Communion Hymns during Advent
  • marylouise
    Posts: 6
    I am new as coordinator of music at a Catholic church. I have completed Advent plans, but am concerned about communion hymns. Communion hymns in general - should they always center upon Eucharist and be within the Eucharist category in the hymnal, no matter what season, or should they be chosen exclusively with the season in mind? Thank you for any help and suggestions. --Mary
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I have never felt bound to the idea that communion hymns had strictly to be 'eucharistic' texts. To clarify - it is usually desirable that they are, but there times when a considered choice of hymnody that relates interestingly to the day's lectionary and does so with a particular eucharistic bent is a Godsend. Also, it isn't, I think, too far amiss to choose a lectionary-oriented text that is particularly reverent, meditative, and speaks to the 'inner life' which is specific to communion. Devotional hymns about Jesus come to mind, but other emphases, such as the Holy Ghost, the Father, spiritual need, spiritual joy, etc., could work as well - or such as something like 'Be Thou My Vision', or similar texts.

    For me, the primary emphasis is devotion, spiritual enlightenment, thoughtfulness, profound reverence, and so forth. There are times (I'm thinking of Christmas and Easter) at which even a lighter joyful hymn such as In dulci jubilo or 'In thee is gladness' could well be fitting. Within these parameters I think that one has judicious lee way. There are, after all, a limited number of strictly eucharistical hymns, so seeking variety within reverential bounds seems appropriate to me. Some others may disagree.

    Communion music, whilst characterised by prayerful reverence, does not always have to be morose, maudlin, sacarine, or lacking in an, at times, appropriate spiritual ecstacy and an outrightly joyful frame of mind.

    The same goes for organ voluntaries played during communion. It is fitting that they should at times reflect the day's scriptural thrust or seasonal emotion. One of my favourite pieces to play during communions at Easter, for instance, is Bach's ecstatic organ chorale, Nun freut euch, lieb'n Christen g'mein. Ditto his Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter at Christmas.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,510
    Both Let all mortal flesh and Wake o wake tick all the boxes here. They are both seasonal and liturgical. Plus they are great hymns and tunes.

    The GIRM does not insist on either a seasonal nor strictly Eucharistic hymn, particularly after Communion. It suggests silence or a "hymn of praise."

    As for hymnals, you may feel free to ignore the headings. That's the editor's opinion and it's only a suggestion.

  • marylouise
    Posts: 6
    Thank you so much - this is very helpful. So Kathy - during communion there does not have to be a hymn? Can it be meditation music? I understand that during preparation there can be an instrumental rather than a sung hymn. Again, thank you.
    Thanked by 1Kathy
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,510
    Communion has 2 main phases. The first is best served by singing a Communion chant, which is a Psalm and its antiphon.

    Afterwards it's fine to sing a hymn of praise.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    The Magnificat is just about the perfect canticle for Communion if one is not doing the proper chant.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn Kathy
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Assuming an OF context, I would make the following observations:

    a) There is a proper communion antiphon. It should be used before all else. In the event that your parish isn't using these antiphons in any form yet, start here. Remember the instruction: don't sing [other stuff] at Mass; rather, sing the Mass.

    b) Hymns which draw attention to themselves rather than to Our Eucharistic Lord, however, well intentioned, should - as a rule - be avoided at Mass, whether at this time of Mass or at another. Music which is fitting for the august celebration of the Mass can be played in an inappropriate manner, obviously, but that is a matter of performance, not of the substance of the thing. Certain hymns, or merely music which calls itself a hymn but isn't, should be avoided because these distract from Our Eucharistic Lord.

    c) Psalms and Canticles are appropriate by their nature, if not always by the musical setting.

    d) The choir, singing alone, can offer its praise and help others in their praise of God.

    e) It is a mistake to think that the congregation must be singing all time time!

    f) Kathy's is absolutely right about editor headings in Hymnals and song books. Glory and Praise, the hard-cover edition, has listed as a song during Lent a piece of music which contains Alleluias.

  • marylouise
    Posts: 6
    Very enlightening information. I have just found a site with communion antiphons. I studied Gregorian at St. Joseph this past summer, and also found Fr. Kelly's book. At the risk of sounding ignorant, what does OF mean - as in "OF context" mentioned above. Thanks again.
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    OF = Ordinary Form of Mass (using the current missal), as opposed to EF the Extraordinary Form, as the 1962 (pre Vatican II) Mass is now called. There is a helpful page of abbreviations commonly used on this forum on the front page right hand five down. (quite a number of posters here prefer the EF, or other rites)
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