Good Friday Communion
  • The Graduale Romanum does not have a Communio specified for Good Friday (OF, by the way). Is there a proper antiphon for the reception of Holy Communion on Good Friday? Is silence the norm? How does your parish handle this?
  • On Good Friday, Christians recall the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus ... Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday and the communion distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion is consecrated on Holy Thursday, hence the name Mass of the Pre-sanctified.


    hence, no assigned antiphon.

    source
  • Oh, I definitely know why there is no assigned antiphon. My question still is: do you have music during the reception of Communion, and if so, is there anything proper?

    Also, maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought the term "Mass of the Presanctified" was no longer in use, due to it not being a Mass at all.
  • The Ordo cantus missae (no. 76) and the Graduale Simplex (p. 142) say "Dum sacra Communio ministratur, fieri potest cantus aptus." The Missale Romanum (2002, p. 331) says: "Durante Communione cani potest psalmus 21 vel alius cantus congruus." In the new Roman Missal this reads: "During Communion, Psalm 22 (21) or another appropriate chant may be sung."

    So, you can sing a suitable song during Communion, preferably Psalm 22.
  • Also, maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought the term "Mass of the Presanctified" was no longer in use, due to it not being a Mass at all.


    It is not a "Mass" in the strict sense of the word. I believe the term is still in current use.

    Wish I had a Graduale Simplex, but the 1990 Gregorian Missal doesn't indicate anything in particular except (page 321):
    Holy Communion is then distributed in the ordinary manner.
  • Mark P.
    Posts: 248
    The Liber Usualis (1961) indicates Psalm 21 (22) or one of the responsories from Matins of Good Friday. "Tenebrae factae sunt" and "Caligaverunt oculi mei" are among these, which have polyphonic settings.
  • Yes, and the 1965 Plainchant Graduale (page 144) says:

    During the distribution of Hoiy Communion, the following may be sung: PSALM XXII. Deus, Deus meus
  • Excellent. Thanks!
  • And btw, the responsories from Matins on Good Friday from 1961 refered to by Mark P above are posted here on the Institute's Sacred Music Page.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • dvalerio
    Posts: 341
    In my parish we will be singing psalm 21 (22), without any antiphon. Rather than using the tone from the 1961 Graduale Romanum, we will use the tone in page 26* of the 1912 Antiphonale Romanum.
  • The wording in Paschalis Sollemnitatis seems to the precursor to the Miss. Rom. instruction.

    70. ...During the distribution of communion, Psalm 21 or another suitable song may be sung.

    Since it is my happy lot to get to program Good Friday, I've wondered about this question. My choir isn't ready for the responsories mentioned above. Paul Ford (http://www.pford.stjohnsem.edu/ford/by-flowing-waters/docs/suggested%20uses/suggested%20uses_first%20draft.pdf) suggests 219 and 220 from By Flowing Waters, namely the antiphon and psalm from the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Am certainly leaning that way.

    The issue at hand is that up until the mid 20th century, only the priest received communion on Good Friday, thus no need for an antiphon. The tradition of the Roman Rite is no singing at this point. So it makes sense that no singing is required.
  • Bud Clark
    Posts: 10
    The Pian instruction for Holy Week from the 1950s suggests singing the Tenebrae Responsories. There are simple chant versions of the Good Friday Tenebrae Responsories in the Benedictine Laudes Festivae, available for download on the CMAA website. Also, there are the venerable (and easy) Michael Haydn settings in the St. Gregory Hymnal, but you need an organ copy to get the SATB version.

    Cheers,

    Bud Clark
    San Diego
  • marajoymarajoy
    Posts: 781
    I was thinking of doing no singing this year for communion. (a lot less to learn for the choir!) It will be either starkly-Good-Friday-appropriate, or incredibly awkward, as there is a ton of people on Good Friday, and Communion will probably take 6-8 minutes!
  • I had asked so I could make www.communionantiphons.org as complete as possible. I ended up using one of the responses from Good Friday Matins with Psalm 22.
  • Ioannes, thanks for mentioning my suggestion to use the communion antiphon, "One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and waters came out" (John 19:34) for the communion procession on Good Friday.

    The use of this antiphon underscores the connection between Saint John's Passion and the Eucharist, making it an ideal antiphon for this particular celebration.

    One might ask, "But why sing Psalm 89: 1–2, 8, 14–16, 35–36, 47–48, 52 as the psalm, rather than all of Psalm 22(21V)?" The operative word in that question is 'all.'

