Lumen Christi Missal Sample Contents

Last week I introduced for the first time the Lumen Christi Missal, the first offering of the all-new Illuminare Publications. The response so far has been overwhelming, and I am grateful to all who have shared their feedback and support, and who have signed up with interest in bringing the Lumen Christi Missal to their parish or community!

I am happy to report that we have now posted some sample contents, both for the Lumen Christi Missal and the Lumen Christi Gradual that will accompany it. The missal is a book for the pew, while the gradual is a book for the choir or cantor.

VIEW SAMPLE CONTENTS (see “Free Downloads” at the bottom-left)

Here’s an overview of what you’ll see:

Lumen Christi Missal Propers Section, First Sunday of Advent

This is an excerpt from the beginning of the most substantial portion of the book which contains:

• Antiphon texts of the Roman Missal and Graduale Romanum for the Entrance, Offertory and Communion for Sundays and Feasts
• Lectionary readings for Sundays and Feasts, 3-year cycle
• Responsorial Psalms for Sundays and Feasts, composed by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB and Adam Bartlett
• Alleluia refrains taken from the Graduale Simplex, 8 in total, cycling through the year according to the modality given in the Graduale Romanum
• Weekday Responsorial Psalms and Alleluias for the entire year, composed by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB and Adam Bartlett

This section of the Lumen Christi Missal will not only cover the needed proper texts for Sundays and Feasts, but now also includes what is needed for all Daily Masses as well!

Lumen Christi Missal Seasonal Antiphons, Advent Season

The section that follows the Propers section is a collection of Seasonal Antiphons composed by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB, and Adam Bartlett. These antiphons are taken from the Graduale Romanum, the Roman Missal and the Graduale Simplex and employ the new translations as found in the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal.

The antiphons are congregation friendly and are intended for congregational singing. The full cycle of Introits are preserved for the privileged seasons and feasts, while there are seasonal options for the Entrance, Offertory and Communion for all Sundays, Solemnities and Feasts throughout the year as well as antiphons from the Commons.

In this way, even at Daily Mass the full proper may be sung by the congregation, lead by a single cantor. In a similar way, liturgical chant may be sung by a congregation in the absence of a choir which is able to provide the full proper of Mass from the Graduale Romanum or collections like the Simple English Propers, or any host of musical settings of the proper cycle.

Because of this, the Lumen Christi Missal will be profoundly flexible and adaptable, and truly is a complete resource.

Recordings of these samples will be available soon, and at the time of the publication we also plan to have practice recordings available for every musical selection in the book!

Lumen Christi Gradual, Advent Season

And finally you will see an excerpt from the Lumen Christi Gradual, the book for the choir that will accompany, and directly correspond to the Lumen Christi Missal. All of the Responsorial Psalms, Alleluias and Processional Antiphons for the Entrance, Offertory and Communion will be contained with pointed psalm verses for the cantor or choir.

The primary difference between the Missal and Gradual is that the Missal will have Lectionary readings and no verses for antiphons, while the Gradual will have no readings but will have complete psalm verses for all antiphons for the choir or cantor.

More to come!

Please stay tuned as more information comes forth on the Lumen Christi Missal. Printed sample books will be available in early November, and in a matter of weeks we will be announcing the details of our “pilot program” which offers the Lumen Christi Missal at a discounted rate for early adopters.

If you would like to learn more you can sign up for our updates mailing list, or contact us with questions.