Celebrating the Mass

In 2005, the Vatican published a new General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), a Latin document – to be formally translated into each required language – regulating the celebration of the ordinary form of the Novus Ordo throughout the world.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales followed this with Celebrating the Mass: A Pastoral Introduction (CTM), a further set of instructions on how to interpret the GIRM. In short, this was how their lordships expected the Mass to be celebrated in parishes throughout England & Wales. Of course, this included the place of music and musicians.

CTM presumes there will be a psalmist, a cantor, instrumentalists, a choir and a director of music to “assist the assembly’s full participation in singing the songs, responses, and acclamations which are constitutive elements of the liturgy”. The document describes these people as “ministers of music” who “exercise a liturgical function within the assembly and by their role help to add beauty and solemnity to the celebration.

“The cantor’s function is to lead and encourage the assembly in singing. The cantor also introduces and teaches new music to the people. The role of the psalmist and cantor may be carried out by one person.”