    1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, for ever;

    with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
    2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; *
    your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
    3 O LORD God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LORD? *
    Your faithfulness surrounds you.
    4 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; *
    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
    5 Happy are the people who know the festal shout, †
    who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance; *
    they exult in your name all day long,
    6 Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness; †
    I will not lie to David. *
    His line shall continue forever,
    7 Remember how short my time is— *
    for what vanity you have created all mortals!
    8 Who can live and never see death? *
    Who can escape the power of Shell?
    9 Blessed be the LORD forever. *
    Amén and Amen.

    These verses of Psalm 89(88V) deliver on the prediction of the following verses of Psalm 22:

    22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; *
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
    23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! †
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; *
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
    24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; *
    he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
    25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; *
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
    26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; †
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord. *
    May your hearts live for ever!
    27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; *
    and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
    28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, *
    and he rules over the nations.
    29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; †
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, *
    and I shall live for him.
    30 Posterity will serve him; *
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
    31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it. *
  • László Dobszay in The Restoration and Organic Development of the Roman Rite (London: T&T Clark, 2010) points out that in some medieval uses the Communio "Hoc corpus quod pro vobis tradetur" was intoned by the celebrant on Good Friday during the elevation of the Host, following which the choir took up the chant.

    He also makes mention of a hymn that was sung as the Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession from the place of repose to the main altar: Laudes omnipotens ferimus tibi by Ratpert of St. Gall, a 9th-century monk.

    Laudes, omnipotens,
    Ferimus tibi, dona colentes
    Corporis immensi
    Sanguinis atque tui.

    Tangimus ecce tuam.
    Rector sanctissime, mensam,
    Tu licet indignis
    Propitiare tuis.

    Laudes, omnipotens, &c.

    Propitiare pius,
    Peccata absolve benignus,
    Possit ut invictis
    Adpropiare sacris

    Corporis immensi
    Sanguinis atque tui.

    Angelus aethereis
    Sanctus descendat ab astris,
    Purificans corpus,
    Cor pariterque pius.

    Laudes, omnipotens, &c.

    Haec medicina potens
    Coeli nos ducat in arces,
    Interea terris
    Dans medicamen opis

    Corporis immensi
    Sanguinis atque tui.

    Quod colimus fragiles,
    Salvator, respice clemens,
    Summeque pascentes
    Protege, Pastor, oves.

    Laudes, omnipotens, &c.

    Protege quas recreas
    Hostis ne proterat illas,
    Consolidans dono
    Nos sine fine tuo

    Corporis immensi
    Sanguinis atque tui.

    Nam sumus indigni
    Quos ornes munere tali :
    Tu pietate tua,
    Rex, rege castra tua.

    Laudes, omnipotens, &c.

    Hoc, Pater, omnipotens,
    Cum Christo perfice, clemens,
    Spiritus atque potens,
    Trinus et unus apex

    Corporis immensi
    Sanguinis atque tui.


    TRANSLATION

    Our praise to Thee we bring,
    O God, and sing
    Of Thy dear Flesh as food,
    As drink, Thy Blood.

    Unto Thy sacred Board
    We come, great Lord :
    O pity us, and bless
    Our helplessness.

    Our praise to Thee we bring, &c.

    With Thy all-saving grace
    Our sins efface,
    That we no error make
    Who would partake

    Of Thy dear Flesh as food,
    As drink, Thy Blood.

    May Angel-forms descend,
    Their aid to lend,
    And purify each heart
    With heavenly art.

    Our praise to Thee we bring, &c.

    O May this Remedy
    Our comfort be
    And medicine on earth,
    Who know the worth

    Of Thy dear Flesh as food,
    As drink, Thy Blood.

    Great Shepherd, feed Thy sheep
    And ever keep
    Over Thy flock restored
    Dear watch and ward.

    Our praise to Thee we bring, &c.

    Protect from lurking foes
    Our safe repose,
    And let us joyful feed,
    Who feel the need

    Of Thy dear Flesh as food,
    As drink, Thy Blood.

    Unworthy tho' we meet
    To take and eat,
    Or ev'n a song to lift
    Praising Thy Gift.

    Our praise to Thee we bring, &c.

    Father and Son and Ghost,
    Thou triune Host,
    Above the starry lift
    Perfect the Gift

    Of Christ's dear Flesh as food,
    As drink, His Blood.
  • davido
    Posts: 873
    Does anyone have a melody to the aforementioned hymn: Laudes omnipotens ferimus tibi?