The First Sunday of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ … both at Christmas and at the end of time. The opening hymn #414 “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns” looks forward to Jesus crowned in glory at the end of time. The cantor and the congregation turn to Jesus in Psalm #993 “To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul” and joyfully announce the coming of the King in preparation hymn “Soon and Very Soon” (#865). The Liturgy of the Eucharist will be found in the Mass of Light, starting with #361 Holy, Holy, Holy. Through the Communion hymn we ask God to be with us in “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (#395), while at the end of today’s service, we share the joy of the coming of our Lord with hymn #409 “People, Look East.”
What is the Cantor’s role in the Liturgy? “The cantor (Latin for “singer”) proclaims the Psalm and may also sing the Gospel Acclamation and verse, key roles dependent on musical training and good diction. The cantor also acts as a song leader for the congregation when the choir is not present” (Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2007)).