How Many Verses???

When rehearsing songs for a liturgy, it is not uncommon for musicians to ask, “How many verses are we doing?” The short answer is, “It depends.” Longer answers to this question are given in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.  Here are several examples:

Music during the gathering:

When the people are gathered, and as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers, the Entrance Chant begins. Its purpose is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers. GIRM#47

Music during the procession with and preparation of the bread and wine:

The procession bringing the gifts is accompanied by the Offertory Chant which continues at least until the gifts have been placed on the altar. Singing may always accompany the rite at the Offertory, even when there is no procession with the gifts. GIRM#74

Music during communion:

While the Priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion Chant is begun, its purpose being to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the “communitarian” character of the procession to receive the Eucharist. The singing is prolonged for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. GIRM#86

As we can see, singing during the liturgy serves several purposes: to accompany the ritual actions taking place, to unite the members of the assembly and to help them to pray.  So the length of a song will depend on the length of a particular procession.  The number of verses sung will depend on how many verses it takes to adequately gather the praying community. In this way, music serves the liturgy, not the other way around.  The liturgical action is primary.  Music sustains the flow of the prayers and the rituals of the liturgy.  Done well, this creates a liturgy that is a seamless garment of praise.