Paul Turner

Q: Good morning, and thank you for all you do to make our Liturgies more prayerful and understandable to the […]

Q: On your March 11 post, you said that the church does not require the presence of a body for

Q: A question was presented to me about the deacon and posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. The GIRM, no 179,

Q: I watched your Sacred Oil video and had a question. We were told to provide Clorox wipes for the

Q: Is there any guidance from the church on how the humeral veil should be placed on the priest? Can

Q: The Solemnity of the Annunciation falls on a Thursday this year. This parish (which happens to be named “Annunciation”)

Q: In the unusual circumstance when a Catholic parish hosts a funeral for a non-Catholic, may the priest mention the

Q: This is a Question about a young girl and first penance. We have a grade 2 girl who chooses

Q: The 1973 liturgical book “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass” has a minister end

Q: When the Holy Holy Holy is spoken (at daily Mass, for example), where do you think it’s best to

Q: My (sad and angry) question comes from the experience day after day of reading collects and other presidential prayers

Q: I have been a deacon for a few years now and have attended many Masses in different parishes in

Q: I’m searching for the basic fault in the way I have understood the basic source a deacon uses when

Q: Will you settle a discussion in our Lenten small group. Are Sundays part of Lent? One member wrote this:

Q: Thank you so much for your insights and responses on liturgical questions. The question I have is on a

Q: We are using the Confiteor for all the Sundays of Lent. It always seemed strange to me that we

Q: The anniversary of the dedication of our parish church is March 21, which falls on the Fifth Sunday of

Q: Through unusual circumstances, we have a wedding coming up that will be on a Sunday. What readings can you

Q: I have question about baptism during Lent: Outside of emergency situations, Can a baptism be done during Lent?  The

Q: We have presbyteral ordinations scheduled this coming April and May.  How can we conduct the laying on of hands

Q: I read your pod frequently and share them with the priests and deacons at the parish. During Covid 19,

Q: Two questions related to the translation of the Agnus Dei.  1. The Latin has “peccata mundi” – which is plural;

Q: I noticed that in the Book of Blessings liturgy for distribution of ashes there is no dismissal. Is that

Q: I have been trying to help my volunteers understand the history of the Church.  I am amazed at how

Q: What do you think of the practice of the Prayers of the Faithful being read from the pews, from

Q: Are the inserts for the Eucharistic Prayer used ONLY when the Ritual Mass is celebrated… or whenever the sacrament

Q: Thanks for your guidance in matters liturgical. I’m familiar with the directive in GIRM 313 that, with the exceptions

Q: Do we have to change the translation of the end of the “Glory to God in the Highest,” which

Q: I want to thank you for being an invaluable liturgical resource, Your advice is very appreciated. My question is,

Q: I’m a deacon and I have two questions about baptism: One of my parishioners wants me to baptize her

Q: I have a wedding this weekend and the couple wants the Nuptial Blessing sung. Is a cantor allowed to

Q: A priest in our diocese asked me the following question: “What should concelebrants do with their arms during the

Q: Thank you for continuing to write on all things liturgical. I get your blog posts when the questions are

Q: As you know, the doxology at the end of the collects in the Missal was originally to have been

Q: The Covid pandemic has resulted in restrictions on Masses and other celebrations. Masses online have been ongoing. My question

Q: I am sorry to bother you. We are working on a funeral for a founding member of our parish.

Q: Do you know of anything that would prohibit a church dedicated to the name of St. Paul to celebrate

Q: Thanks very much for taking the time to respond.  I appreciate your insights!  Two follow-up questions, if I may

Q: 1) Regarding a parish church’s titular solemnity: How widely is this celebrated in the parish? – By a priest

Q: Thanks for your great work. I hope that you are well.  You rarely nod – but we don’t use

Q: Our parish dedication anniversary falls during Lent this year. It’s a solemnity. Do we include the Gloria and the

Q: What advice can you give about the upcoming celebration of Ash Wednesday at the hospitals? One priest chaplain says

Q: I found your blog about praying for the President by name very interesting. I agree with you. I remembered

Q: An interesting issue from this topic is that in Australia, as a result of the Royal Commission into Institutional

Q: I observe a gulf between what the liturgical books say about Instituted Lectors and what happens in practice. 1981

Q: For the Deacon presiding over the ceremony at the cremation place, does the deacon extend his hands after “Let

Q: For a funeral and wedding during the Lent Season, are we allowed to have flowers in the church for

Q: I have someone (candidate) inquiring to be in full communion with the church. She is ready to start formation

Q: Thanks for being here for a new year. Is it acceptable to include devotions to St Joseph during Exposition

Q: Pope Francis admitted women to the ministries of lector and acolyte by means of a motu proprio—a statement on his

Q: Why are there two tiers of ministers? Deputed readers and communion ministers versus instituted lectors and acolytes? Why isn’t

Q: In Eucharistic Prayer I, # 85, the “Commemoration of the Living,” the text has the priest praying for people

Q: Why is the pope allowing women to serve as lectors and acolytes? Are women not able to observe, imitate

Q: Pope Francis is now allowing women to be instituted as lectors and acolytes. I’m not quite clear how this

Q: Just a slight suggested modification to your answer on ‘deputing.’  You wrote that only bishops can institute an acolyte.

