1. Forming the Young to Celebrate the Paschal Mystery
Liturgical Preparation and Planning for Schools & Religious Education Programs
Reverend Joshua R. Brommer, STL
Diocese of Harrisburg

2. Who plans the Liturgies in your school and parish?
The answer for everyone: THE CHURCH!

3. What does the Church Provide
All the words and the actions for the prayers of the Mass
The Words: “Euchology”
The Actions: “Rubrics”
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
The Prayers (“Words”) include the chants for the Mass
“Common”
“Proper”
The Scriptural readings for the Mass

4. Where do I look to find this information?
The Roman Missal
The Lectionary
The “Ordo” (The Order of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and the Celebration of the Eucharist)
Lays out the liturgical plan for every day of the year
Published each year for each diocese or groups of dioceses
Available in the sacristy or from the pastor

5. Why is this important?
When we prepare the celebration of the Holy Eucharist for our communities, we look to connect to the life of the Universal Church
Liturgical Seasons
Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials (Optional & Obligatory)
Special days (i.e. days of prayer and penance)
When we prepare the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with the mind and the heart of the Church, we allow the Holy Spirit to work through the Liturgy, without getting in the way
The Sacred Liturgy is the “Opus Dei” = the work of God

6. The Sacred Liturgy is a Teacher!
As the “source” and “summit” of the Christian Life, the Sacred Liturgy imparts the grace we need to live out our Christian lives
The Sacred Liturgy teaches us about the Triune God while bringing us into communion with the Triune God
The Sacred Liturgy teaches us how to pray by giving us the words and the actions that are the foundation of Christian spirituality
The Sacred Liturgy teaches us how to live as the community of believers in the world by providing us an opportunity to experience the Kingdom of God

7. How can we translate this to the Young?
Before all us, we must be students (disciples!) of Christ and of the Sacred Liturgy
We must hold ourselves accountable to the mind of the Church by being disciplined (good students!)
Look to the Church to begin the preparation of the Liturgy
Be objective and follow the regulations of the Church
We need to take the opportunity to teach and explain what is happening at Mass in general and at particular Mass
Symbols need to be explained in order to be understood
This is the work of “mystagogy”

8. Music at Mass
“Do not sing at the Liturgy. Sing the Liturgy!”

9. What should be sung at Mass?
The Roman Rite is a sung rite.
Music is essential to the celebration of Mass
1967 document: Musicam Sacram
1st Degree: dialogues & presidential prayers, Preface, Sanctus, greetings, Lord’s Prayer, Sign of Peace, dismissal
2nd Degree: Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei, Creed, Prayer of the Faithful
3rd Degree: Entrance & Communion chants, Alleluia, Offertory chant, readings
What does this teach us? Singing the words of the Mass are more important than any other “songs” or “hymns” we may add to the Liturgy.

10. Principle of Progressive Solemnity
Mass Sunday/Solemnity Feast Memorial/ Feria
Entrance chant sung sung [sung]
Greeting sung sung
Kyrie sung
Gloria sung sung
Collect sung sung
Responsorial Psalm sung sung [sung response]
Gospel Acclamation sung sung [sung]
Creed [sung]
Prayer of the Faithful [sung]
Offertory chant sung/instrumental sung/instrumental
Prayer over Offerings sung sung
Eucharistic Prayer sung sung [sung]
Lord’s Prayer sung sung
Rite of Peace sung
Fraction Rite sung sung [sung]
Communion chant sung sung [sung]
Hymn of Praise sung
Prayer after Communion sung sung
Blessing & Dismissal sung sung
Music after Mass sung/instrumental sung/instrumental

11. What about a normal weekday school Mass?
At every school Mass, these parts should always be sung:
Entrance Chant
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
Sanctus
Memorial Acclamation
Great Amen
Lamb of God
Communion Chant
Whenever there is a feast or Solemnity?
The Gloria is sung.

12. How do I make the choices for music?
The Parish Music program should help us guide our choices, even when several parishes feed into one school
We are forming young people to participate in the Sunday Liturgy of their parishes, not just the school Liturgies
Choices for the Ordinary of the Mass (i.e. “Mass Setting”) should be done in conversation with the music ministers of the local parish(es)
The Roman Missal propers should guide our choices for the Entrance and Communion chants before the Lectionary
Go to the Missal before the Lectionary

13. How do I make the choices for music?
Take account of the Seasons of the Church Year that may influence choices
Advent & Christmas have distinct characters, don’t sing carols during Advent
Lent forbids the singing of the “Alleluia”, while Easter sings “Alleluia” every chance it gets
Stay away from anything that smacks of “theme” Masses
The only theme for every Mass is the Paschal Mystery – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Masses don’t belong to any one group of people or any particular “class” or “grade” in a school

14. How do I make the choices for music?
Be careful of the texts you choose for hymns and chants
Unfortunately, not every hymnal has the best resources
Unfortunately, not every publisher is giving you quality music
Unfortunately, some of the hymns are heretical
Choose “texts” before you choose a style or song that you like
Mass is not about entertainment, it is the worship of God
Engaging young people is not the same as entertainment
Reverence and a sense of the Sacred should not be discounted
Just because it’s new, doesn’t make it better
Don’t forget to draw from the riches of the Church’s treasury

15. Liturgical Formation means Christian Formation
Teaching young people how to pray and participate at Mass is one of the central obligations we have as catechists
Learning how to participate in Mass at a young age prepare children for their lifelong commitment to Christ and to the Church
Since participation in Mass is meant to be a foretaste of heaven, you are preparing them for eternity!

16. Further Resources General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (STL)
Musicam Sacram (MS)
G. Dennis Gill, Music in Catholic Liturgy: A Pastoral and Theological Companion to Sing to the Lord. Chicago: Hillenbrand Books, 2009.
International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) Mass Chants:
Corpus Christi Watershed Liturgical Music (free!)
Oregon Catholic Press (for two Diocesan Mass settings)
Kevin Keil, Mass of Saint Frances Cabrini
Luke Mayernik, Mass of Saint Gregory the Great