One of the most common questions that music coordinators ponder as they plan their song line up for a mass is whether Marian songs are appropriate and if they are which part of the liturgy can it be sung. Our focus this week is to provide a simple guideline on determining whether Marian Hymns can be sung in a Mass.
We must remember that every celebration of the liturgy, every Mass, every sacrament is a sacred action that is more important than anything else the Church does. The reason for this is that the liturgy is a personal encounter with Christ.
Whenever we consider a hymn to sing at Mass, we need to be reminded of the three judgements for determining whether a musical selection is appropriate for a given liturgy as suggested by “Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (STL)”. These three judgements – the liturgical, pastoral, and musical – together answer the question, “Is this particular piece of music appropriate for use in this particular liturgy?” (STL., 126).
The liturgical judgement suggests that selecting Marian tunes for liturgy when Mary is not a part of the liturgical season or the readings of the day would be a disservice to the assembly. Because of this, we really do not have the flexibility to sing of Mary or any other saint unless they are part of the readings of the liturgy that is being celebrated.
Having said the above, it would seem that, for the most part, songs about Mary are only appropriate on feasts and solemnities of our Blessed Mother. Hymns to Mary can be used in the following feasts and memorials of Mary: the Presentation of the Lord (February 2nd), Our Lady of Lourdes (Feb. 11th), the Annunciation (March 25th), Our Lady of Fatima (May 13th), Feast of the Visitation (May 31st), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16th), the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 22nd), the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 8th), Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15th), Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct. 7th), and the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nov. 21st).
Most if not all parishes here in our Diocese have the resource of the Breaking Bread and Today’s Missal. These two resources contain an abundance of hymns that are appropriate for Mass. We must make time to learn new songs that are appropriate for Mass.
So, as we can see, it is difficult to justify the singing of Marian hymns during Sunday Mass; doing so opens the door for other inappropriate liturgical choices. Thank you and May God Bless Us All.