The Recovering Choir Director

Articles 51 and 52 describe the Act of Penitence, the Kyrie, and the ways these are to be carried out. Here we encounter a discrepancy between the General Instruction and the Missal.

The Act of Penitence

51. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.

The formulas for general confession in the United States are:

• Form A, the Confiteor (”I confess…”), with absolution;
• Form B, the dialogue, “Lord, we have sinned against you: Lord have mercy.” “Lord, have mercy.” “Lord, show us your mercy and love.” “And grant us your salvation,” followed by absolution; and
• Form C, the troped Kyrie with absolution, which is mentioned in article 52.

[51 cont.] On Sundays, especially in the Season of Easter, in place of the customary Act of Penitence, from time to time the blessing and sprinkling of water to recall Baptism may take place.⁵⁶

This is the only place in the GIRM that mentions the option of blessing and sprinkling water. Regarding the music that accompanies this action, we turn to the official songbooks—the Graduale Romanum and the Graduale Simplex. The former offers the antiphons Asperges me (outside of Easter) and the Vidi aquam (within Easter), while the latter offers the aspersion antiphon Fontes et omnia for Easter.

A possible question can be raised here: If a parish’s customary Act of Penitence is the Form C troped Kyrie, is the Kyrie eliminated completely by the sprinkling of water? The next article seems to answer that question.

The Kyrie Eleison

52. After the Act of Penitence, the Kyrie is always begun, unless it has already been included as part of the Act of Penitence. Since it is a chant by which the faithful acclaim the Lord and implore his mercy, it is ordinarily done by all, that is, by the people and with the choir or cantor having a part in it. As a rule, each acclamation is sung or said twice, though it may be repeated several times, by reason of the character of the various languages, as well as of the artistry of the music or of other circumstances. When the Kyrie is sung as a part of the Act of Penitence, a trope may precede each acclamation.

It seems to imply that the Kyrie is begun after the sprinkling of water. However, the latest edition of the Missale Romanum seems to state otherwise.

So what takes precedence, the Missale or GIRM? I’m casting my lot with the Missale.

Note that the Kyrie, if not troped, must always be preceded by either Form A or B of the Act of Penitence. The untroped Kyrie is not to stand alone, as is common practice in too many parishes today.

So, here are the ways this part of the Mass should be done:

1. Option A + Kyrie;
2. Option B + Kyrie;
3. Option C (troped Kyrie); and
4. Blessing and sprinkling of water.