GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO LENT-EASTER

PREPARING FOR LENT

Seasonal Music

Before selecting any music, reflect on some of the words found in the Scripture readings of Lent: return, mercy, reconciliation, fasting, prayer, giving, covenant, test, light, mercy, kindness. The music of the season should express a penitential stance, while at the same time giving voice to our hope and confidence in the God whose will is always to save, redeem, and reconcile.

Whatever instrumental accompaniment you normally use, Lent is a good time to do some unaccompanied singing. Choose acclamations and responses that can be sung with little or no accompaniment and stick with them for the entire season. A few simple Latin chants would be appropriate for the liturgies of the season, perhaps some of the unchanging Mass parts such as the Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei; or perhaps a seasonal hymn such as "Parce, Domine."

The desert is a place that reminds us of the importance of the basics in our lives. As we summon the Christian community into the desert during Lent to ponder once again the foundations of its life, our musical choices should reflect a focus on basics. Plan to use the same musical shape for the liturgies of the entire season, choosing simple settings of the penitential rite, Gospel acclamation, general intercession response, Eucharistic acclamations, and fraction litany. Carefully select one or two songs that will be used frequently—if not every Sunday—perhaps at the entrance or at Communion. Con­clude the liturgy in silence or with soft instrumental music. Let simplicity and clarity be the hallmarks of our sung prayer during Lent.

A Season of Preparation for Initiation

Lent originated as a time of preparation for the celebration of initiation at Easter. Parishes which have catechumens or baptized candidates preparing for initiation will be celebrating several important rites at the Sunday liturgies. Pastoral musi­cians have an important part to play in preparing the musical components of these rites.

Rite of Election/Parish Rite of Sending

On or around the First Sunday of Lent, catechumens and baptized candidates will be sent from their parishes to diocesan celebrations of the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. The rite itself suggests that a setting of Psalm 16 (Spanish: Psalm 15) or Psalm 33 (Spanish: Psalm 32) be sung during the enrollment of names or some other “appropriate song.” If there are just a few catechumens who are signing the Book of the Elect, use a strong acclamation as their names are called out; e.g., David Haas's "Who Calls You By Name" (GIA), Margaret Daly's "Church of God," or Christopher Walker's "Out of Darkness." If there are many catechumens to sign the book, one or more songs may be sung; e.g., "Sign Me Up" (found in Lead Me, Guide Me) or "Church of God" (found in most current hymnals and service books).

Music for the Scrutinies

The scrutinies are celebrated with the catechumens on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays. On the Second Sunday of Lent, the RCIA provides a penitential rite for baptized candidates. The most important musical element in these rites is the litany called "Prayer for the Elect (Candidates)." The response to the litany should be very strong, evoking a sense of confidence in God's power to overcome sin and evil. The petitions may also be written to reflect the concerns of the praying community as it names the evils and faces them with trust in God. At the conclusion of the scrutiny rite, a brief song or acclamation may be sung by the whole assembly.

PREPARING FOR THE EASTER SEASON

The Easter Season is the most intense time of festivity in the liturgical year, extending over a fifty‑day period from Easter Sunday until Pentecost Sunday. Pastoral musicians can help their communities to celebrate it well by planning festive music that can be used for the whole season, as well as by choos­ing songs that are appropriate for each Sunday or feast.

Gathering Music. Throughout the Easter Season prepare an envi­ronment that invites the community both visually and aurally to enter into the awesomeness of the Easter mystery. Organists can help to set the tone for joyful celebration with chorale preludes on Easter hymns. Instrumental ensembles might explore the reper­toire of music available for keyboard and solo instrument or for string ensembles. Set a tone that is festive and joyful, while giving expression to the great mystery of life and death.

Introductory Rites. The rite of blessing and sprinkling with holy water would be appropriate on all of the Sundays of Easter (except for Easter Sunday itself when sprinkling is included in the renewal of baptismal promises). Choose just two or three songs that can be used over the course of the whole season, such as the traditional chant for the sprinkling in the Easter Season (“Vidi Aquam”) or "This Is the Feast of Victory" (Festival Canticle) or Christo­pher Walker's "Out of Darkness." Because they have a refrain and verses, these latter two songs could be used both for the entrance of the ministers and for the sprinkling of the assembly.

Liturgy of the Word. The psalms of the Easter Season express the profound human hope for life in the midst of death. Explore various settings of the psalms and choose those that best ex­press the thoughts of hearts that burn within us as we meet the risen Lord in word and at table.

Choose one or two settings of the Alleluia that can be used throughout the season. Consider using one or another of the Gregorian chant settings of the Alleluia, the most familiar of which are intended for use during Easter time.

Liturgy of the Eucharist. If your community is accustomed to praying the Eucharistic Prayer with both presider and assembly singing their parts, the Easter Season is a good time to do it every Sunday. If not, this Easter may be a good time to begin! The General Instruction of the Roman Missal encourages the priest especially to “sing those parts of the Eucharistic Prayer for which musical notation is provided” (147).

Are you consistently using a litany setting of the Lamb of God during the fraction rite? If not, the Easter Season would be a good time to begin this practice as well. Choose invoca­tions of Christ that are appropriate for Easter time.

The song for the Communion procession should express the paschal mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. Good selections would include "O Sons and Daughters," "Now We Remain," "Keep in Mind," "In the Breaking of the Bread," "Unless a Grain of Wheat," and "No Greater Love."