Q: I remember a conversation I had when I was in the seminary with a seminarian from another diocese that his bishop will wear a deacon stole for the foot washing on Holy Thursday. The purpose being the connection of service with the diaconate and that every priest and bishop is still a deacon. In a brief search I could not find anything on this. I’m wondering if you have any insight. Is this just for a bishop? Can priests do it? If so, would you even recommend doing it? Thanks for the help and for this wonderful blog! Blessings …
Concecration of altars
Q: I have been reading a number of canonical texts and older legislation regarding the consecration of altars. I saw in some of these writings a passing reference to the practice of placing 3 grains of incense in the reliquary, along with the relics and parchment of authentication before it was sealed in wax. Are you aware of the reason behind this practice of placing grains of incense with the relics? == A: I ran across something like this while I was writing my book New Church, New Altar. https://litpress.org/Products/6659/New-Church-New-Altar I make a reference there to the 9th century Roman Ordo …
Collect addressed to Christ
Q: Fr. Paul, I wondered if the opening words of the Collect for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord might actually be in error. The prayer is addressed to God, but goes on to refer to the memorial of “your Passion”, and “your Body and Blood”. Finally, the words at the end read “Who live and reign with God the Father”. Although the Collect normally is directed to God the Father, and certainly we believe in the full divinity of Jesus and can refer to him as God, why didn’t the translators simply begin …
Non-liturgical prayer
Q: Teachers in Catholic and public schools thankfully and skillfully design and lead a range of prayer services and rituals for students, including one for National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week in Australia. At times these occasions are liturgies.At other times they are prayerful moments, such as a weekly staffroom prayer. Please outline a simple check list for teachers, and others to ensure that what they they are designing and leading is actually liturgy, and not simply a prayer service or ritual celebration. For example, the Liturgy of the Hours is structured, public worship, in the name of the Catholic …
Betrothed
Q: Blessings to you! This is not urgent: but an inquiry regarding an antiphon from the Liturgy of the Hours: For the Solemnity of the Annunciation, morning prayer, 1st antiphon (I’ve long noticed this every year) it states “The angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary, who was engaged to be married to Joseph”. Not only is this a terrible translation, it’s simply untrue, and I’ve seen it give rise to theological error and the common belief among the faithful that Mary was an unwed mother. Is there any explanation for this serious oversight of the English translation (I …
Administering confirmation
Q: I’ll be receiving someone into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church at Mass on a Sunday in Ordinary Time. Do I wear green or red because I’m administering confirmation? == A: You wear green. RCIA 487 says that you celebrate the Mass of the day, so you take the presidential prayers, readings and vestment color of the Sunday. It’s a rare instance when you administer confirmation wearing green.
Funeral on a feast day
Q: A family in our parish wants to schedule a funeral on May 31, which is a feast day. Which readings do they get to replace? == A: All of them. The funeral Mass outranks feasts (GIRM 380).
Kneeling for communion
Q: Fr. Turner in a Post-Covid world I have seen a number of people receive the Precious Blood while kneeling. Is there a general policy about this? From a practical side it makes me nervous to see our Extraordinary Ministers pass the chalice to a kneeling parishioner but I don’t want to prohibit something if is permitted. Thank you. == A: The norms for posture at communion time may change from one conference of bishops to another, according to GIRM 160. “The norm established for the Dioceses of the United States of America is that Holy Communion is to be …
Former Altar
Q: What is the regulation on “set up” for former altars against the back wall, behind the present free-standing altar? Often these are in use for their tabernacle. Often they have 6 candles and a crucifix. == A: GIRM 117 says that candles are to be placed “on or next to the altar.” It gives no other location for candles, apart from processions. I know it’s customary to see candles set in place at the ambo and by the tabernacle, but the GIRM envisions them connected only to the altar of sacrifice for the Mass.
Lace albs and fiddleback vestments
Q: Recently I attended a Mass in a city distant from where I live and minister. The aspects about the Mass that most struck me were prevalence of lace albs and the near absence of congregational singing. I have a question related to each of these: 1. The albs: is there anything about albs that are made of lace at their lower sleeves and below the waist that is objectively unacceptable to Liturgical principles and counter the renewal of the Liturgy from Vatican II? I associate the style with a certain ecclesiology and with a rejection of the council and …