Q: Are Advent wreath candles to be lit for liturgies only (as are altar candles), or do they belong to the marking of time outside the ritual events as well? == A: We have no governing rule on this. The blessing of an Advent wreath can be found in Chapter 47 of the Book of Blessings. It tells how to bless the wreath at Mass, and when to light candles on subsequent Sundays at Mass, so it expects that the candles will burn at least for Mass. But it is silent about other ritual events. As this is a home …
Individual benedictions
Q: We are putting together another Confirmation retreat. A question popped up regarding Adoration and Benediction from one of our Confirmation coordinators: “During Adoration, each person could either come forward to receive a personal blessing from Jesus exposed in the monstrance, or the priest could process around the Church to bless each person.” By this “blessing” this person mentions, she means Benediction. Looking at the new “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside of Mass” book, the closest guidance I can find connected to this multiple Benediction question is from paragraph #104 in the section on Eucharstic Processions as it states: …
Dedication anniversary
Q: I am working at a parish that celebrated the dedication of its new church this year on April 6. ( Easter fell on March 31 in 2024 so the dedication took place on the Saturday within the Octave of Easter.) Of course, April 6 would normally occur during Lent or the Easter season so the anniversary could not be celebrated on or near its actual date. I think I remember reading that the alternative date would be the Sunday before All Saints’ Day (October 26 in 2025, the 30th Sunday in OT). That makes some sense, although in reality, …
Consecrated Hosts
Q: Hello Father. Perhaps you have already addressed this question, but I cannot find it in my saved files. But when dealing with the consecrated Hosts out of the tabernacle what is the legislative rules governing who should be allowed to obtain the Blessed Hosts for the purpose of giving communion to the sick and home bound? I assume a priest, deacon and EME, but some question if the EME should be allowed to perform this. Thank you for your help. Happy Holidays Father. == A: The revised translation of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery is now …
Ringing the Bells
Q: I pray you are well. I read your article in the “Priest” blog regarding “Ringing the Bells”. I am deacon. The parish where I have been assigned has a new pastor who has decided to bring ringing the bells during consecration to our church. For some background, the parish is only 35 years old and I have been a parishioner there with my family the whole time. We have never had bells for consecration. Our founding pastor was against them for the reason you described in your article. Also, he was forward thinking and believed that the bells were …
Funeral Rites
Q: I am enquiring whether the new Edition of Funeral Rites For Roman Pontiff 2024. which was recently released and approved by Vatican, is in the Jerusalem Bible or New Jerusalem Bible version. Thank you always for paying attention with all our enquiries. == A: That book pertains to the funeral of a pope, not to funerals at parishes in the English-speaking world. At papal funerals, the readings may be proclaimed in several languages. In parishes, you use the translation approved by the conference of bishops.
Initiation outside Easter Vigil
Q: Is permission of the bishop required for initiation outside the Easter Vigil. We have a 13 year old with autism in our “special needs” religious formation program. He is easily overwhelmed by sensory overload. There is some question, considering the length of the vigil, as to whether it will be difficult for him to reamain undisturbed by the length and celebration, making it difficult and uncomfortable for him.— A: RCIA 34 §2 gives the bishop authority to determine whether and when adult initiation may be celebrated apart from the Easter Vigil. I suggest you check with your bishop’s office. …
Assembly participation – updated
Q: I’ve wondered recently what a parish can do to enhance Assembly participation at weddings and funerals. I realize that, most of the time, the Assembly is composed of Catholics and non-Catholics on these occasions, but even when the church is full of Catholics for a wedding or a funeral, it seems that the level of Assembly participation is diminished: muted responses and singing, hesitation with posture changes. I’m sure the difference in the ritual creates some uncertainty among well-practiced Catholics. And I honestly like the thought that an Assembly who are familiar with each other and who pray together …
Remaining hosts
Q: Father, this has been a topic at our parish Worship committee meetings. Should consecrated hosts that were not distributed by EMHCs during the Mass be returned to the altar to be re-packed into a ciborium by the deacon or priest and then taken to the tabernacle; or can those undistributed consecrated hosts be returned directly to the tabernacle and placed in the ciborium there? Thanks in advance. == A: GIRM 163 just says that he either consumes the hosts at the altar or carries them to the place designated for reservation. It doesn’t say where to combine the remaining …
Anointing
Q: A couple times a year we have been in the habit of celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick during a Sunday Mass. I read the rite for celebrating during Mass and it left me with more questions than answers. It gave guidance as to when not to celebrate the Anointing, which I get. Then the outline of the liturgy says it include a penitential rite, but no Gloria. It would seem to me that on a Sunday in Ordinary Time, when this is permitted a Gloria should be included. It also includes a litany, which I …