Novus Ordo Mass with Bishop
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Hi all,

    Is there anything special I need to do for a N.O. Mass with the Bishop? The GIRM doesn't really say much. This will not be a solemnity nor Confirmation, just a regular Mass in Ordinary Time.

    Thanks in advance!
  • btodorovich87
    Posts: 111
    In my experience they sometimes like the refrain of the Gospel Acclamation sung again after the Gospel is read, for there to be a bit of music when/if the Bishop blesses the assembly with the Book of the Gospels. Check with the MC.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Awesome, thank you btodorovich.
  • smvanroodesmvanroode
    Posts: 1,107
    I’m an MC at a cathedral and sometimes a cantor. Musically, there’s no real difference. The greeting is different (‘Pax tecum’) and the blessing has different words.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    This is great to know, smvanroode. I assume the Bishop might sing his parts, so I'll rehearse the choir in the sung responses. Normally our priest only speaks his parts. Sigh.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,234
    Will your schola sing the Gradual and Alleluia from the Graduale Romanum 1974, or will there be a Responsorial Psalm from the Lectionary, with an Alleluia from some other source (from the Simplex, perhaps, or a modern composition)? Either way is legitimate, but you do need to plan those in advance.

    Also, your choir will need to sing the Memorial Acclamation after the consecration. Officially, there are settings for all three texts, but in practice only Mortem tuam is used, because for years it was the only Memorial Acclamation text with a chant setting.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Hi chonak, normally we sing the Lectionary psalm and modern alleluia. Currently we're singing Fr. Weber's simplified psalms and alleluias (and all propers), because I will be away all summer and the ladies will be on their own, a capella. How wonderful that you refer to them as a schola! Wink. They do try very hard, and all of this is very new to them.

    I guess for the Bishop's Mass (for which I will return from vacation and then leave again immediately after), I probably should do a little more complex psalm. Glad you brought that up, I'll look into it.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,234
    The "simplified" Graduals and Alleluias in Richard Rice's book might be useful, since he shortens each of those propers by setting part of the text to a psalm tone.

    You'd use the 1974 Graduale to find the right texts for the day; then see Rice's book to get an easier version of those chants:
    https://media.churchmusicassociation.org/books/simplifiedgraduale1962.pdf
    (hm! there's no index?)

  • ian_udell
    Posts: 14
    Aside from music, every Novus Ordo parish in my area has a 7th candle lit with every Mass with a Bishop, either on the altar or around it. I like how they continue that tradition from the TLM.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Thanks, chonak, I'll check it out!

    Ian, very interesting. If only we had more than two candles on our altar! Very sad indeed.
  • tandrews
    Posts: 232
    The bishop was at the Cathedral the past two 10 AM Masses here. Echoing what btodorovich said, some music while blessing with the gospels is a nice touch. Perhaps a little louder with your organ registrations on the opening hymn.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    tandrews, I was going to go with only the introit and no hymn because our priest is allergic to incense, so I assume the Bishop would not be using it. But maybe I will put a short hymn after the introit, one which everyone can sing with gusto. And maybe I should call the office of the Bishop to see if he was planning to use or not use incense.

    Thanks!
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,440
    Does your diocese have a functioning Office of Worship? Many will have a planning sheet for celebrating a Mass with the bishop so that the parish and the bishop + his MC are on the same page. For an example, see here --> https://intranet.archmil.org/worship
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,538
    We sing the full propers when the bishop comes and we must do the NO. Only one reading but we do the older practice of two chants anyway. This time we did not only Mass VIII (the bishop intoned the Gloria!) we did the Mortem tuam which he also knows. It was very nice.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    irish, great idea, I'll call.

    Matthew, thanks for reminding me that the Bishop might want to intone the Gloria. I will check on that.
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 382
    It would be good for you and the pastor to collaborate before the date of the mass. Consulting The Cermonial of Bishops would be useful.
    This is typical of what your Diocese should be able to provide:
    https://dioceseoflaredo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NormsforCelebrationswithBishopTamayo.pdf
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Rob,

    This is very helpful, thank you!
    Thanked by 1Roborgelmeister
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,272
    In my experience they sometimes like the refrain of the Gospel Acclamation sung again after the Gospel is read, for there to be a bit of music when/if the Bishop blesses the assembly with the Book of the Gospels.
    This is very typical. Just riff on the organ for a few seconds while he kisses the book of the gospels, blesses everyone with it, and then walks to the ambo.

    Otherwise, it really is a normal novus ordo Mass, just dressed up a bit because the boss is in town. Episcopal rubrics really only come into effect for special Masses such as ordinations.
    Thanked by 1tandrews
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 142
    Thanks, serviam, this is good to know!
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,538
    He might not bless with the book. It’s optional. Ours also is not silly enough to do it if it isn’t a separate evangeliary but a lectionary only.
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,272
    That's a good point: it should only be the processional book of the Gospels, typically processed in by an assisting deacon and placed upon the altar when Mass begins. Then during the gospel acclamation, the deacon receives the episcopal blessing, goes to the altar, picks up the Evangeliary and processes to the ambo where the Gospel is proclaimed. There is then the secondary procession to the bishop after the proclamation of the gospel so he may kiss it, and then bless the people. This whole ceremony isn't done with an ordinary lectionary, and it certainly isn't done by a layman.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
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