In search of good communion antiphons

[Gabriel]

A positive aspect of taking others from your music group to Summer School is a shared liturgical experience outside your own and the opportunity to reflect together. Because of the experience of singing Psallite 'Here is my servant' we have changed our Communion practice for at least the next few months with the singers going last, not first and singing beginning following the priest's reception of Communion. As part of the object is to also encourage the Congregation to sing at this point - which is a challenge - I suggested we tried Psallite. One of the main reasons was that it works accompanied and unaccompanied - this was useful to know as my intention is to include the music of chosen refrain in leaflet.

However, like MaryR, I have found that not every Psallite offering is equally inspiring and some are a bit dull. So far I have limited myself to one from the provision for that week - as we are not using for Entrance or Word. I do regret that there is not a 'Common' or Simple Gradual version of Psallite - suggestion for what might work over a number of weeks. That may more help with the congregational involvement.

One factor is the inclusion of other vocal lines. I would suggest that Psallite is fundamentally vocal and reading it through at the piano will miss some of the point. Last week's sang well (Let the word make a home) - the vocal parts (S & T descants) really added something and I found the melody of the antiphon kept coming back through the week.

It is intended as an experiment for the next couple of months - in a 'Batyian' effort I made my choices up to Advent - watch this space, possibly.

[Nick Baty]

I made my choices up to Advent - watch this space, possibly.

Well done, that boy! Top of the class!

[John Ainslie]

Another ritual use of song at Communion is as an invitation to take part in it. This is present in many Eastern rites, from which we have 'Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord', which has been in Catholic use - in theory rather than practice, unfortunately - since the 1939 Westminster Hymnal, for which Dom Gregory Murray wrote a new tune. The first verse can be sung during the priest's Communion, and can be extended during the beginning of the people's Communion. The last verse is very powerful: 'Alpha and Omega, to whom shall bow all nations at the doom, is with us now'. How's that for an expression of Real Presence?

These invitation texts are interesting in that they are to be sung by the choir in the name of the Church to the people, to invite them to approach the altar for Communion. The only other instance of this I can think of is the Reproaches on Good Friday - 'My people, what have I done to you?'

Another invitatory is 'Venite populi', a text from the Gallican liturgy to be found in a very beautiful plainsong setting in the Processionale Monasticum and a few other books. Here is the text:

Venite, populi, ad sacrum et immortale mysterium, et libamen agendum: cum timore et fide accedamus, manibus mundis: poenitentiae munus communicemus: quoniam Agnus Dei propter nos Patri sacrificium propositum est. Ipsum solum adoremus, ipsum glorificemus cum angelis clamantes: alleluia.

Come, O people, to the sacred and immortal mystery; come and offer yourselves; approach with fear and faith, and with clean hands. Let us share in the work of reconciliation, for the Lamb of God offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father for our sakes. Let us adore him alone and glorify him, crying out with all the saints: alleluia.

There is an important theological point here. Sharing Communion is the most perfect participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The Communion procession is the real Offering (Offertory?!) procession!