Most appropriate hymns for Offertory and Communion?
  • MVLC
    Posts: 9
    I am able on occasion to organise music for my local church (OF). I usually do entrance, offertory, Communion, and recessional hymns. I've seen various opinions on what kind of hymn is appropriate for the offertory and Communion, including Communion-type hymns, seasonal, or Marian. I would be curious to hear your opinions.
    I'm especially wondering about Marian - there are a few Latin Marian hymns I love but I'm not sure of the best place to put them given that I usually try to make the entrance and recessional hymns English so the congregation can sing along (they'll only usually sing hymns they're familiar with and never latin so I generally save that for Communion when I'd prefer the congregation to be in silent prayer rather than singing).
    Thanks in advance.
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 307
    If you are going to use hymns, there are many suggestions based off the proper texts at the Antiphon Renewal project: https://www.antiphonrenewal.com/
    Or you could go to CPDL and find one of the metrical psalm translations of the psalm assigned to the offertory or communion proper, match it to an appropriate tune and use that. There is also the Scottish Psalter which has metrical translations of the psalms. https://reformedstandards.com/psalter/psalms.html
    Finally, according to the GIRM, the receipt of communion should be accompanied by singing. The time for quiet reflection would be after all have received. (Although ironically that is the only point in the mass that the GIRM explicitly calls for the singing of a hymn.)
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 825
    @MVLC you might be interested in reading my two reflections on What is a Catholic Hymn? and A Pastoral Look at the Hymns We Sing: Past & Present — The Parish Hymnody Study

    Very briefly, I’ve found it helpful to distinguish carefully what kind of hymn I’m dealing with—particularly the difference between liturgical and devotional hymnody—and then ask how that kind of hymn relates to the specific action of the Mass at that moment.

    At the Offertory, the Church is preparing the gifts and uniting the offering of our lives to Christ’s sacrifice. Because this is a moment of preparation rather than proclamation, a quieter, devotional hymn can serve the liturgy well. In that sense, a Marian hymn is often appropriate if it supports prayer and does not displace the sacrificial focus of the altar. Historically, many parishes used Marian hymns here precisely in that supportive, non‑thematic way.

    At Communion, the Church envisions either silence or a chant that accompanies the act of receiving Christ. If a hymn is used, it needs to remain clearly Eucharistic in theology and orientation. That said, your instinct about Latin is very sound pastorally: using Latin at Communion (or after Communion), when the congregation is already praying silently, can be especially fitting. A Marian hymn works best here when it functions as thanksgiving or contemplation rather than as a “Communion song” competing for attention.

    Your broader approach—English for Entrance and Recessional so the people can sing, and Latin reserved for more contemplative moments—respects both active participation and the Church’s long‑standing understanding that participation is not always vocal.

    So I’d say Marian hymns aren’t simply a matter of “where they’re allowed,” but of how they function: they work best when they clearly serve the liturgical action rather than replace or reinterpret it. From what you describe, you’re already planning with very solid liturgical instincts.

  • probe
    Posts: 125
    I was wondering the same. We have four congregational hymns in English with organ accompaniment - except that nobody sings during Communion, the organ is on its own. The people hadn't yet developed the habit of singing any of them really, so I get the chant group to sing the Entrance, Offertory, and Recessional to encourage them and it seems to be gradually taking effect. For April the hymns are:
    Amazing Grace
    Let us break bread
    Christ be beside me
    Sweet Heart of Jesus.

    The Gregorian chant group sings Kyriale VIII and for Communion next Sunday it will be the second part of 'O Filii et Filiae', echoing the Gospel story of Doubting Thomas. They wanted to sing 'Regina caeli', which is only 30 seconds long, so I plan us to sing it in the two-minute break between the reading of the parish announcements and the Entrance.
    Thanked by 1MVLC
  • CGM
    Posts: 799
    You might purchase a copy of the hymnal published by the London Oratory (aka the Brompton Oratory), The Catholic Hymn Book (melody only or harmony edition).

    It has a section called "Offertory at Mass" containing eleven hymns, and another section called "Blessed Sacrament" containing twenty-one hymns, which might be of interest to you — in addition to designations common to most hymnals, such as various liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, etc.) or other groupings (saints, angels, church, etc.).

