Q. I attend daily Mass frequently. Our priest, who is a really good priest, recites the Communion antiphon after he finishes distributing Communion to the faithful. If my high school Latin serves me correctly, antiphon means ‘before’ and thus the Communion Antiphon should be recited before Communion is distributed. There are a few priests in our area who also pray this prayer after distributing Communion. What is the correct norm?
A. First, my congratulations to you and all of the faithful who attend daily Mass. Some Catholics may not be aware that Mass is celebrated daily in nearly every parish Church and that those who desire to and whose schedule permits can attend daily Mass. I know of people who have participated in daily Mass for decades and make it an essential part of their day.
I applaud those who include worship of our great God as part of their daily regimen. There is no greater thing we can do during the day. I encourage you to check your parish bulletin for Mass times. While most daily Masses are in the morning, some parishes have daily Masses late afternoon or early evening in order to try and accommodate people’s work and family schedules.
Also, other institutions like health care facilities have daily Mass.
Again, my compliments to those who attend daily Mass. To help others get into the practice of daily Mass, invite someone to go with you. In many parishes one can participate in daily Mass and still get to work on time.
Now to your question about the timing of the Communion Antiphon. When singing is not part of a Mass, there are two antiphons – usually recited – the Entrance antiphon and the Communion antiphon.
The Roman Missal is the large book on the altar which outlines the structure of the Mass. It was issued by the Vatican with approved adaptations from the U.S. Bishops and provides direction for the recitation of the Communion Antiphon.
“During the priest’s reception of Communion, the Communion song is begun… If there is no singing the Communion antiphon in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by a group of them, or by a reader. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he gives Communion to them” (nos. 86, 87).
Therefore, it appears that when used, the Communion antiphon should be begun during the priest’s reception of Communion or before the people receive. Thus, while the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion Chant is begun, its purpose being to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the “communitarian” character of the procession to receive the Eucharist. cf. Inestimabile Donum 17 – which is a letter written by Saint Pope John Paul II dated February 24, 1980, to the bishops of the world and, through them, to the priests, in which he again considered the priceless gift of the Holy Eucharist.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
Interesting question. Thanks for asking it.
