Crossword Genius

Friend leading Mass including second devotional song (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

psalm

'devotional song' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'friend leading mass including second' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal is a kind of friend**).
'leading' indicates taking the first letters.
'including' indicates putting letters inside.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
The initial letter of 'mass' is 'm'.
'pal'+'m'='palm'
'palm' placed around 's' is 'PSALM'.

(Other definitions for psalm that I've seen before include "A song which praises" , "Sacred song from Old Testament" , "Sacred song of praise" , "Jewish hymn" , "What's heard in church" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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