Q: Is it proper to pray for the President  of the United by name in the General Intercessions or in

Q: If a person is instituted an acolyte in one diocese, are they an acolyte in other dioceses? == A:

Q: Thanks again for your time last week. The Ministry Monday episode has now been released. You can listen in

Q: When our parish celebrates the solemnity of the anniversary of the dedication of our church, does it affect how

Q: I have almost all your books so I just ordered Ars Celebrandi a few minutes ago.  I realize that your book

Q: How did the custom of signing ashes on the forehead for Ash Wednesday become dominant in English-speaking countries, while

Q: Is it against liturgical law for a priest to bless holy water but have a lay person do the

Q: Is it the case that in any sacramental situation that calls for the priest to lay hands on those

Q: Is it possible to have a rabbi present at the Catholic wedding ceremony and to have them do some

Q: You recommend sprinkling ashes on the crown if the head.  Isn’t one of the purposes of the ashes an outward

Q: Fraternal greetings from ‘down under.’ I received the blurb from Lit Press for your new book re Stations …

Q: The Book of Blessings 1635 implies that the blessing comes at the end of the universal prayer, just as

Q: What are you recommending for blessing of throats and ashes this year of the pandemic? == A: I’m recommending

Q: The app I’m using for Mass says that there’s a creed throughout the weekdays of the octave of Christmas.

Q: Please give me an explanation of the Epiphany Proclamation and according to your opinion, should we do that at

Q: I am checking to see which book is now current for funerals.  I saw in our sacristy a red

Q: As always, thank you  for direction. What is the position of Rome on the placement of national flags inside

Q: Advent Greetings, Paul. Which suppliers stock your books in Australia ? == A: Thanks for asking. I write for

 Q: I am an RCIA candidate and desire very much to enter into full communion with The Church. To that end,

Q: Could a person who is not Catholic come to confession and have his confession heard? == A: If he

Q: Greetings from Down Under! The Advent wreaths in many parishes have three purple candles that are lit on the

Q: I am looking for any compelling documentation/research/insights beyond the Canons and the RCIA that would help Catholic School principals

Q: There are three possible memorial acclamations after the consecration at Mass. Are these connected to the liturgical year or

Q: Thanks for your insights! Hope you are staying well. When an unbaptized Inquirer misses the Rite of Welcoming, can

Q: When is the appropriate time to toll a bell for a funeral held at the church – just before

Q: In a follow up to your other Pall question, I understand the early use was to keep bugs and

Q: I had a question about baptism. Can two unbaptized non-Catholics have their child baptized in the Catholic faith?   This

Q: Why do we call the cloth covered square we place over the chalice a pall? I was looking at

Q: Are lay Communion ministers allowed to self communicate? == A: They are not allowed to self-communicate at Mass. But

Q: Hope you are well. One of the students asked the following in class today.    The solemn blessing at the end

Q: We have a same sex couple in our parish who have adopted a child. Can we baptize that baby?

Q: Is it appropriate to chant the Litany of Loretto during mass and if so, when and at what part

Q: Sorry to bother… but I am teaching a class and a question came up….  I know that we don’t

Q: You never seem to slow down, even during a pandemic! I have a question – really it is coming

Q: Thank you again for your guidance and liturgical advice.  You are a blessing! With regards to the term “Solemn

Q: Fr. Paul, recently, the secretary of a parish where they regularly list the Mass intentions for each Mass in

Q: I hope you’re doing well. I am sorry to bother you, but I thought you may know the answer

Q: We have a funeral for a priest this week and my question is whether we are required to offer

Q: Thanks again for your wisdom. Please confirm the number of swings of the thurible before the monstrance at benediction,

Q: Many parishes have some sort of children’s program at or even during one of the Christmas Eve masses –

Q: I am a cantor at a local church. They regularly play military anthems on the PA before Mass and

Q: It looks like the Sign of the Cross is omitted when beginning the Order of Conferral of Confirmation outside

Q: Would it be liturgically okay to celebrate the Christmas Eve, December 24 at 3:00 PM? if not, should we

Q: Can a non-Catholic baptized Christian have a Catholic funeral if the rest of the family is Catholic?  For example,

Q: We have a 15-year old preparing for confirmation. He’s been going to confession and communion since about the age