Monday, November 15, 2004
The Mass Under a Microscope: Penitential Rite & Kyrie
Possibly, but not necessarily the same item. A liturgy prof told us that the excalamation "Kyrie eleison!" was shouted as the Roman legal official (or even the emperor) was entering the building. People were hopeful a lusty shout would attract good attention (as my daughter puts it) and a favorable or at least a speedy judgment.
The IGRM says:
51 Then the priest invites them to take part in the penitential rite, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession, and which is concluded with the priest’s absolution. This latter, however, lacks the efficacy of the sacrament of penance.
Don't forget the pause for silence.
On Sunday, especially in Easter time, in place of the customary penitential rite, the blessing and sprinkling with water may occasionally be performed to recall baptism.
The understanding is not to do both, and not to overuse the Sprinking Rite. I've been in parishes that only use it on Sundays of Easter and rarely if ever outside of the Fifty Days.
52 Then the Kyrie always begins, unless it has already been included as part of the penitential rite. Since it is a liturgical song by which the faithful praise the Lord and implore his mercy, it is ordinarily prayed by all, that is, alternately by the congregation and the choir or cantor.
This would ordinarily leave out the option of a choir-only Kyrie.
As a rule each of the acclamations is repeated twice, though it may be repeated more, because of different languages, the music, or other circumstances. When the Kyrie is sung as a part of the penitential act, a trope may be inserted before each acclamation.
Looks like some composer creativity and pastoral judgment are allowed for.
My practice has been most often to sing it during Lent and sometimes Advent. I was thinking something like this is under-used in form II celebrations of Reconciliation. One notable time when priests seem to add it when not called for is on Ash Wednesday. Mass on that day does not include the Penitential Rite, but just about every autopilot presider I know has been unable to help himself from adding it.
