INTRO TO INTROITS – PART 2

St. Michael's – January 18, 2022 2 Comments

By Alex Hill, Director of Music and Liturgy

When a Pope or Church Council issues an official document, they create the title from its first words. For example, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is called “Sacrosanctum Concilium,” meaning “This holy council…”, and Pope Pius XII’s encyclical “Mediator Dei” begins with those words – “Mediator between God and man…” While the titles do not sum up the document or even suggest the topic, they do resonate in a memorable way. They form, if you will, a solemn gateway into the rich meaning of the entire text.

Mass Introits are like this. In fact, our liturgical (and even literary) life displays this truth. We know it’s close to Christmas when we celebrate “Gaudete” Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Instrumental music during Lent is not permitted except on “Laetare,” the 4th Sunday. A funeral may still be called a “Requiem” Mass. These Latin titles are the first words of the Introits for those liturgies, proclaiming “rejoice” and “be joyful,” or asking God to grant “rest” to the deceased.

Did you know that the title character of Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” got his name from a Catholic Introit? Did you know that “Quasimodo Sunday” is a real thing? Look it up or ask me about it sometime. It’ll show that you’re an alert reader.

The point is that these liturgical texts are important, and they belong to a specific Sunday of the year – they are “proper” to those liturgies. Hence, they are called the “PROPERS.” The General Instruction for the Roman Missal (my liturgical guidebook) gives four choices for what to sing during the Entrance Procession. Choices 1 and 2 specify some musical setting of the Proper for that Mass. Choice 3 calls for singing another Psalm. The last choice permits some other hymn or song appropriate for the season.

Sadly, most Catholics over the past sixty years have never sung or even heard these Introits. Thankfully, here at St. Michael’s you’ve been hearing them from the choir and cantors, so now we’re just going a step further and giving them to YOU to sing! Over these Sundays of Ordinary Time before Lent, enter into divine worship by participating in the Introit. Together we’ll form a beautiful “solemn gateway” into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

And seriously, look up “Quasimodo Sunday.” You won’t be disappointed.