Padre’s Points to Ponder – 8/8/25
You may have noticed over the past several weeks that our liturgies have begun with the inclusion of something new (truth be told, something ancient, but perhaps new to many of our parishioners): a short, reverent chant or spoken line of Scripture known as the Entrance Antiphon. Similarly, at Communion time, rather than immediately launching into a hymn, we will now begin with the Communion Antiphon, often chanted or recited before the Communion hymn begins.
These aren’t new additions; they’re part of the original structure of the Roman Catholic Mass, and the Church, through the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), written following the 2nd Vatican Council, actually places the antiphons first among the preferred options for music during the Entrance and Communion processions.
But what are they, and why use them?
Liturgical antiphons are brief passages of Scripture carefully selected to reflect the spiritual theme of the Mass. The Entrance Antiphon helps us begin with a scriptural focus, whether it is a psalm of praise, a cry for mercy, or a reference to the feast day being celebrated. The Communion Antiphon often highlights the Gospel message or deepens our understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist.
Incorporating these texts into our liturgy, whether they are sung in chant, set to simple melodies, or reverently spoken, roots our worship more firmly in the Word of God. It is one more way we allow the Scriptures to shape not only what we hear, but how we pray.
This doesn’t mean we are doing away with beloved hymns. Rather, it means we are giving proper place to the Church’s liturgical texts, allowing the antiphons to begin the processions with the Word of God, and then continuing in song.
I encourage you to listen attentively to these antiphons and join in praying them when they are sung or spoken at Mass. You’ll find them printed in the missalette. Though short, these verses are rich with meaning and help unite us more deeply to the universal prayer of the Church.
May these scriptural antiphons deepen our encounter with Christ in the Mass.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor