Music Resources

Contents

• 2016 Copyright for Parish and School Liturgy
• Musical Settings for the Roman Missal
• Music Suggestions
  • Ordinary Time
  • Wedding Liturgy 
  • Funeral Liturgy
• Music Ministry
• Frequently Asked Questions
• CCCB on the Use of Technology in the Liturgy

Musical Settings for the Roman Missal

In order to prevent parishes preparing for the Easter Triduum from having to photocopy from the Roman Missal, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) has the musical settings available online.

Click here to access these musical settings, which include: 

• Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Preface 
• Passion of the Lord – Solemn Intercessions 
• Easter Vigil – Exultet; Baptismal Liturgy; Litany of the Saints; Blessing of Baptismal Water 

Music Suggestions

• Hymn Suggestions for Entrance Song 
• Hymn Suggestions for Preparation of the Altar and Gifts  
• Hymn Suggestions for Communion Song 
• Hymn Suggestions for Recessional Song

•  Hymn Suggestions for Funeral Liturgy from the Diocesan Music Committee  

Music Ministry

• MCS Dialogues Choral Keyboard pre release
• MCS Dialogues pre release
• MCS Eucharistic Prayer Guitar Keyboard pre release
• MCS Eucharistic Prayer Presider Score pre release
• MCS Living Streams pre release
• MCS Universal Prayer pre release

Frequently Asked Questions

Why music at Mass? 
Our liturgical celebration is marked with many gestures, symbols, and signs to lead us to deeper unity with one another and deeper faith and understanding of our Triune God. Among the many signs and symbols the Church uses to celebrate our faith, music is of pre-eminent importance.

What is the function of music?
Liturgical music is ministerial, it must serve but never dominate.   Music serves to impart a sense of community amongst the assembly, set a particular tone and atmosphere to the celebration, and reflect a specific liturgical season.  Music is the way we express our relationship with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Why do we sing?
Singing assists us to express, nourish, and strengthen the gift of faith within ourselves and to share that gift of faith with others.  Singing can help heighten a text so the text speaks more fully and can also unveil a dimension of meaning and feeling, ideas, and images that go beyond the spoken word.   

What is the role of the Music Ministry?
Music Ministry leads, supports, and encourages the assembly’s sung prayer. This requires weekly rehearsal in order to sing the texts with understanding, shape the melody with care, and unify their music making as an ensemble.

Who benefits from Music Ministry?
The whole assembly: congregation and priest benefit from their leadership, but never give over their own responsibility of singing the liturgy. By their additional harmonies and choral/instrumental pieces, music ministry enhances the liturgy where permitted, deepening the spirit of joy, praise, petition or gratitude.

What is a Processional Song?
Processional Songs create an awareness of community, sustain unity in glorifying God, and serve to accompany an action.  There are two processional songs in our liturgy - the opening procession and communion procession. Sometimes song accompanies the Procession with the Gifts.

Why do we sing an opening hymn?
The Opening Processional Song creates an atmosphere of celebration; it serves to gather and unite the assembly; helps the assembly enter into the proper frame of mind of listening to the word of God; and allows the assembly to be conscious of themselves and the rest of the worshipping community. This hymn turns the community’s mind and heart to God, and raises their united voices in praise.

Why do we sing at Communion?
The Communion Processional Song expresses the unity and joy within the assembly.  A keen sense of fellowship is realized by joining our voices in song. In our singing we also express praise and gratitude for our unity in the risen Christ that is experienced in sharing the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

What is the Responsorial Psalm?
The psalm is more than a response to the First Reading. It serves to continue the dialogue between God and God’s people begun in the First Reading.  The psalm, as a song should properly be sung.  The Liturgy of the Word comes more fully to life when the psalm is sung.

What is the Gloria?
The Gloria is an ancient hymn of praise and prayer to God and an expression of our Christian joy.  Restricting it to Sundays outside of Advent and Lent and on solemnities and feasts emphasizes its special and solemn character. 

What is an Acclamation?
Acclamations are shouts of joy and affirmations of God’s word and action.  They mark the most important aspects of the liturgy.  These acclamations are our affirmation to God’s word and action.  Singing these acclamations makes the prayers all the more effective.   

What are the Eucharistic Acclamations?
The acclamations in the Eucharistic Prayer are an essential element of the whole Eucharistic Prayer: Sanctus (Holy, Holy), Memorial Acclamation (Christ has died), and Amen. The response in these acclamations makes this prayer our own.  

What is a Gospel Acclamation?
This acclamation expresses the assembly’s joy in the proclamation of the Good News as well as its faith in the Gospel by which it lives.  So important is this acclamation that when it is not sung, it is omitted.

CCCB on the Use of Technology in the Liturgy