Penitential Rite in the Mass « The Recovering Choir Director - Gregorian Chant & Catholic sacred music

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Penitential Rite in the Mass

Fr. Edward McNamara answers a question pertaining to music to be sung/played at the Penitential Rite of the Mass.

Two parts of his answer I found noteworthy:

There is no musical notation provided for the “I confess” of the first form of the penitential rite. It would appear that when this form is used it is intended that all recite it rather than sing it.

The second form of the penitential rite—”Lord, we have sinned against you”—receives a complete musical accompaniment in the new Roman Missal which means that it may also be sung in the vernacular according to any setting approved by the episcopal conference or the local bishop.

I’ve often wondered why the second form seems to get little play. Perhaps, with some liturgical catechesis, this can start to become more commonplace.

On a slight tangent—using the different forms throughout the year could serve as additional emphasis on each liturgical season. For example, a parish could recite Form A during Ordinary Time, sing Form B during Advent and Lent, sing Form C during Christmastide, and sing the Sprinkling Rite antiphon during Eastertide.

[More information on this part of the Mass at this earlier post.]

Posted 04.30.2004
by Aristotle Esguerra
4 comments.
Filed under: Relevant Reading.

4 Comments

I found it noteworthy that, in one setting that I have seen (sorry, the reference escapes me), which does have chants for the whole Mass, the Confiteor is very low-key, literally. The chant marked there was on a single, low note, virtually throughout. This is almost like reciting it, but I was impressed that chanting it in this way gives one the sense that, compared to other surrounding chants, this one is more sombre. Yet, even in a subdued way, we can continue to chant. I think this is preferable to switching gears and reciting it.

Paul Rex
04.30.2004 @ 7:49 am #

Novus ordo young’uns like me might otherwise be unaware that the “Tridentine” Confiteor is chanted “by the Deacon at Pontifical Mass, before the Papal blessing; at Solemn High Mass, before the Communion of the faithful [and pols ... just kidding!].” These are rubrics from Father Rossini’s 1954 Parochial Hymnal; I would not know whether they obtained for the approved 1962 missal.

Anyhow, the tone is related to a tone for lessons (I do not have a Liber Usualis … ) and was found in the 1924 Graduale Romanum (not the 1979, which I of course have) as well as two or three Benedictine ritualia — the only difference being that the Benedictines insert or inserted the name of Saint Benedict.

The recto tono mentioned by Mr. Rex may be something of Theodore Marier’s; he set the Glory to God and the We believe to recto tono with chordal accompaniment; these were published in Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles (another gaping lacuna in my collection, but not in my memory).

Daniel Muller
05.01.2004 @ 1:05 am #

Penitential Rite in the Mass

The Recovering Choir Director picked up on this discussion of the Confiteor. The original article is by Father McNamara. But actually, I placed a link here because I am more interested in Mr. Muller’s comments, which I always find both…

Rex Olandi Rex Cledendi
05.01.2004 @ 6:07 am #

At least one Parish I know of had form A used during Lent, with B or C the rest of the non-Easter time (that’s changed now with a new pastor, I like it the old way, gave more of a sense of seasons).

JohnH
05.03.2004 @ 12:39 pm #

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