25/02/2026
LITURGICAL NOTE
On Music during Lent
«In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts.»
-General Instruction on the Roman Missal, no. 313-
«Solo playing of musical instruments is forbidden during Advent, Lent, the Easter triduum, and at services and Masses for the dead.»
-Musicam Sacram, no. 66-
The penitential character of Lent invites us to silence our speech, our minds, and our hearts. Mirroring the silence, music in the Liturgy reflects this supported by the quotes above.
This commission gives the following RECOMMENDATIONS for music:
---Only one musical instrument (preferably the organ) to support singing during Sunday Masses. Percussion instruments may be kept silent.
---Accompaniment should be “subdued”: no adlibs, no riffs, and it should never be louder than the voices (possibly set the volume to half of what is usual).
---Some songs and hymns or the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Holy, Our Father, Lamb of God, etc.) may be sung acapella, that is, without accompaniment.
---On Weekday Masses, you may recite the Ordinary of the Mass including the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, or at least do acapella singing.
---Keep a prayerful silence during the Offertory and/or the Recessional.
