Q: I look forward to and enjoy your blog postings. I am a permanent deacon. During my formation we were taught that the sacrament of Infant Baptism should only be celebrated once on a Sunday except for extenuating circumstances. I believe it was a theological consideration (not Canon Law) to emphasize the communal aspect of the sacrament. That has been our practice until recently. Recently our new pastoral associate has started scheduling baptism at multiple times on a Sunday. For example 8:00 am Mass, 11 am Mass, and then at 12:30 outside of Mass. Do you know if we should be …
Leading a Communion Service
Q: Thank you for this ministry! Is it correct for a properly instituted Acolyte to wear their Acolyte vestments while solely leading a Holy Communion Service (weekday) in the Church Sanctuary? == A: Yes, that would be fine. The Liturgy of the Hours restricts usage of the presider’s chair to the priest or deacon, and asks others who lead to remain in the body of the church as “one among equals” (GILH 256 and 258). But I don’t see any such distinction for a service of holy communion outside Mass. At church, the minister needs access to the tabernacle and …
Entrance antiphons
Q: Our pastor has asked that we sing the entrance antiphons from the Roman Missal as our processional. He’s implied that the Church prefers that to a processional song. It becomes further complicated since the entrance antiphons from the Roman Missal aren’t always the same as the ones from the Roman Gradual. At least not that I can find. Could you help me clarify that this is indeed the Church’s position? If not, what document(s) could I reference that indicate that a processional song is acceptable? Is there a resource for scored entrance antiphons from the Roman Gradual? == A: GIRM 48 gives …
Celebrating a Saint on Sunday
Q: This year I suggested to my pastor that we celebrate our patroness (Oct.1-St. Therese of Lisieux) on Sunday as permitted by #58 in the Universal Norms on the Calendar in RM. It does continue to say that “The Mass of such celebrations may be used at all celebrations…” Does “may be used” imply that it is optional to use the readings prescribed for the Saint? May the pastor choose to use the prescribed Sunday readings instead? I’m a bit uncertain because in the GIRM #353, “On Solemnities the Priest is obliged to follow the Calendar of the church where …
Patronal Feast
Q: In the Philippines, the Patronal Feast of the church/parish is a big feast. It is happily celebrated as a Solemnity in that particular parish church. And with the Filipinos penchant for exuberance and fiestas, the feast day of the patron is indeed a big solemnity both liturgical and outside the liturgy. It is also one of the rare occasions that the Bishop comes to visit the parish and celebrate Mass for the parishioners. Newly renovated churches and some newly established parishes schedule the dedication of their churches on the same day of their patron’s feast. I believe, in the …
Relics at the procession
Q: If there is a relic at the dedication of a church and altar, the deacons (or priests) who carry the relics at the procession wears red vestments, if the saint was a martyr. Do they have to change vestments for the Mass? Or will the priests concelebrate in red? I have seen the video of the dedication of St. Michael Abbey Church in California. The abbots wore red copes? What do you think about that? It seemed legitimate to me because they are in procession. == A: The only mention of red vesture for the deacons or priests …
GILH number 35
Q: Hello Father Paul! I would just like to have a clarification on how to better understand GILH number 35: “The invitatory should begin the whole sequence of daily prayer; thus it begins Lauds or the Office of Readings depending on which of these liturgical actions begins the day. If so desired, however, the psalm with its antiphon may be omitted when it comes before Lauds.” 1. If someone bound to recite all the hours wakes up or finds the time only to do so already for midday or (let’s just push it further to the extreme) evening prayer (he …
Order of Dedication
Q: Thank you for your dedication and commitment to assist us to have a full, conscious and active in the liturgy by allowing us to understand better what we do in Liturgical Celebrations. I am at present preparing for the Dedication of a Church in our diocese. I am looking at the Order of Dedication and I noticed that there is no explicit mention of beginning the celebration with the Sign of the Cross. I have learned that in the Order of Baptism, it does not begin with the Sign of the Cross, thus it is not done at the …
Diamond anniversary
Q: Greetings, Fr Paul. What would be possible liturgically for a Parish celebration of a diamond anniversary of the church building which was not, and never will be, consecrated as it was not thought of as permanent ? However, there was a foundation stone blessed at the time, still in place. It is not the diamond anniversary of the parish as a community of faith – that happened a few years ago. == A: It would be appropriate to offer a Mass for Various Needs and Occasions when the calendar permits it. You could choose one of the first ones …
Confirmation
Q: We recently welcomed four adults into the Catholic Church. We learned shortly before the ceremony that one of them had been baptized Catholic. So we conducted the rite of reception for the other three, and then included the Catholic in the confirmations. All received their first communion later at the Mass. Did we do it right? == A: Yes, IF IF IF IF IF the priest got the bishop’s permission to confirm the Catholic. The priest may not confirm a Catholic on his own authority outside of emergency situations.