Sep 25 Thu
What is the Responsorial Psalm?
Our responsorial psalms are based on the Jewish liturgy; there, the readings were broken by the recitation of psalms. This helped keep away monotony while allowing the congregation to participate.
In the Church, a trained cantor would sing the psalm while the people joined in the response, generally the first line of the psalm.
Under the present regulations, the psalmist or cantor of the psalm sings the verses at the lectern or some other suitable place. The people remain seated.
There are two established ways of singing the psalm after the first reading.
In responsorial singing, the cantor sings the psalm verse, and the whole congregation joins in by singing the response.
In direct singing, there is no response by the community; either the psalmist sings alone as the community listens or all sing it together. When not sung, the psalm is to be recited in a manner conducive to meditation on the word of God.
The Church desires that we have a great esteem for the liturgical chants because they are a sign of our heart’s cheerfulness. St Paul recommends that the faithful gathered waiting for the coming of the Lord sing together psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles. The heart shows its joy by singing. Thus, St Augustine says, “To sing belongs to lovers.” And, “One who sings well prays twice.”
Perhaps we cannot sing to God as well as we would like to; nevertheless, we can be sure that our Father in heaven looks at things differently. We will do fine if we sing with the simplicity and spontaneity of children, after having rehearsed at least a little.
“What is more pleasing than a psalm? David expresses it well: ‘Praise the Lord, for a song of praise is good: let there be praise of our God with gladness and grace.’ Yes, a psalm is a blessing on the lips of the people, a hymn in praise of God, the assembly’s homage, a general acclamation, a word that speaks for all, the voice of the Church, a confession of faith in song. It is the voice of complete assent, the joy of freedom, a cry of happiness, the echo of gladness.
It soothes the temper, distracts from care, and lightens the burden of sorrow. It is a source of security at night, a lesson in wisdom by day. It is a shield when we are afraid, a celebration of holiness, a vision of serenity, a promise of peace and harmony. It is like a lyre, evoking harmony from a blend of notes. The day begins to the music of a psalm. The day closes to the echo of a psalm.”
After reading this, don’t you think that, very often, we can draw our “password,” that is, our “aspiration for the day,” from the responsorial psalm of the Mass? That “password,” repeated during the day, will be liturgical, helping us to have presence of God, and it will give our day a more supernatural tone.