Response psalm

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The response psalm , traditionally also called gradual , is part of the word worship in Holy Mass and part of a celebration of the Word of God .

The congregation responds to the previous first reading with the response psalm. It deepens this, but is at the same time a biblical reading itself. The answering psalm is connected to the antiphon , a sung call with which the congregation responds to the recitation of the psalm verses.

The response psalm, like the call to the Gospel after the second reading, is sung by the cantor or psalmist from the ambo or by the schola from their seat. In exceptional cases, the answer psalm (but not its refrain or the call to the gospel) can be spoken by the lecturer .

If only one reading is given before the gospel, the response psalm and the call before the gospel follow one another immediately, unless only one of the two is sung. In the case of two readings, a second psalm, the tract , can be sung instead of the call to the Gospel during Lent or during mass celebrations for the deceased after the second reading .

The verse of a psalm to be sung is specified in the lectionary .

According to the general introduction to the Roman missal, the answer psalm is an “essential element of the liturgical service” and of “great pastoral and liturgical importance”. In some congregations, however, it is still common practice to replace the response psalm with a song verse from the praise of God that matches the content of the reading .

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