Suggestions for Holy Thursday song during Presentation of the Oils?
  • ParishMusicDirector
    Posts: 20
    48 hours before Roman Catholic Holy Thursday I have been directed to provide a song during Presentation of the Oils.
    Forgive me (and please don't contribute "what should be") as I don't have free reign to select from traditional repertoire. I serve at a parish that is "a bit unusual." We have not had "sung" music in the past during Presentation of the Oils.

    I am directed that it must be a song published by Oregon Catholic Press, it has to be simple and quite brief, and it is quite possible the song will be "cut" from Mass at the last moment or omitted impromptu during Mass. (I know, I know, I can "hear" the groans. I wish it could be a beautiful chant or something from the St. Gregory Hymnal, but I don't have that freedom.)

    Thanks for any suggestions as I have not found this song topic in OCP's indexes or Liturgy Today music planner.


  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    Maybe some sort of Taize piece?
    Thanked by 1ParishMusicDirector
  • MarkB
    Posts: 1,084
    Here are OCP search results:

    https://ocp.org/en-us/search?q=holy+oils&c=artist;blog;event;page;product;song;collection
    Thanked by 1ParishMusicDirector
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    You could say that your choir doesn't want to go to the trouble of learning something in 48 hours which they very well may not need after all.

    Thanked by 2MatthewRoth ParishMusicDirector
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,092
    Given those strictures, new music that is specific to the holy oils is likely out of reach, and I would suggest a song that is likely familiar and appropriate for the liturgy overall: Where Charity and Love Prevail. Sung a cappella.
    Thanked by 2ParishMusicDirector m_r_taylor
  • ParishMusicDirector
    Posts: 20
    Thanks, Liam. In the details of this situation on short notice, your suggestion fits the bill.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,092
    Ideally, no notable break within each couplet of lines (but keep the singing energy moving from first half to second half of each couplet), so it can be ... chanted. It flows, it's not a march.

    E.g. of the first two couplets:

    "Where charity and love prevail there God is ever found // Brought here together by Christ's love, by love are we thus bound."

    Energy moves from "-vail" [which can have a hint of extension] into "there", and from "love," [ditto] into "by".
    Thanked by 1ParishMusicDirector
  • ParishMusicDirector
    Posts: 20
    Thanks, Liam. Your suggestion fits the bill...perfectly. Musically beautiful, it "enhances the Mass" and it's familiar.

    Now on to my next Holy Week last-minute-directive emergency! :-)
    Thanked by 1Liam
  • RPBurke
    Posts: 25
    Liam, that’s exactly how I have used that song, as a chant, and it works just fine.
    Thanked by 1ParishMusicDirector
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    The Maundy Thursday liturgy at Walsingham may be seen at olwcatholic.org.
    Complete Palmer-Burgess propers, Byrd's Ave Verum, the people singing quite nicely the Sanctus & Agnus from the cum jubilo mass and Adoro te - all without organ.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen ParishMusicDirector
  • Mattspmusic0320
    Posts: 69
    I was wondering if anyone has ever used a few verses from "O Redeemer" for this? Connecting the rituals that take place at the Cathedral Chrism Mass to the actions taking place in our own parishes? Curious about thoughts on this?
    Thanked by 1PhilipPowell
  • PhilipPowell
    Posts: 116
    Until we removed the practice of this procession, we sang the antiphon 'O Redemptor Sume Carmen' and a verse for the procession of each oil.
Add a Comment