The information contained here is taken from “Let us Pray: A Guide to the Rubrics of Sunday Mass” by Paul Turner. It is a great source on liturgy.
According to the GIRM 80, in the communion rite, the Body and Blood of Christ are “received as spiritual food” by the faithful.
The Lord’s Prayer This rite begins with The Lord’s Prayer. It may be chanted if the celebrant’s introduction is chanted. If the Lord’s Prayer is chanted, than the embolism—“Deliver us, Lord we pray from every evil…”, and acclamation by the people should also be chanted. There is no mention of gestures by the assembly during the praying of the Lord’s Prayer.
Sign of Peace Singing is encouraged for dialogues between the priest and the people (GIRM 40). The faithful are to offer peace “only to those who are nearest” and “in a sober manner” (GIRM 82). The exchange should be done with no musical accompaniment of any kind.
Breaking Bread While the bread is broken, the
Lamb of God is sung or recited (GIRM 83, 155). The Lamb of God at the Cathedral is led by the cantor and when a cantor is not present, by the priest himself or a designated lay person or deacon.
Communion Chant The music begins with the priest’s Communion (GIRM 86, 159). That is after the words, “Lord, I am not worthy”. This is to remind the assembly that the priest also is a communicant as we all share in the banquet of the Lord. In the absence of music, the cantor, deacon or lay person can lead in reciting the communion antiphon. On some occasions, this antiphon is sung and may include antiphons and psalms from
The Graduale Simplex. Music continues throughout the communion procession.
The purpose of the communion rite is to “express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the ‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the Eucharist.” (GIRM 86).
A brief period of silence is observed as the celebrant returns to his chair. In some circumstances, a song of praise can be sung involving the congregation.
The rite concludes with the “Prayer after Communion”.