Perhaps those who assert this have in mind paragraph #62 of the 1972 document of the United States Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, Music in Catholic Worship:Some people will probably tell you that music for Eucharistic Adoration is not necessarily appropriate for Mass.
"The communion song should foster a sense of unity. It should be simple and not demand great effort. It gives expression to the joy of unity in the body of Christ and the fulfillment of the mystery being celebrated. Because they emphasize adoration rather than communion, most benediction hymns are not suitable."
Perhaps those who assert this have in mind paragraph #62 of the 1972 document of the United States Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, Music in Catholic Worship.
I don't see why it can't be both.
If we take the Communions of the Graduale Romanum as the measure of suitability against which "other suitable songs" are evaluated, the hymn "Pange lingua" seems not so suitable. It does not really resemble the kind of thing that the liturgy prescribes for singing at communion.
It does not really resemble the kind of thing that the liturgy prescribes for singing at communion.
For what reason?
The GR Communion antiphons, unlike adoration hymns, are usually quotations from the Psalms or the Gospels, and they seldom mention the Most Holy Eucharist.
... "if the style and format" ... what? I don't see a sentence or clause here.I wonder, also, if the style and format (short, unrhymed antiphons in a slightly melismatic free rhythm, as opposed to rhymed, syllabic, strophic hymnody).
I have a descant to the usual harmonization of St. Thomas which I'll post here shortly
...
I also have just finished a rather elaborate harmonization of St. Thomas, with two descants
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