Q: Hello, Fr Paul. I have a couple of questions re Palm Sunday described in your book, “Glory in the […]

Q: I received the following from a fellow deacon- At Palm Sunday gospel I take the part of Jesus, we

Q: In our parish, the paschal candle, outside of Eastertide, stands next to the baptismal font. When should that paschal

Q: Another OCIA question. I’ve looked at the OCIA book at the Ephphatha Rite, trying to understand #104-105 and the options

Q: We know that GIRM forbids flowers during the Lenten Season with exception of feasts and Laetare Sunday.  Here in

Q: A brother seminarian inquired whether a 3-month Memorial Mass for his uncle can be celebrated (with a Mass for

Q: One of my great honors is the proclamation of the Gospel and the subsequent reverencing of the Book of

Q: The matter of holding the Sacrament of Reconciliation in church WHILE Mass is being celebrated. I presume that many of us

Q: May the Chrism Mass be celebrated on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph? It seems that would pose

You may already be aware but all those things you mentioned in the post about Catholics sitting at the back,

Q: Is it permissible for a woman to participate in the reading of the Gospel of the Passion of the

Q: Greetings, deacons in my diocese use a white stole with the diocesan coat of arms as the “Diocesan Stole.”  We

Q: When anointing the Catechumen with oil is it always placed on the hands or is that just a preferred

Q: I have a question about the Scrutinies in the OCIA.    The rite indicates in #156 that after the dismissal

I read with interest the blog entry on “Old Books” concerning the disposal of old, liturgical books. The USCCB’s Committee

Q: I’ve noticed that some priests are leaving the corporal on the altar after Mass. Obviously, I think this is

Q:  During the Lamb of God, I’ve noticed some priests fracturing the bread, then praying the silent prayer (bowing profoundly),

Q: There are 6 “Feasts of the Lord”: Apparently, Feasts of the Lord (#5) are ranked above OT Sundays (#6).

Q: Should our Abbey celebrate the Anniversary of our Cathedral’s Dedication? One monk proposes: Like every parish in the diocese,

Q: Tomorrow we are starting the Lenten season. I am puzzled by what I have seen today in different parishes

In a recent post https://paulturner.org/more-on-recessional-hymns/, someone shared, “My experience is that other denominations process out to music not singing.”  I wanted

Q: I have a couple of questions I am hoping you can give me guidance on.  I have a candidate

Q: Fr. Paul, I am sure you have addressed this, or something like this in the past. We had our

Q: A colleague has told me that if someone reads the Responsorial Psalm, then the Alleluia/Gospel Acclamation must be recited

Q: Paul, One of my biggest frustrations is that people like to sit in the back half of the church

Q: Greetings in Christ, Father Turner. We are studying the Eucharistic prayers at our church led by our Pastor and

Q: You posted in https://paulturner.org/readings-on-a-weekday-feast/on 29 August 2018: “You use all three readings on a weekday feast of the Lord if

Q: Our local Knights council has asked about purchasing a funeral pall to be employed for funerals of council members

Q: A local catechumen is returning to their home state to care for an ailing parent. She intends to return

Q: Thank you for being such a wonderful resource of liturgical wisdom! We have at our church several old (out

Q: Ceremonial of Bishops n. 99 has the bishop giving a kiss of peace, with the word “osculum”.  Then n.

Q: There’s a video that shows a priest carrying a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in it through the halls of

I thought i would send a couple of thoughts on recessional hymns. The Jesuit liturgist Andrew Cameron Mowat once suggested

Q: In reviewing the new Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of Their Pastoral Call, I note that the

Q: Regarding the sacred vestments, the GIRM 339 says that: “Acolytes, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb

Q: OCF 205 describes the 2 forms of rite of Committal – with and without commendation. Looking at those rites,

Q: Ceremonial of Bishops has: “99  After the deacon has said, Let us offer each other a sign of peace,

Q: Someone is arguing with me that when I’m the presider for Mass, my priestly duties include proclaiming the first

Q: Please advise if the presider joins in parts of the Mass that he introduces or intoned. For example,  does

Q: Hi Father Turner, thank you so much for all the guidance you provide. I’ve done some research on this

If we celebrate Tết on a Sunday in Ordinary Time, may we use a special Mass for the lunar New Year or

Q: Dear Paul, I always gain a lot of insights from your blog. The entrance ceremony at a Catholic school

Q: A colleague wrote to me last night asking if we are obligated to use the translation of Tantum ergo published by

Q: In the Order of Baptism for Children, 2020 edition, chapter 1 is about Order of Baptism for Several Children

Q: The GIRM makes no mention of recessional or exit song. However, there is, in many places, the custom of

Q: I totally agree with you about using incense throughout the funeral Mass  https://paulturner.org/incense-at-burial-masses/.  It always seemed anomalous to me

Q: I have not been to LA Congress in a decade, but I have attended many of your workshops there.In

Q: Paragraph 61 of the GIRM–are we not allowed to do slight paraphrased metrical settings of the lectionary psalms for

Q: Recently, in response to a class discussion about the nature of private revelation, a parishioner asked why it is

