LITURGICAL CORNER

The Liturgy of the Word (Continued)

THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM

After the first reading comes the responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.

The responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should, as a rule, be taken from the Lectionary.

It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people’s response is concerned.  Hence, the psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm from the ambo or another suitable place.  The entire congregation remains seated and listens but, as a rule, takes part by singing the response, except when the Psalm is sung straight through without a response.

THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

                                                After the reading that immediately precedes the Gospel, the Alleluia or another chant indicated by the rubrics is sung, as required by the liturgical season.  An acclamation of this kind constitutes a rite or act in itself, by which the assembly of the faithful welcomes and greets the Lord who is about to speak to them in the Gospel and professes their faith by means of the chant.  It is sung by all while standing and is led by the choir or a cantor, being repeated if this is appropriate.  The verse, however, is sung either by the choir or by the cantor.

            The Alleluia is sung in every season other than Lent.  During Lent, in place of the Alleluia, the verse before the Gospel is sung, as indicated in the Lectionary.

THE HOMILY

            The homily is part of the Liturgy and is strongly recommended, for it is necessary for the nurturing of the Christian life.  It should be an exposition of some aspect of the readings from Sacred Scripture or of another text from the Ordinary or from the Proper of the Mass of the day and should take into account both the mystery being celebrated and the particular needs of the listeners.  The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself.  He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.

            After the homily a brief period of silence is appropriately observed.  

THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

            The purpose of the Symbolum or Profession of Faith, or Creed, is that the whole gathered people may respond to the word of God proclaimed in the readings taken from Sacred Scripture and explained in the homily and that they may also call to mind and confess the great mysteries of the faith by reciting the rule of faith in a formula approved for liturgical use, before these mysteries are celebrated in the Eucharist.

THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

            In the Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in a certain way to the word of God, which they have welcomed in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all.  It is fitting that such a prayer be included, as a rule, in Masses celebrated with a congregation, so that petitions will be offered for the holy Church, for civil authorities, for those weighed down by various needs, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world. 

02/11/2006