Q: Please describe the difference between the Liturgical and Proper calendars available from USCCB site. A: The proper calendar indicates the dates that are unique to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. These need not appear in other episcopal conferences in the same way. The liturgical calendar incorporates the proper calendar into the general calendar so that it is easy to follow in the US.
Dedication of a Church
Q: May the Dedication of a Church take place on the patronal feast day of that same community? A: The third appendix of the Ceremonial of Bishops has a chart governing ritual masses and other masses. It states that ritual masses are not permitted on solemnities. The Order of the Dedication of a Church says in paragraph 7 that the dedication cannot take place on a day when it is improper to disregard the mystery being celebrated. It then names the Triduum, Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecost, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and All Souls. Paragraph 8 says that the proper prayers …
After a person is received
Q: After a person has been received into the Catholic Church, can they receive communion or do they have to wait for their confirmation? A: Confirmation is part of the Rite of Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church. When the priest receives a baptized Christian into the Catholic Church, he also confirms that person and gives communion.
Received into the Church
Q: If a person has been received into the Catholic Church, do they continue to be dismissed with catechumens? A: No. In fact, the dismissal at mass was designed for unbaptized catechumens, not for validly baptized Christians. The dismissal is optional. In some parishes, no one is dismissed; in others, the catechumens; in others the baptized Christians preparing for reception join in the dismissal. But once the person has been received into the Catholic Church, the person is a Catholic.
Invalid marriage
Q: Can a person in an invalid marriage receive communion after going to confession if they are waiting on their annulment? A: No, in fact the person cannot even go to confession until the annulment comes through. This is a hard teaching in the Catholic Church.
Baptized non-Catholic
Q: Can a validly baptized non-Catholic receive communion at the Catholic mass if she sings in the parish choir every week? A: Only if she first becomes a Catholic in the Rite of Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.
Arras and lazo
Q: What can you tell me about the origins of the hispanic/filipino marriage customs of the arras and lazo, now available in English in the US? A: John Chrysostom mentions the arras, but he’s referring to a betrothal ring. The 8th to 11th c. Mozarabic Liber ordinum has a prayer concerning the exchange of arras (pledges), and that’s probably the source that led to the present-day custom. The lazo can be traced at least to the same source, possibly earlier. My book will be out after the first of the year: https://www.litpress.org/Products/E6378/Inseparable-Love
Sing A New Church
Q: Have you heard of any theological objections to the song Sing A New Church? A: None that I consider serious. Some people seem to think that the song implies a schism, but the hymn is about building up the church, not replacing it.
Placing the Advent wreath
Q: Our church space is rather “small”. Placement of an Advent wreath is challenging. Our Narthex is almost non-existent, not enough space near our ambo, and our low ceiling does not lend itself to hanging a wreath. It is my understanding that in front of the altar is not appropriate. I’ve considered moving the presider chair (presently it is opposite the ambo with the altar in the middle) to behind the altar. If I did that, I could put the Advent wreath where the presider chair was and even put our Christmas Manger in that space during the Christmas Season. …
Dedication anniversary
May the”Common of the Dedication of a Church on the Anniversary of the Dedication” be prayed at parish Masses if that anniversary falls on a Sunday in Ordinary Time? Not only may it be prayed, it must be prayed. It is a parish solemnity that ranks above the Sunday in Ordinary Time. Even the readings should come from the Common. And when the anniversary falls on a weekday in Ordinary Time, you may still transfer it to a nearby Ordinary Time Sunday.