Michael Brooks
The responsorial graduale, or gradual, is a chant or hymn in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. It is believed to have been sung on the step of the altar, or as the deacon mounted the steps for the reading of the Gospel. The responsorial graduale is usually sung after the reading of the Epistle, followed by the Alleluia or Tract. In the Mass of Paul VI, the gradual corresponds to the Responsorial Psalm, which is not required but permitted by the General Instruction. The responsorial psalm was introduced to create texts that could be sung more easily by the people, and is usually sung after the first reading.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A chant or hymn in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, and among some other Christians |
| Etymology | The term "Gradual" comes from the Latin "gradus" ("step"), on which cantors stood |
| Timing | Sung after the reading of the Epistle |
| Sequence | Ordinarily followed by the Alleluia or Tract |
| Exceptions | In Masses with more readings than normal, the Alleluia and Tract may be separated by another reading |
| If there are more than three readings, there is more than one Gradual, and finally the Tract, to separate each reading | |
| In Eastertide, the Gradual is normally omitted and replaced by a second Alleluia | |
| In the Tridentine Mass, the celebrant reads the Gradual with the Alleluia, Tract, or Sequence immediately after reading the Epistle | |
| Text | Consists of two psalm verses, generally (but not always) taken from the same psalm |
| Book | Term also refers to certain books compiling the musical items of the Mass |
| Includes both the Ordinary and Proper | |
| History | In the fifth century, there were three psalms: Prophets, Epistle, and Gospel |
| When the Old Testament reading was dropped, the remaining two psalms became the Gradual and Alleluia, sung one after another | |
| In 1969/70, the Gradual was replaced by the Responsorial Psalm | |
| The Vatican has taken steps toward re-introducing the Graduale |
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What You'll Learn
The Responsorial Chant
The Gradual was believed to be the oldest of the chants of the Proper of the Mass, and the only one that was not sung to accompany some other liturgical action, such as a procession. The Responsorial Chant, on the other hand, is a more recent introduction, added to the Mass in 1969/1970. While the Gradual had a long and rich musical history, the Responsorial Chant was initially just a sentence, with the music left to composers and publishers.
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The Responsorial Psalm
The Gradual, on the other hand, is one of the responsorial chants of the Mass, with roots in early Christian traditions of singing choral refrains between psalm verses. It is considered the oldest of the chants of the Proper of the Mass. The term "Gradual" also refers to certain books compiling the musical items of the Mass, including both the Ordinary and Proper.
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The Gradual Chant
The Gradual is one of the oldest chants of the Proper of the Mass, dating back to the mid-fourth century. It is believed to have originated from early Christian traditions of singing choral refrains called "responds" between psalm verses. The Gradual always consists of two psalm verses, usually taken from the same psalm, although some Graduals use books of scripture other than the Psalms. The Gradual is typically sung by a choir or cantor, and may be elaborate or simple in its musical setting.
In the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Responsorial Psalm often takes the place of the Gradual and is sung after the first reading. This replacement occurred with the promulgation of the new Mass in 1969/1970. The Responsorial Psalm was introduced as a way to create texts that could be more easily sung by the congregation and translated into vernacular languages. While the Responsorial Psalm is not required, it is rarely replaced with the Gradual outside of monasteries.
The Graduale Romanum is the official book of music for the Roman Rite that contains the Gradual chant. Some have expressed a desire to return to the use of the Graduale, as found in the Graduale Romanum, instead of the Responsorial Psalm, in order to restore the beauty and tradition of the Mass.
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The Gradual Psalm
The Gradual is typically sung after the reading of the Epistle and followed by the Alleluia or Tract. However, during certain seasons, such as Lent, with additional readings, the Gradual may be separated by another reading or replaced entirely. In the Tridentine Mass, the celebrant reads the Gradual along with the Alleluia, Tract, or Sequence immediately after the Epistle.
The Gradual has a long history in Christian liturgy, dating back to the mid-fourth century. It is considered the oldest of the chants of the Proper of the Mass, with roots in early Christian traditions of singing choral refrains between psalm verses. The Gradual was originally sung in its entirety, but over time, it evolved into a more ornate and shortened version, often performed by soloists or choirs.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Responsorial Psalm was introduced as an alternative to the Gradual, with the goal of creating texts that were more easily sung by the congregation. This change was implemented in the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, resulting in the Gradual being rarely used outside of monasteries. However, the Gradual remains significant, and there have been efforts to re-introduce it in Vatican liturgical events.
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The Graduale Romanum
The Roman Gradual is arranged into eight major sections, including chants occurring in the order of Mass, such as the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. The Gradual is a chant or hymn in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church and among some other Christians. It is sung after the reading or chanting of the Epistle and before the Alleluia, or, during penitential seasons, before the Tract. The modern Gradual always consists of two psalm verses, generally taken from the same psalm.
The Gradual is believed to have been so named because it was sung on the step (gradus, in Latin) of the altar, or because the deacon was mounting the steps of the ambo for the reading or singing of the Gospel. Early sources, however, use the form gradale ("graded" or "distinguished"), and the term antiphona gradalis is used for the Introit in the Alia Musica (c. 900).
In the Tridentine Mass, the Gradual corresponds to the Responsorial Psalm. There is the option to replace this psalm with the gradual, but its use is extremely rare outside monasteries. The Gradual, like the Alleluia and Tract, is one of the responsorial chants of the Mass, which derive from early Christian traditions of singing choral refrains called responds between psalm verses. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Gradual is the oldest of the chants of the Proper of the Mass and, in contrast to the Introit, Offertory, and Communion, the only one that was not sung.
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Frequently asked questions
The Responsorial Graduale, or Gradual, is a responsorial chant or hymn in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church.
The Responsorial Graduale is believed to have been sung on the step of the altar, or as the deacon mounted the steps for the reading of the Gospel. The term comes from the Latin "gradus", meaning "step". The Responsorial Graduale dates back to the mid-fourth century, representing the oldest regular liturgical use of psalmody in the eucharistic liturgy.
The Responsorial Graduale is a chant or hymn that is part of the Proper of the Mass. The Responsorial Psalm is a more recent innovation, introduced in 1969/1970, that is found in the Lectionary. The Responsorial Psalm is not required, but it may replace the Responsorial Graduale.
