Thank you for your counsel, which has helped me and many others minister to the People of God. I have a small family in my parish preparing to enter the Catholic Church. They consist of a husband, his wife, her son from a previous marriage (over age seven, younger than 18), and the husband and wife’s two children born from their marriage (younger than seven). The wife is already baptized; her husband and son from her previous marriage have yet to be baptized and have been in the catechumenate for over a calendar year. The two younger children have also …

Regarding this post, https://paulturner.org/vestments-3/, I found this link:  https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/orientchurch/Istruzione/pdf/istruzione_inglese.pdf. In the Instructions for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canon Law of the Eastern Churches, section 68 states, “The liturgical vestments and bread from the particular rite are to be used.” The Dicastery clarifies that the provision to use the vestments or bread of another Church sui iuris (CCEO c. 707 §2) is given for exceptional cases (e.g., impossibility of procuring the vestments). == Thank you very much for this helpful information.

Q: Who, perhaps, penned this ‘unspoken’ prayer? I pray it silently as the deacon does.  At daily mass, if there is no music or singing, I pray it aloud.   “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” Sounds like Irenaeus.   == A: The prayer is so old that its author is unknown, but many guess that Pope Leo the Great wrote it, as it aligns with his Christmas homily messages. I generally pray it silently as the missal requests. It’s one of many …

Q: Two versions of the Apostolic Pardon are found in the Rite of Pastoral Care and Anointing of the Sick.  Version A is: “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come.  May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.” Version B is as follows: “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, …

Q: At both of my parishes, we have been purifying the Altar cloths as we should (i.e. soak them in water for minimally 20 minutes, wring out the cloths, pour the used water on the ground in a spot with no foot traffic, and wash the cloths like normal in a sink or washing machine).  At one church, no one is around there between Monday – Thursday. We are wanting to soak the cloths immediately after Mass ends on Sunday, but no one would be around to pick them up/handle them appropriately for Monday – Thursday. Is there any option for us to …

Q: Is there a standard for the type of wine to be used at Mass? Is a “jug” wine acceptable? This is for a low income, struggling  parish. == A: See Redemptionis Sacramentum 50:  https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html And this letter:  https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20170615_lettera-su-pane-vino-eucaristia_en.html For questions of validity, please consult a canonist, but most people I know worry that jug wine has additives that alter its properties. It needs to be wine made only from grapes.

Q: Last November, I and a couple of my team members joined the webinar —- “Ritual Celebration Series-Order of Christian Funerals” hosted by the Diocese of Orlando. All the members of the team including myself found it to be very informative. There is one question that came up at a meeting that I would like to address: Can an open casket viewing be held inside the sanctuary prior to the Celebration of Life? I look forward to hearing back from you on what is allowed regarding a viewing at the church, thank you! Have a blessed and relaxing day. == A: Around here, …

Q: May I know whether ICEL has intentions of composing or updating the Eucharistic Prayers for Children? If so, is it in the process and soon to be ready? If not, I would presume that the four Eucharistic Prayers for Children are still valid? Thank you for all the good work and patience in answering all our queries. == A: An updated translation was approved by the USCCB in 2011.  https://catholicbookpublishing.com/products/eucharistic-prayers-for-masses-with-children-red ICEL began a process of retranslating all of them, but abandoned it after the commission learned that the CDWDS would not include the prayers in the English translation of …

Q: I hope you are doing well these days. I have a question about the reception of holy communion. It is a big divide these days in our diocese, and I guess in many places in this country.  One religious community, who work and minister in some parishes in the see city, in general suggest that one should receive on the tongue (as opposed on the hand), and they seem to insist on that and seem to impose it too—though they’d say that reception on the tongue prevents abuses of the sacrament.   I check the USCCB website. But what …

Q: Reaching out since my wife and I are preparing for the Baptism of our first child in a couple of weeks, and everything seems to be set for the liturgy!  My only question comes after reading one of your posts on the Litany of the Saints from a few years ago. I saw that the Order of Baptism for One Child suggests, “It is good to add the names of other Saints, especially the Patron Saint of the child or of the church…”  With that, my daughter is named for St. Helena and the church is named for St. Patrick, so …