The Shape of the Mass - Introductory Rites

Shape of the Mass

There are four main segments or parts to the Eucharist. In the Missal these parts are called:

†  Introductory Rites

†  Liturgy of the Word

†  Liturgy of the Eucharist

†  Concluding Rite

We will look at each of these in turn, but first, its important to know what the Introductory Rites are intended to do.

Introductory Rites

The purpose of this first part of the mass is summed up very well in a very important liturgical document called the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

The purpose of the Rites is to ensure that the faithful, who come together as one, establish communion and dispose themselves to listen properly to God’s word and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.  (GIRM 46)

Entrance Song

The Entrance Song therefore has a very important part to play. It is far from being just an accompaniment to the Entrance Procession.  In fact  it is meant to do nothing less than …open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical season or festivity, and accompany the procession of the priest and ministers. (GIRM 25)

With this in mind, what kind of song should we be singing at the beginning of Mass?

Firstly, it should be one that is familiar to everyone. It isn’t enough that the choir or lead singer knows it. Since the reforms of Vatican II, the choir’s role is basically to encourage the assembly and the ministers to sing, not to sing on their behalf! People therefore need to be familiar with the parts that are rightly theirs. This presumes each parish has a repertoire of songs that are sung over and over again. If a song is good musically, it will stand the test of repetition! 

Secondly, as mentioned earlier, the Entrance Song should ‘foster the unity of those gathered’. This suggests that besides being well known, it would also help if the text of the song had a communal rather than an individual focus, using pronouns like ‘we’ and ‘our’ instead of ‘I’ and ‘my’. 

A song like Gather Your People O Lord is much more appropriate as an entrance song than Here I Am Lord.

Thirdly, the Entrance Song needs to be in keeping with the particular season of the Church.  What is suitable for Easter will not necessarily be suitable for Lent or Advent. 

This applies as much to the music as to the words.  What the music evokes, for example, joy, sorrow, awe, is as important as the words themselves.  

This can be helped also by using different musical instruments at different times. Sometimes it might be more effective not to use any instruments apart from the human voice – even for the Entrance Song – especially in a season like Lent. Try it some time!

Finally, what about the Entrance Antiphon printed in the Missal? Should it still be recited if there is a song?  Historically, this antiphon is all that remains of the ancient Entrance Song or Introit, as it used to be called. Until the Middle Ages it belonged with a sung psalm which accompanied the Entrance Procession. When the procession was abbreviated, this psalm disappeared and only the antiphon remained.

If there is no singing at the Entrance, the antiphon in the Missal is recited either by the faithful or by a lector. Alternatively, the priest may recite it or adapt it as an introductory explanation. (GIRM 48)

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This article was originally published in Let’s Walk Through The Mass. © Diocese of Parramatta.  1999, 2000, 2007. Reprinted with permission.