“To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Guard me as the apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me.”
– Entrance Antiphon for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Psalm 17 (16):6, 8
There’s a big grey area between the Ordinary of the Mass that doesn’t change from week to week and the hymns, which are subject to being selected by the liturgical musicians/directors for any given Mass. The Propers. These are the pieces that change from week to week, but are prescribed scriptural texts found in the Roman Missal to complement the themes of the Mass and the readings found in the Lectionary. Most notably, this includes the Responsorial Psalm and the verse of the Gospel Acclamation. However, there are additional Propers that we have been somewhat neglected. If you take a look in the readings portion of Breaking Bread, (MBS members,) you’ll note the Entrance and Communion Antiphons. These scriptural verses are an optional alternative to the opening and communion hymns, and again, are selected based on the readings and prayers corresponding to that particular liturgy.
The General Instruction for the Roman Missal (or GIRM) is somewhat flexible on how (or if) these antiphons are to be used. Starting in Advent and continuing through the rest of the coming liturgical year, we will be incorporating these Antiphons into our liturgies as well. The Entrance antiphon will precede the beginning of Mass, as a sort of “centering” or call to worship prior to the Entrance hymn, and the Communion antiphon will be used as a post-communion meditation. More on this to come as the new year approaches in just a few short weeks!
Please accept this invitation to participate more fully, more actively, in our parish’s music ministry. If you are interested in singing in the choir, leading the congregation as a cantor,
or enriching our liturgy as an instrumentalist, email Shawn Gelzleichter at sgelzleichter@gmail.com or call the rectory at 781-662-8844.