From a priest:
I have exhausted every possible avenue, and I cannot answer the following question myself.
This coming Advent – which is only my second Advent celebrating the EF – I am still not sure when to say the Rorate Coeli.
It doesn’t appear in my version of the 1962 missal but handouts (http://maternalheart.org/propers.html) suggest it follows the Gospel. Is it said at a low mass and sung at a missa cantata?
Last year, because we just began, I did my best. This year, though, I want to do it right.
Any help in this area would be appreciated.
First, I am so glad that you want to “do it right”.
Let us assume you mean this beautiful Advent chant:
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Otherwise, there are other uses of the text “Rorate caeli…germinet Salvatorem” in the Mass and the Office. But keep in mind that it is not formally a part of the liturgy at all.
Within the Mass, the chant can be used as a cantus ad libitum to cover the Offertory or Communion (hopefully after the propers!).
At Benediction it can be sung during Exposition (at the beginning).
If you are celebrating Low Mass in the Usus Antiquior with hymns, you could use it in any of the usual places (entrance, offertory, communion, exit).
This is a great chant which ought to be sung by all Catholics everywhere.
BTW, the Benedictine nuns of Mary Queen of Apostles have Rorate caeli on their new album of music of Advent.
Here is a sample of their version.
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US buy their Advent disk HERE and download mp3 HERE.
UK disk HERE and mp3 HERE.
Did you know that the sisters’ disk made it to the top of the chart? #1 on Billboard for Classical?
