Music Ministry Series: Part III (Acclamations)

“Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might! Heaven and earth are full of your glory; Hosanna in the highest!”

From the Order of Mass, Preface Acclamation

Singing the Acclamations

Webster’s Dictionary defines “acclamation” as “A shout of approbation, favor, or assent; eager expression of approval.”

When we sing, just as when we pray, we approach God with different attitudes at different moments. Sometimes we come with petitions or requests. Sometimes we come with thanksgiving. Sometimes we approach in silent contemplation. And there are several moments in our liturgy known as “acclamations,” joyful shouts of praise for our great and magnificent God.

If you pay attention to our songs during the liturgy, you’ll notice that many of them accompany some action—a procession, the preparation of the table, the breaking of the host before Communion—and that the music is geared to last as long as the ritual action it accompanies lasts. Our Acclamations are different—these are sung moments in the liturgy where the purpose of our song is simply to praise God, to acclaim God, to give joyful assent to God’s work and presence among us.

Every week, at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, we sing some version of “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts!” When the priest invites us to “proclaim the mystery of our faith,” we cry out, “Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!” or a similar acclamation. In seasons outside of Lent and Advent, near the beginning of our liturgies, we sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth!” And as we prepare to listen to the Gospel (this acclamation also accompanies a procession!), we cry out “Alleluia!” or, in Lent, “Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!”

This Sunday, as we join in singing these familiar—maybe too familiar!—words, try to move out of habit and really listen for what they contain, what the words are saying, and to what of God’s great works they give praise and assent!