I found something similar in SttL. The issue I have in mind is a question about a unconfirmed child intoning the Agnus Dei and whether that action constitutes being a "cantor" or not. My position is that it does not, as this child is not singing the Psalm or the Alleluia, but is merely performing a in solo manner one of the mass parts assigned to the choir.


thoughts . . . ?

Forgive the prying, but I sense you're getting flak from someone about a child who has not yet been confirmed taking a liturgical role, or some such?
It surprises me that lack of confirmation would be an issue.

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

I thought I had read somewhere a description of cantor as necessarily confirmed. I recall when I was confirmed they told us that the ministry of lector and EMHC (or as they called it in those days, "Eucharistic Minister") are reserved for the confirmed, so it seems logical this would also apply to cantor. I asked my boss at my last parish, who had never heard of it, so I had some children cantoring. On that topic, here's a bulletin article that I wrote on the topic:

I’m often asked, “Why did you decide to play the organ?” To be honest, I don’t really have a reason, but perhaps a lot of it stems from my elementary school priest. I took piano lessons starting in 5th grade, and the parish priest always attended every recital that our studio gave. Furthermore, when we made our monthly confessions, the priest would always ask me in the confessional how my piano studies were doing, tell me how excited he was to hear my next performance, and encourage me to keep at my work. Maybe on a subconscious level the priest encouraged me to pursue musical work for the Church. It certainly sounds nice.

Continuing on the topic of involvement in the parish music program, [this was in a series on getting people involved in the music program] I would like to mention one of the most profound ways you can help: by encouraging a child to learn music. I don’t know of any parent that doesn’t want their child to excel in schoolwork. Nothing helps like studying music! You may be wondering, “how does music help Junior’s grades?” Well, music and math are two very entwined fields. The more one studies music, the better one becomes at math, and vice versa. Music also teaches your child the value of discipline through practice, setting performance goals, and self-improvement.

If you’re not a parent, young people studying music is also in your interest. As I mentioned in the beginning, early encouragement can mean the difference between an adult who is a musician and one who isn’t. Thirty years from now, who will be the entertainers? Who will sing in the [parish name] choir? Today’s child learning violin could be tomorrow’s virtuoso, entertaining thousands. In the Church we hear of the need for priests, but what of musicians? The child you know who studies piano and loves to sing in church could be the future music director of some parish. All they need is a kind word, encouragement to keep up with studies, and your ear when they perform.

On that note, I’d like to point out some exceptional children involved with music. [Parish name] has recently gained two cantors, [girl 1] and [girl 2], both middle school students. I hope you will join me in thanking them for their contribution to the parish and that their example will inspire you to help the child in your life take up the study of music.

Gavin, it seems probable that actual lectors need to be confirmed, but I don't imagine any of us here attend Masses that utilize lectors.

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

darth_linux (I love that name) --

You may have to resort to asking your diocesan office of worship about this. Personally, I doubt that the archbishop really intended to bar children in choirs from singing a four-word solo in a part of the Mass ordinary.

frogman:

What's the final word on "Jesus, Lamb of God"? Your "I think" didn't sound too convincing, and I'd like to bring this up with our cantor (my wife) since we've battled over this forever!

ignoring rome is just like ignoring your parents when you are a child. its called rebellion and disobedience.

I thought "Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us" is an approved "setting" right out of the OCP book . . . is it not?

My parish, in SW Washington (archdiocese of Seattle), has bought into STTL hook line and sinker, approved or not, as it is the "recommendation" of our archbishop . . .

the original issue of this thread pertained to what constitues a Cantor in an official sense of the word, and if the only thing you sang alone on was the Agnus Dei (english or latin) did that "make you" the cantor? My belief is that no it does not . . .

SttL:

When the Agnus Dei is sung repeatedly as a litany, Christological invocations with other texts may be used. In this case, the first and final invocations are always Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

SHOULD THE STTL, NEVER SUBMITTED, CONTRADICT 2000 Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani? FORGIVE ME, AM I SHOUTING?

From this article, by someone more learned than myself:

http://www.adoremus.org/1202AgnusDei.html

"A clear inference also is that if the GIRM allows "troping" a particular text, it says so. There is no provision for "troping" the Agnus Dei; surely a further indication that there was no intention to permit replacing or adding to the traditional invocations.

In the 2000 Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, the statement on the Agnus Dei itself is essentially unchanged. Significantly, however, it is preceded by a new statement: that the fraction rite should not be overemphasized or unnecessarily prolonged, and that the breaking of the bread should be done only by the priest and deacon. Further, a new paragraph in IGMR 2000, § 366, refers explicitly to the Agnus Dei:

It is not permitted to substitute for the chants found in the Order of Mass, e.g., at the Agnus Dei.

What could be more clear?"

what is really a crime in all this is that WE (the pastoral musicians) have to play music/liturgy police which takes so much time and energy that would have otherwise been spent in making good liturgical music!