Forming the Young to Celebrate the Paschal Mystery

Liturgical Preparation and Planning for Schools & Religious Education Programs

Reverend Joshua R. Brommer, STLDiocese of Harrisburg

Who plans the Liturgies in your school and parish?

The answer for everyone: THE

CHURCH!

What does the Church Provide All the words and the

actions for the prayers of the Mass The Words: “Euchology” The Actions: “Rubrics” General Instruction of the

Roman Missal (GIRM) The Prayers (“Words”)

include the chants for the Mass “Common” “Proper”

The Scriptural readings for the Mass

Where do I look to find this information? The Roman Missal The Lectionary The “Ordo” (The Order of

Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and the Celebration of the Eucharist) Lays out the liturgical plan for

every day of the year Published each year for each

diocese or groups of dioceses Available in the sacristy or from

the pastor

Why is this important? When we prepare the celebration of the Holy

Eucharist for our communities, we look to connect to the life of the Universal Church Liturgical Seasons Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials (Optional &

Obligatory) Special days (i.e. days of prayer and penance)

When we prepare the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with the mind and the heart of the Church, we allow the Holy Spirit to work through the Liturgy, without getting in the way The Sacred Liturgy is the “Opus Dei” = the work of

God

The Sacred Liturgy is a Teacher! As the “source” and “summit” of the Christian

Life, the Sacred Liturgy imparts the grace we need to live out our Christian lives

The Sacred Liturgy teaches us about the Triune God while bringing us into communion with the Triune God

The Sacred Liturgy teaches us how to pray by giving us the words and the actions that are the foundation of Christian spirituality

The Sacred Liturgy teaches us how to live as the community of believers in the world by providing us an opportunity to experience the Kingdom of God

How can we translate this to the Young? Before all us, we must be students (disciples!)

of Christ and of the Sacred Liturgy We must hold ourselves accountable to the

mind of the Church by being disciplined (good students!) Look to the Church to begin the preparation of the

Liturgy Be objective and follow the regulations of the

Church We need to take the opportunity to teach and

explain what is happening at Mass in general and at particular Mass Symbols need to be explained in order to be

understood This is the work of “mystagogy”

Music at Mass

“Do not sing at the Liturgy. Sing the Liturgy!”

What should be sung at Mass? The Roman Rite is a sung rite.

Music is essential to the celebration of Mass 1967 document: Musicam Sacram

1st Degree: dialogues & presidential prayers, Preface, Sanctus, greetings, Lord’s Prayer, Sign of Peace, dismissal

2nd Degree: Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei, Creed, Prayer of the Faithful

3rd Degree: Entrance & Communion chants, Alleluia, Offertory chant, readings

What does this teach us? Singing the words of the Mass are more important than any other “songs” or “hymns” we may add to the Liturgy.

Principle of Progressive Solemnity Mass Sunday/Solemnity Feast Memorial/ Feria Entrance chant sung sung [sung] Greeting sung sung Kyrie sung Gloria sung sung Collect sung sung Responsorial Psalm sung sung [sung response] Gospel Acclamation sung sung [sung] Creed [sung] Prayer of the Faithful [sung] Offertory chant sung/instrumental sung/instrumental Prayer over Offerings sung sung Eucharistic Prayer sung sung [sung] Lord’s Prayer sung sung Rite of Peace sung Fraction Rite sung sung [sung] Communion chant sung sung [sung] Hymn of Praise sung Prayer after Communion sung sung Blessing & Dismissal sung sung Music after Mass sung/instrumental sung/instrumental

What about a normal weekday school Mass? At every school Mass, these parts should

always be sung: Entrance Chant Responsorial Psalm Gospel Acclamation Sanctus Memorial Acclamation Great Amen Lamb of God Communion Chant

Whenever there is a feast or Solemnity? The Gloria is sung.

How do I make the choices for music? The Parish Music program should help us

guide our choices, even when several parishes feed into one school We are forming young people to participate in the

Sunday Liturgy of their parishes, not just the school Liturgies

Choices for the Ordinary of the Mass (i.e. “Mass Setting”) should be done in conversation with the music ministers of the local parish(es)

The Roman Missal propers should guide our choices for the Entrance and Communion chants before the Lectionary Go to the Missal before the Lectionary

How do I make the choices for music? Take account of the Seasons of the Church

Year that may influence choices Advent & Christmas have distinct characters, don’t

sing carols during Advent Lent forbids the singing of the “Alleluia”, while

Easter sings “Alleluia” every chance it gets Stay away from anything that smacks of

“theme” Masses The only theme for every Mass is the Paschal

Mystery – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Masses don’t belong to any one group of people or any particular “class” or “grade” in a school

How do I make the choices for music? Be careful of the texts you choose for hymns

and chants Unfortunately, not every hymnal has the best

resources Unfortunately, not every publisher is giving you

quality music Unfortunately, some of the hymns are heretical

Choose “texts” before you choose a style or song that you like Mass is not about entertainment, it is the worship

of God Engaging young people is not the same as

entertainment Reverence and a sense of the Sacred should not

be discounted Just because it’s new, doesn’t make it better

Don’t forget to draw from the riches of the Church’s treasury

Liturgical Formation means Christian Formation

Teaching young people how to pray and participate at Mass is one of the central obligations we have as catechists

Learning how to participate in Mass at a young age prepare children for their lifelong commitment to Christ and to the Church

Since participation in Mass is meant to be a foretaste of heaven, you are preparing them for eternity!

Further Resources General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (STL) www.usccb.org

Musicam Sacram (MS) http://www.adoremus.org/MusicamSacram.html

G. Dennis Gill, Music in Catholic Liturgy: A Pastoral and Theological Companion to Sing to the Lord. Chicago: Hillenbrand Books, 2009.

International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) Mass Chants: http://www.icelweb.org/musicfolder/openmusic.ph http://www.npm.org/Chants/order.html

Corpus Christi Watershed Liturgical Music (free!) http://www.ccwatershed.org/liturgy/   Oregon Catholic Press (for two Diocesan Mass settings)

www.ocp.org Kevin Keil, Mass of Saint Frances Cabrini Luke Mayernik, Mass of Saint Gregory the Great