Sunday Music for Lent

from the Office for Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Los Angeles: During Lent, the use of musical instruments is allowed only to support the singing. Liturgical music should also be rendered in a more subdued and reflective way so as to not evoke the eventual full joy of Easter. Nevertheless, Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts are exceptions to this rule. The Alleluia is not said or sung, in any form, during Lent (not even on the Solemnity of St. Joseph or the Annunciation, in case these fall during Lent) and it is replaced with an appropriate Lenten GospelAcclamation. The use of the Gloria is also suspended during Lent, with the exception of wedding Masses and Solemnities occurring during the season, for example: St. Joseph on March 19 and Annunciation on March 25 this 2025.

 

Here at SLM, we will be singing more Latin at Mass during this Lenten season. Please note that there is a vast difference between singing some hymns or prayers in Latin and celebrating a Latin Mass. This Lent, we will be singing the response to the Universal Prayers: Miserere nobis, miserere nobis, Lord, hear our prayer. We will chant the Holy, Holy: Sanctus … The Memorial Acclamation: Save us Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free, will be Salvator mundi, salvanos qui per crucem et resurrectionem tuam. Liberasti nos, liberasti nos. The Lamb of God will be Agnus Dei … When sung with heartfelt simplicity and reverence, these prayers become like incense ascending to God. Our children (even adults) may not yet know Latin. It may be just gobbledygook to them at first, but when they do learn it, they are brought into a deeper musical union with the larger universal church across the globe. How do we learn if we do not start? (A worship aid will be provided in the pews for your use.) We will also be “fasting” from the organ, drums, and guitar as we anticipate the Easter Season when we can once again, with joy, sing ALLELUIA: the form of praise we use as Christians to thank and glorify God.