Q: I just got a question from a youth minister about a Confirmation happening on 6/27/25. That day is the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The YM was told by the parish Sacristan that no decorations that symbolize the Holy Spirit can be used on that day. First, is that true? Second, where does one find information like this?== A: No, there are no rules forbidding decorations pertaining to the Holy Spirit for a confirmation that takes place during a Mass on the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. GIRM 372 says Ritual Masses are …
Marriage vow
Q: I received this email from a priest in our diocese: “A couple are applying to be married in the Church. He is Hindu, she is Catholic. The Hindu party is firm in his beliefs – he is very definitely not Christian and appears to have no desire to be one anytime soon. He is comfortable in not preventing his prospective spouse for exposing the children to the Catholic faith, but he has made it clear that he will also expose them to Hinduism and whatever other faiths the children may wish to investigate. So, he is comfortable with signing the pre-marriage …
Sanctus Procession – Updated
Q: As a Canadian, I intended to follow Pope Francis’ “pilgrimage of penance”. The question I have is about the procession that occurred in front of the altar after the singing of the Sanctus. I expect it is a throwback to a pre-Vatican II liturgy, but having no memory of those liturgies (I was born late in 1959) I really have no idea. I’m sending a video link. Would you be able to explain this procession to me? Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. Peace of Christ. == A: I watched the link you sent. What looks …
Questions from down under
Someone in the wilderness from down under would like to ask a question. The solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord is being celebrated tomorrow. Being a liturgy of the Word with Communion led by a deacon, is it appropriate to have any incense? My instinct is no? On another note, an an acolyte in the absence of a priest deacon lead benediction and incense the blessed Sacrament in the Monstrace. What happens to conclude Benediction given acolytes can’t offer a formal blessing? == A: I’d probably be OK to use incense at the proclamation of the gospel at a …
Order of reception into the Catholic church within mass
Q: I am confused with #s 493-495 in the revised edition of Initiation of Adults. When a person is being received into full communion and being confirmed, when does the celebrant say: “…the Lord receives you into the Catholic Church….etc.” (#492)? After the candidate makes his profession of faith? (#491) Or after the candidate is confirmed? #495) == A: The wording is confusing there. The formula of reception (492) immediately follows the profession of faith (491). A priest cannot confirm someone who is not a Catholic. The act of reception (492) makes the person a member of the Catholic Church. …
Head bow
Q: I agree with what you wrote in your post of 21 May 2025: “The GILH never gives any instructions for a change in posture at the “Glory to the Father”. I commonly see people bow, but that is by custom, not law.” However, I sing the psalms and use the sung doxologies in the 1963 book “The Psalms: A New Translation Singing Version”. This has the Grail Psalms, used in the Divine Office, which is used in Australia and other countries. Some doxologies include the name “Jesus” for example: “Give praise to the Father Almighty, to his Son, Jesus …
Ad orientum
Q: Just got back from a diaconate ordination and something different took place that I want to ask about. During the Litany of the Saints (and a couple other times) the Archbishop and assistants turned “ad orientum”… however there is no tabernacle or cross or old altar that they were facing. Just a semi-wall with cathedra and sculptured insignia. The tabernacle, though large and visible, is a significant distance (about 3 sections of pews) to the left of the sanctuary and recessed back from the main body. Is “ad orientum” simply a posture of “facing symbolic East” no matter where …
GIRM
Q: Sometimes the General Instruction of the Roman Missal seems to require different things in different places. Three examples are the altar cross, purification at the credence table and the Gospel Book in the entrance procession. GIRM 117, says “on the altar or close to it, there is to be a cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified”. But GIRM 277 has: “The cross, if situated on the altar or near it, is incensed by the Priest before he incenses the altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes in front of it.” GIRM 279 has: “The sacred vessels …
Psalmody
Q: In the case of lauds or vespers joined to Mass, since the psalmody replaces the penitential act, is it necessary for the priest, at the end of the psalmody to recite the absolution like during the Mass: “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life”? == A: No, that absolution is part of the penitential act that is omitted.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Q: The Missal recommends that the priest can briefly introduce the Eucharistic Prayer, before the dialogue of the preface, but not during the prayer. (GIRM 31). Can this be the appropriate time for the celebrant to express the particular intentions for which the Mass is being applied? == A: I generally include the Mass intention as the final petition of the Universal Prayer. The purpose of the introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer in GIRM 31 is to list reasons for giving thanks.