & Its Parts", {19}):
the sanctuary (sanctuarium) is a more sacred place than the choir, and the choir (chorus) more sacred than the body (corpus) [nave]
]]> Next step in the Lectionary revision process https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22049/next-step-in-the-lectionary-revision-process Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:58:44 +0000 Liam 22049@/forum/discussions
https://catholicbibletalk.com/2024/11/revised-nab-approved-by-usccb/

This becomes the source for the revision of the 1998 edition of the US's Lectionary.]]> Decree Prohibiting Certain Hymns and Listing Suggested Mass Settings https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22015/decree-prohibiting-certain-hymns-and-listing-suggested-mass-settings Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:21:28 +0000 MarkB 22015@/forum/discussions
https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2024/10/28/decree-prohibiting-certain-hymns-and-listing-suggested-mass-settings/

It's a small step, but it's something in the right direction.]]> New Translations of Lectionary & Psalms https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/21849/new-translations-of-lectionary-psalms Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:26:45 +0000 discenaj 21849@/forum/discussions Prayers before and after Divine Office - How many times? https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/21876/prayers-before-and-after-divine-office-how-many-times Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:45:04 +0000 OMagnumMysterium 21876@/forum/discussions
I am referring to the prayers promulgated by Pius XI, which begin with Aperi and Sacrosanctae.

As an example, if I was saying Prime, Sext, and Compline daily, would I say each prayer three times a day, or would I simply say the first prayer before Prime and the second after Compline?

Sources appreciated.]]> Looking for Antiphonale Romano-Seraphicum 1928 https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/21869/looking-for-antiphonale-romano-seraphicum-1928 Mon, 12 Aug 2024 04:59:58 +0000 SSDCharlesss 21869@/forum/discussions
Looking back at many posts here in MusicaSacra, I saw many music ministers here claiming to have a copy.

If it happens that you see this message, please send me a copy of the said document as it would be useful for us here in the monastic community of Poor Clares near our parish and in my personal study of the Latin liturgy in Franciscan tradition.

Thank you!]]> Starting up Sung Vespers (OF) https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/21763/starting-up-sung-vespers-of Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:11:13 +0000 gensemer 21763@/forum/discussions
I have a little group that has been celebrating sung Vespers about twice a month for the past 8 months and we're looking to make it a more permanent addition to our parish.
Our schola has between 2 and 5 people. We do Mass on 1st Sundays (chant and polyphony, using Simple English propers) and have been doing Vespers on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm.
I'm reviewing the schedule and considering moving it to Sundays, perhaps at 5pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer, so it isn't completely dark when we start (that seems to keep people away, especially the older parishoners.)
We are also thinking of adding Sung I or II Vespers for solemnities.
I'm mindful that while it is great to have a substantial attendance, but it is also important that we make it predictable, regular and sustainable for the schola.
I've attached a handout from one example so you can see how we do it. We also sing a latin motet after the 2nd reading (which I lift out of the office of readings for the day) before the 10 minutes silence.]]>