    Being a hymnal from England, it has a lot of content unfamiliar to an American congregation — but nonetheless nearly everything in it is wonderful.
  • At the Offertory, the Church is preparing the gifts and uniting the offering of our lives to Christ’s sacrifice. Because this is a moment of preparation rather than proclamation, a quieter, devotional hymn can serve the liturgy well. In that sense, a Marian hymn is often appropriate if it supports prayer and does not displace the sacrificial focus of the altar
    This was mentioned several decades ago in Pastoral Patterns, a publication of J. S. Paluch, related to Monthly/Seasonal Missalette, merged with World Library Publications, and then incorporated into GIA.
    I often took advantage of this because of the very small number of hymns the faithful few were able to sing. I tended to use Sing of Mary most often, which they only sort of knew when I arrived. The pastor (Polish) was quite pleased. I only used Marian hymns at the Entrance for the three Marian Solemnities.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen MVLC
  • The Catholic Hymn Book... It has a section called "Offertory at Mass" containing eleven hymns

    Some of those hymns come from the mid 60s edition of the Peoples Mass Book. J. Clifford Evers was actually Omer Westendorf.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen MVLC
  • At communion, hymns that are directed to Our Lord, or speak of his love and mercy, are acceptable. Jesus the very thought of thee is not, strictly speaking, a Eucharistic hymn, but is very appropriate. Sacred Heart hymns also are fitting.
    Thanked by 3oldhymns CHGiffen MVLC
  • probe
    Posts: 125
    Thank you @roborgelmeister. So Ave Maria, Regina Caeli during Eastertide, Salve Regina, sung by the schola in Latin can give a nice meditative background music for the congregation while they receive. Especially in the month of May.
    Thanked by 1MVLC
  • can give a nice meditative background music for the congregation while they receive.

    Sorry, that is NOT what I said, nor what Don stated to eloquently. Marian hymns, yes, at the offertory, but not during communion. Communion needs to be focused on the Eucharist and Our Lord. Our Lady can be honored again after mass.
    I don't care so much for the idea of "background music," but sometimes that is all that can be done.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,485
    but that's not a rule, ever, although it was apparently a strong preference of Cardinal Arinze.
  • MVLC
    Posts: 9
    Thanks everyone for your replies, this is helpful and giving me food for thought.
    @Don9of11 - that first link is really helpful!
    @CGM - I'm actually in Australia where we use quite a lot of English hymns.
    @roborgelmeister - am I correct in thinking the Magnificat would be appropriate, since it is giving praise to God rather than honouring Our Lady? I've seen some people say that. I've used Marian hymns for Communion in the past but recently realised that it's rather out of place.
  • rich_enough
    Posts: 1,092
    I don't see why the hymn at communion always has to focus on communion itself, given that the texts of the Communion chants for various days rarely focus on this. Rather they refer to the gospel, the season, or the saint being celebrated.

    So I have no qualms about singing a Marian hymn at communion on a Marian feast and even during the months of May and October. The communion chants for Marian feasts of Our Lady often refer to her, sometimes with verses from Magnificat. This also goes for the chants and hymns at the offertory.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,592
    am I correct in thinking the Magnificat would be appropriate,


    To quote myself from six months ago:

    The Magnificat in its myriad guises and inspired derivatives is the model of a quintessential communion hymn: proclaiming and praising the loving-kindness of God for the gift of receiving his self-gift, and remembering God's many mercies to his people. Many communion antiphons (in the Missal or in the Gradual) take up this register and ambit of theme, even without any express mention of Eucharistic species.
    Thanked by 2MVLC probe
  • probe
    Posts: 125
    Sorry, @roborgelmeister, I had missed your highlight of the Offertory in your post. There seems to be enough wiggle room in the debate to allow us flexibility. I was relying on Don's
    A Marian hymn works best here when it functions as thanksgiving or contemplation rather than as a “Communion song” competing for attention.
    . In our church, the Offertory - a popular Kevin Mayhew hymn - is played by the organist and the Schola sings it in English in the hope that the congregation ultimately learns to join in. So all we have left to chant aside from the Kyriale is the Communion hymn. Or indeed just before or after Mass although there could be fewer people present at those points. Before Mass, our singing is often a warm-up and dress rehearsal for the Communion hymn.