All right folks, here we go, my first stab.

In thinking over what I would like as the proverbial "clueless, panicked volunteer music leader," I would like this. In fact, I would do what I just did: schematize it so I could see it all laid out.

Formatting of course went all screwy at the transfer from Word. We will work on that.

Please feel free to offer any corrections of wording, etc, but particularly any misstatements of the norms. For those of you who want the Graduale Romanum responsorial to be given "pride of place" should attend to Paragraph 61, which, in the section applying to ALL English language jurisdictions, and not just the US, says clearly, "The Responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should usually be taken from the Lectionary." Sorry. I am a "Rome has spoken" kind of guy.

I seem to rapidly be coming down with a summer cold, so I am abandoning ship. Mistakes may have gotten through. I am not in my office, so I may have written "Missa de Angelis" where "Missa Primitiva" may have been correct, etc.

DON'T POUNCE. I have about had it with the pouncing. Get thee behind me, sarcasm.

If you see a mistake, let me know. This idea is going to get developed further. I would love to hear reactions about how useful it seems. Could it be altered? I have plans to add guides about which books to use, etc, although I need to learn a little bit more about what is currently licit and what isn't. Don't worry about that so much. I just mean, does it display the norms helpfully?

Thanks.

Kenneth

Sung parts of the Order of Mass for the Congregation according to the 2011 General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM).

Numbers indicate paragraphs in GIRM.

The chants in the Roman Missal are the preferred setting of the Mass. The chants may be studied with the help of videos on the website of the Archdiocese of Boston.

I. Entrance (47,48)
The Entrance Antiphon or other approved text must be chanted. The chant begins “as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers,” and is continued during the procession. It may be sung by a cantor and a choir, a cantor and the congregation, or the choir alone.

In the United States, there are four options:

The first two are always licit:
1) A. The antiphon from the Missal, or
B. The antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum;
2) A. The antiphon and Psalm from the Graduale Simplex;

The next two must be approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop;
3) A chant from another collection of Psalms, including responsorial and metrical forms;
4) Another liturgical chant suited to the sacred action, day, or time of year.
English translations exist for all four options.
No mention is made of a hymn or song for the entrance.

II. Kyrie: a chant. No mention is made of a song setting.

III. Gloria (53)

An invariable part of the Mass that must be sung according to the approved text. GIRM refers to singing the Gloria, but the Bishops and ICEL have asked that congregations give special attention to the Chant that is found in the Missal.

IV. Responsorial Psalm (61)

There are four options for the Responsorial Psalm.

The first three are always licit:
1) The Responsorial Psalm from the Lectionary. GIRM says that the Responsorial Psalm should “usually be taken from the Lectionary;
2) The Responsorial Gradual from the Graduale Romanum; or
3) The Responsorial Psalm or the Alleluia Psalm from the Graduale Simplex.

The last option must be approved by the Conference of Bishops or by the Diocesarn Bishop:
4) An antiphon and Psalm from “another collection of Psalms and antiphons, including Psalms arranged in metrical form.”

English translations exist for all four options.

In many discussions of these options, No. 1 tends to be referred to as the “Responsorial Psalm,” while No.2 is referred to as the ‘Gradual.” GIRM refers to all options as “the Responsorial Psalm” and differentiates according to the terms used in this list.

V. The Profession of Faith (Creed or Credo) (67, 68)

The preference is that the Creed be chanted according to the Chants of the Missal.

VI. The Offertory Procession (74)

The Offertory Procession is accompanied by a chant of the offertory antiphon “at least until the gifts have been placed upon the altar.” The norms for the Offertory are the same as those for Entrance.

In the United States, there are four options:

The first two are always licit:

1) A. The antiphon from the Missal, or
B. The antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum;
2) A. The antiphon and Psalm from the Graduale Simplex;

The next two must be approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop;
5) A chant from another collection of Psalms, including responsorial and metrical forms;
6) Another liturgical chant suited to the sacred action, day, or time of year.

English translations exist for all four options.

No mention is made of a hymn or song for the offertory.

VII. Sanctus (79b) and Memorial Acclamation (79e)
The preference is that the Sanctus and Acclamation be chanted according to the Chants of the Missal.

VIII. The Lord’s Prayer (81)

The preference is that the Lord’s Prayer be chanted according to the Chants of the Missal.

IX. Agnus Dei

The preference is that the Sanctus and Acclamation be chanted according to the Chants of the Missal.

X. Communion Procession (87)

The chant of the Communion antiphon begins “while the Priest is receiving the Sacrament.”

In the United States, there are four options for singing at Communion, which are slightly different than norms for other parts of the Mass:

The first two are always licit:
1) A. The antiphon from the Missal, or
B. The antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, either one “as set to music there or in another musical setting”;
2) A. The antiphon and Psalm from the Graduale Simplex;

The next two must be approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop;
3) A chant from another collection of Psalms, including responsorial and metrical forms;

4) Another liturgical chant suited to the sacred action, day, or time of year.

English translations exist for all four options.

Paragraph 88 of the GIRM states: 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.

XI. Recessional Hymn

No norm is provided for the Recessional Hymn. However, all music for the Mass must “correspond to the spirit of the liturgical action and…foster the participation of the faithful.” (41)

Paragraph 41 includes this note: Since the faithful from different countries come together ever more frequently, it is desirable that they know how to sing together at least some parts of the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin, especially the

Profession of Faith and the Lord’s Prayer, according to the simpler settings.

Indeed, the new Chants of the Missal follow closely the familiar Chants of the Gregorian Missa Primitiva. It should therefore be a simple matter to introduce the simple Latin Chants into the Mass at special times, such as the penitential seasons of
Advent and Lent.

Both as Cardinal and as Pope, Benedict XVI has expressed the desire that the faithful be able to worship fully together at international meetings, and has suggested that all the faithful learn how to sing the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei in Latin. Many people around the world know the Gloria and the Credo from the Gregorian Missa de Angelis. Suitable occasions can be found for introducing the faithful to the the ageless bounty of grace found in this glorious music. Children are often very receptive to its simple beauty.