Sequence for Pentecost Vigil?
  • Our choir has been preparing the Sequence for Pentecost Sunday. I was wondering if the Sequence is also sung at the Vigil Mass (not the Extended Form)? I seem to remember that it isn't used for the Vigil, but couldn't find the rubric saying this. Any rubrical help would be appreciated. Thank you.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,175
    Unlike a “vigil” Mass (or perhaps more properly an “anticipated” Mass) on a typical Saturday evening, the Vigil Mass of Pentecost (Simple or Extended) is a different Mass from that of the Sunday, with different readings, chants, and rubrics.

    The Sequence is not specified in the Missal rubrics, though, but in the Orders of Readings and of Song of the Mass. In those books, the Sequence is specified for Mass During The Day and not for the Vigil Mass. So that's what you do.

    Of course if you are doing the Pentecost Mass During The Day on Saturday evening, you might as well do the Sequence too, if the priest wants it.
  • CatholicZ09
    Posts: 282
    Pentecost always confuses me in the Novus Ordo because it seems that no one observes the Vigil anymore, making Saturday evening a typical anticipated Mass with the Sunday readings. Same can be said for Assumption. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve heard the Vigil propers for Pentecost or Assumption.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,064
    It's sad, but I can readily fathom why that would be so in many places:

    1. Most places don't do the entrance/offertory/communion Propers at all (they are, after all, free in that regard).

    2. Most pastors would likely consider that, unlike the very differently scheduled Easter Vigil, the congregants who decided to attend the regularly scheduled Saturday evening Mass have not contemplated a longer liturgy that deploying the proper vigil liturgy would entail - and that it would likely be a stretch for many music ministries at the time of year Pentecost typically falls.
    Thanked by 1Andrew_Malton
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 338
    I'm preaching at both the (Extended) Vigil and Sunday Masses of Pentecost and find myself sympathizing with those pastors who don't do the proper Vigil for the feast in order not to have to prepare two homilies. On the other hand, what a feast of texts the Extended Vigil offers the preacher!
    Thanked by 2Liam Paul F. Ford
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,219
    Not to downplay preaching on the readings of the day, but you can preach on other texts. Or weave between texts — the extended vigil isn’t quite the same as the pre-55 vigil, which is still preparatory in nature, so it’s not as odd to return to Saturday’s readings on Sunday.

    Or just slip something in braces to change the verbs. I realize that this isn’t typical, but it’s not a bad solution for a problem that occurs a handful of times per year. Plus, I doubt that clerics write four sermons on Christmas.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 338
    I doubt that clerics write four sermons on Christmas.


    But they should. ;)
    Thanked by 2Paul F. Ford Heath