Memorial acclamation A/B/C
  • ryandryand
    Posts: 1,640
    Are these assigned to the liturgical years of the same letter, or interchangeable options?
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,196
    They are interchangeable options. But adopting a system to make their use more predictable would be good practice, IMHO.
  • Bobby Bolin
    Posts: 418
    My opinion:

    A for Christmas Season, Easter Season, Feasts, some Ordinary Time
    B for Ordinary Time, Corpus Christi
    C for Advent, Lent, some Ordinary Time

    This is without really looking into too many details.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,965
    My decision as to which to use was easy. The pastor said to use "A" because it is the closest translation to "Mortem tuam."
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,791
    Ah, but "B" is closest to the familiar melody!
  • Aristotle EsguerraAristotle Esguerra
    Posts: 1,186
    We choose "C" because it's more a prayer than a declaration.
  • Charles in CenCA
    Posts: 2,416
    I also endorse RM's rationale in its consistency with the celebrant orations (as well as both Gloria XV.)
    My supersecretstealthsurreptitious rationale overrides that for "B"-
    I believe, in time, it will serve to illustrate clearly that the Calix, Chalice is the suprasanct vessel of sacrifice, and the cup is the measure beyond measure of the Precious Blood shed on our behalf. (Wasn't that a slick avoidance of the "multis" contention? And y'all thought Kalifornians were incapable of higher order thankin' skills, 'ceptin' Mary Ann, God bless her!)
  • incantuincantu
    Posts: 989
    Scenario: You walk into an Ordinary Form Mass anywhere in the English speaking word. The priest intones "the mystery of faith." How do you know what to sing next?
  • Anathama Sit
    Posts: 12
    The first word is pretty indicative of what response to sing next.
  • GavinGavin
    Posts: 2,799
    I share incantu's concern. This is why a printed liturgical bulletin is so necessary. The Episcopalians have a good method, where the response varies by the priest's invocation. One could compose a "responsorial" memorial acclamation, but this becomes too long and violates the character of the acclamation.

    My solution is to use acclamation A, always and forever. Why on earth would anyone want to use something else?? It's the most frequently used, the most familiar, and the first and hence preferred option.
  • incantuincantu
    Posts: 989
    So I should only start singing on the second word? And who sings the first? Who decides which one it will be? Please don't say the Music Director, because I don't want to have to attend all six Sunday Masses plus another eighteen during the week.
  • Charles in CenCA
    Posts: 2,416
    Well, our retired priest in residence and I discussed this very question casually on Sunday, incantu, and we pondered the efficacy of assigning the acclamations to same "class" year of the lectionary. I've noticed that the same question could be asked vis a vis the Penitential Rite as well, but the Celebrant does theoretically give us a moment's notice, mais oui?
    PS, when do we get a new post over at your blog?
  • Anathama Sit
    Posts: 12
    Greetings Incantu,

    I know in my parish we use the same acclamation for all Masses at that given weekend. But you are right that is a good concern.
  • Adam Schwend
    Posts: 203
    Ah, the memorial acclamation. Can't say I'm a fan of this thing....no historical precedent....no historical tonality....but I guess I digress.

    We use "A" pretty much exclusively. Because, if you have them listed, it's the first one people's eyes go to.

    Adam S.
  • ClemensRomanusClemensRomanus
    Posts: 1,023
    We only use 'A', and I'm not a fan the Memorial Acclamation either, Adam.
  • incantuincantu
    Posts: 989
    My question was rhetorical. There IS no way to know. I'm not sure why it was necessary to insert a choice at this point in the Mass in the first place, but the problem has nevertheless been introduced. Using A in year A, etc. is a possible solution to that problem, but that would only work if it were strongly recommended by the conference of bishops or in another clarifying document.

    [And I'm in the process of overhauling www.euouae.com to be less of a blog and more the home page for the performing ensemble. I'll have a devoted page that will present forthcoming pedagogical materials in a more logical order, from beginner to advanced. Thanks for asking!]
  • SkirpRSkirpR
    Posts: 854
    I remember reading in the rejected 1998 Sacramentary there were invitations by the priest other than "The mystery of faith" that were specifically tied to each acclamation. Of course I'm aware that in that case we're rewriting and not translating the Mass, and potentially leaving out the words "mysterium fidei" altogether - which had long been part of the actual consecration - however it was an attempt, however faulted, to correct the logistical problem.
  • RobertRobert
    Posts: 343
    In Canada, for whatever reason, we had the system SkipR describes for years. It worked out OK, but it meant leaving out the phrase "mystery of faith" a lot of the time.
  • mhjell
    Posts: 32
    I crafted variations on the Celebrant's intonation of "The mystery of faith" to match the start of each acclamation chant. Our pastor picks whichever he wants us to use and we follow his lead. He hasn't adopted it though.
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