Q: Our parish Feast day on February 11th. Is it permissible to celebrate the Mass on the weekend before or

Q: If incense is to be used for the gospel, when does the alleluia begin? Before the incense is prepared

Q: I received the new ritual for the Anointing of the Sick yesterday, so I thought I’d run a couple

Q: I visited my former parish where I was pastor, and I was surprised that the big cross at the

Q: My main question is whether baptisms are permitted/encouraged outdoors in nature? I’m exploring outdoor creation centred liturgies and Eucharist

Q: Hi Paul from Down-under –  and Christmas Time (Tide?) and Epiphany Time blessings (I’ve not heard of Epiphany Time

Q: Can women be formally admitted to Acolytes and Lectors? == A: Pope Francis approved this:  https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20210110_spiritus-domini.html View All Blog

Q: Thank you for sharing your calm, reasonable, thoughtful approach to liturgy.   I was taught as a priest to make

Q: Does the GIRM anywhere require them to purify their fingers after distributing Communion?  If it does not, then is this practice

Q: When I (fairly frequently) see the pall “pre-arranged,” covering about 90% of the casket, with the presider then just pulling down

Q: I’m of the school that says ‘all or nothing.’  In other words, if it is used, then go all the way –

Q: When you do that, do you greet the body with the ritual text before the eulogy time space, or after…how do

Q: In the following post, you wrote: “However, GILH 261 presumes that a priest is present when incense is used

Q: Thanks, Father, for everything! Can a bishop change the liturgy as he deems fit for the diocese? For example,

Q: Good evening, Reverend Father. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I recently came across your blog and I

Q: I noticed in a previous response that the advent wreath should not obscure the altar or ambo but what

Q: In the Octave of Christmas we celebrate three feasts—St. Stephen, St. John, Holy Innocents.  How did this happen?    In

Q: Recently there was a sad situation involving a child who died in utero in a surrogate pregnancy.  The parents

Q: When clearing up after Mass, some sacristans pile up the ciborium and purificators on top of the chalice. Can

Q; Hello. What do you think of parishes including what normally would be a separated worship aid but using the

Q: Hi, Father Paul-I was recently out of State and attended mass in the local parish.When it came time for

Q: There was a major eruption in our OCIA advisory group the other night when we were talking about Catholics

Q: In the third edition of the Missal, there are parts of the Order of the Mass that can be

Q: I just wanted to ask if you you were aware of any additional developments on this topic either here

Q: Hi Father, Is it possible to have a Baptism within a Nuptial Mass? Context: The father of a couple

Q: I guess my question is trifold. Can incense be used at Compline? Can lay people burn incense as a

Q: We have hereabouts more and more, I am sorry to relate, younger clergy  “implementing” their own rubrics for the

Q: This may be in Ars Celebrandi, but I am nevertheless posing the questions in form of a few “observations”.

Q: I am happy with your books “Let Us Pray” and “Ars Celebrandi” which I wish every priest must have

Q: Hello! As always, thank you for your insights, wisdom and examples. On the question of facing the liturgical procession, 

Q: After a requiem mass in my part of the U.K. we are attending more services in crematoria and the

Q: In my personal experience, research, and formation on the subject, I have seen many liturgical, symbolic, and historical reasons

Q: I was wondering if you could offer your guidance on a matter that we are struggling to find clarity

Q: Thank you for your insightful answers. GIRM 69 seems rather clear. Visiting various churches, many tend to ignore the

Q: I have recently moved to a new Parish. The former Pastor  had six candles on the altar. I prefer

Q: There is a member of the congregation who always turns to the back of the Chapel at the opening

Q: I see here in my country that in many parishes, during this season of Advent, the musical instruments are

Q: Whenever the bishop is present at a Mass where the people are gathered, “it is most fitting that he

Q:  Is it liturgically correct to put the Advent wreath on the sanctuary? == A: The Book of Blessings says,

Q: Thank you, Father, for all you do! I’m celebrating a wedding Mass on Friday, December 12. What Mass formulary

Q: Worship Council business–many of our Eucharistic Ministers need updated training. We have a minister who is blessing each person

Q: My community is building a new monastery that includes a chapel. We are looking at options for the readings

Q: Our Archdiocesan Music Committee was discussing the upcoming new translation of the Lectionary, and, of course, the psalms.  As

Q: I am failing to understand why the second edition of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony  states clearly  that the

Q: If a bishop presides at morning or evening prayer when incense is not in use, does he hold the

Q: Our Titular Solemnity (St. John Before the Latin Gate – May 6) lacks proper texts in the Roman Missal.

Q:  May I know if there Is a new law for the master of ceremonies. After his visit to Rome, he

Q: During the Mass of ordination or perpetual profession, there is always the singing of the litany of saints. Usually the

Q: Someone pointed out to me yesterday that there are three crosses indicated for the solemn blessing of the Mass for

Q: Your 2021 book “Guide for Servers, Second Edition” has on page 40: “On solemn occasions, the members of the

Q: I hope you are doing well!  Here I am with another question. We are preparing two Christians from the