re: offertory songs

1. may kalabuan nga as to what type of songs to sing during the preparation of t
he gifts. let me quote various authors and church documents:
a. "The procession may be accompanied by song. Song is not always necessary ....
The proper function of this song is to accompany and celebrate the communal asp
ects of the procession. The text, therefore, can be any appropriate song of prai
se or of rejoicing in keeping with the season." Huub Oosterhuis, "The Place of M
usic in Euch. Celebrations"
b. "Song may accompany the procession ... [but] is not always necessary or desir
able .... When song is used, it need not speak of bread and wine or of offering.
The proper function of this song is to accompany and celebrate the communal asp
ects of the procession. The text, therefore, can be any appropriate song of prai
se or rejoicing in keeping with the season." "Music in Catholic Worhsip," the Un
ited States' Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, 1972.
c. There are times when an instrumental interlude is able to bridge the gap betw
een two parts of a ceremony and help to unify the liturgical action. But music's
function is always ministerial and must never degenerate into idle background m
usic." Liturgical Music Today, US Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, 1982.
d. "The text of music chosen for the preparation should not focus on bread and w
ine. A seasonal motif or a song of praise is more appropriate. Congregational mu
sic is fine, but the documents direct--and pastoral practice affirms--that we us
e other approaches for the preparatory rite." "Music and the Mass," David Haas.
For our discussion:
pressupositions:
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not give guidelines about the t
heme of songs to be sung during the Preparation of the Gifts. The appropriate th
eme thus has been debated over by liturgists, liturgical musicians, bishops' com
mittees, etc.
the term 'offertory' has been altered to 'preparation of the gifts'. what does t
his signify? the bread and wine that are offered are symbols of the fruit of the
earth and the labor of humanikind. they are NOT yet the body and blood of Jesus
Christ. we thus bring to the altar the bounty of the earth, fruit of our labor,
to the altar, in order that these offerings be transformed during the Eucharist
ic Prayer into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
David Haas adds, "Nothing is being offered at this moment. This is a preparatory
time ... What happens during this time is primarily functional. We collect gift
s of money for the poor and for the church, and we bring them forward ... " Musi
c and the Mass," 69.
for discussion:
1. from the sources above, is "Tinapay ng Buhay" a song for the Preparation of t
he Gifts or a Communion Hymn?
2. western liturgical rubrics and guidelines may not be applicable to all cultur
es. dito sa U.S., madalas we simply have instrumental music during the Preparati
on of Gifts. sa pinas, sa rami ng iniaalay at sa haba ng collection period, what
do you think is appropriate to sing during the Preparation of Gifts?
3. many of the Bukas Palad songs are devotional songs. many are prayers of saint
s put into music. in due time, various parishes incorporated these devotional so
ngs into various moments in their liturgies. do devotional songs like "prayer fo
r generosity" or even "tanging yaman" have a place in the Eucharist? if not, why
? if so, where? (parang essay question sa exam