This is the weekend that
everybody knows: the pink candle, the rose vestments, and the funny name: Gaudete
Sunday. The first two elements are
clear in everyone’s mind. The pink
candle is the third one lit on the Advent wreath, which takes its color from
the rose vestments the clergy wear at Mass on this day and this day only in
Advent. Together they reveal a brief
brightening in our outlook even as we long in darkness for the coming of light at
Christmas. It is a break, if you will,
from the yearning and preparation that characterize the season as we await our
Savior, a pause to reflect all the good that God has already done for us.
But why the funny
name? There is no better occasion than
today to discuss the element of the Mass called antiphons, because that name comes from the Entrance Antiphon for
the Third Sunday in Advent: Gaudete in Domino semper; iterum dico, gaudete. Deus
enim prope est. (Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.) Ergo Gaudete
Sunday.
The antiphons are the
texts of the Mass that are meant to be sung at the entrance of the procession
to the sanctuary (the Entrance Antiphon); at the preparation of the offerings
(the Offertory Antiphon) and during the Communion of the people (the Communion
Antiphon). They reveal and emphasize the
distinctive characteristics of that day’s Mass, often echoing passages from the
Scripture readings assigned to that day.
Sometimes they juxtapose elements of two or more of the readings, for example,
from the Old Testament prophecy and the New Testament Epistle, to emphasize how
they relate to one another to reveal something about Christ. Whatever the source of their texts, the
antiphons are proper to that particular Mass, that is, they are unique and
distinctive to that day.
For centuries, these texts
have been sung at Mass, set to music that emphasized the meaning of the texts
and the mood of the celebration, precisely because
they are unique to each Sunday or holy day and therefore convey the essence of
what is being celebrated that day.
However, because there are unique antiphons for each major day
throughout the Church year, and there is different music for each one of them, it
takes many years of using these prayers that occur only once a year before they
become familiar.
Last week, I mentioned
that the hymns and songs we have been using at Mass for the past forty years
were inserted there instead of
something; it is instead of these antiphons.
With the change of the Mass to English, none of the hundreds of texts
was familiar and none had music for singing it, except in Latin.
Now, often in conjunction
with the release of the new English translation of the Missal, these antiphons
are finally available in musical settings for all the Masses celebrated
throughout the year. Because the
antiphons are the most distinctive sung element of any particular Mass, their
contribution to both our experience and understanding of the Mass of the day is
vital.
We are finally able to
restore this indispensible element to our celebration of the Holy Mass here at
Saint Bernadette. Listen to the tone of the
music and reflect on the text of each antiphon as it is sung, and you will be
drawn more deeply into the mystery of the day’s celebration. You will find relationships revealed in the Scripture
readings and overarching themes clarified.
The working of the powerful prayer that is the liturgical
re-presentation of our salvation will be more intelligible. You will have a richer experience of every
Mass throughout the year, and when the pink candle is lit, the joyful command Gaudete will be more than just a funny
name.
Monsignor Smith
