Choir and Catechesis: What are Antiphons

 By Seth Lowman, Sacred Music Director.

When you attend a funeral at St. Matthew Parish, you may notice a couple pieces of liturgical music being sung before the entrance and Communion hymns, in the form of short, chanted sentences taken directly from scripture.  This sung scripture is what is known as an Antiphon, (Greek for responsive sound), and is prescribed by the Church for the order of Mass, whether it be a funeral, wedding, daily or Sunday liturgy.  The text for the funeral entrance Antiphon, “Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.” (Cf. 4 Ezra 2: 34-35), is commonly recognized as the Eternal Rest prayer.   At St. Matthew, the entrance and Communion antiphons are included in our worship aids every Sunday.  They are placed before the entrance and Communion hymns, and often provide additional insight into the readings of the day.

Antiphons have specific purposes based on where they are placed in the liturgy.  According to the Roman Missal, the entrance Antiphon is meant to open the celebration of Mass, promote the unity of the congregation, encourage them to reflect on the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers.  The Communion Antiphon, on the other hand, is there to express the communicants’ union in spirit via the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to emphasize the ‘communitarian’ nature of the procession to receive Communion.  Furthermore, singing the Antiphons increases our participation in the Mass by bringing us closer to the word of God.  Once that foundation is laid, hymns are used to build upon the scriptural themes introduced by the Antiphons, and together, Antiphons and hymns can help us offer ourselves through, in, and with Christ to God the Father.