Q:  Recently we hosted a funeral celebrated by a priest from another diocese.  Our music director volunteered to provide the music.  I was not present at the funeral and didn’t have any role in planning.  When our music director presented the four hymns to the priest, (we use an OCP missalette for all our music) he replied that the hymns were not “Catholic”; he then chose four others.  Unfortunately, the music director can’t remember the hymns involved. What constitutes a “Catholic hymn”? I’ve never heard “Catholic hymn” being used positively and politely. A:  In the United States we do not …

Q:  What do you recommend re: concelebrants at weddings? I would say that the presider does all… but, analogous to the deacon situation, may a concelebrant (assuming he has the faculties) witness and  receive the consent? A: The Ceremonial of Bishops presumes a situation where a concelebrating priest assists a presiding bishop (602). Before the post-Vatican II marriage rite came out, Inter œcumenici envisioned an assisting priest in alb and stole, perhaps a cope (72). The presider was to give the blessing of the bride (now called the nuptial blessing). These distinctions have fallen away. In theory, a concelebrant could preside …

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the Psalm at Sunday Mass was talked about. Generally in this parish, the Psalm of the day is always sung however with people moving out of the ministry, this goal is proving harder to achieve 100% of the time. The thought of the meeting was that if a psalm could be sung for a season eg Lent, the demand on the musicians could be lessened. Are seasonal psalms included in the new translation and how could they be used given our …

Q:  A few weeks ago our teachers asked me to review the various liturgical roles the students have during the school Mass. While I was prepared to do that, just as everyone entered the church for rehearsal, one of the teachers asked me to explain what to do before entering a pew. I explained that a profound bow to the altar (because the tabernacle is not in the sanctuary) would be appropriate. Since then the children have done quite well with not only remembering to bow but also bowing well. However at least one parent was quite upset with me …

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the Psalm at Sunday Mass was talked about. Generally in this parish, the Psalm of the day is always sung however with people moving out of the ministry, this goal is proving harder to achieve 100% of the time. The thought of the meeting was that if a psalm could be sung for a season eg Lent, the demand on the musicians could be lessened. Are seasonal psalms included in the new translation and how could they be used given our …

Q:  At a recent meeting of people involved in the music ministry in our parish, the issue of singing the Psalm at Sunday Mass was talked about. Generally in this parish, the Psalm of the day is always sung however with people moving out of the ministry, this goal is proving harder to achieve 100% of the time. The thought of the meeting was that if a psalm could be sung for a season eg Lent, the demand on the musicians could be lessened. Are seasonal psalms included in the new translation and how could they be used given our …

  Q: In the baptism of an infant, at the time of doing the sign of the Cross on the baby’s forehead and inviting the parents and godparents to do the same, what happen if one of the infant’s parents is not Catholic? Should we invite them to do it anyway? A: Invite the non-Catholic parent to make the sign of the cross on the child. If a parent is non-Christian, he or she does not have to do it. The Rite of Baptism for Children does not consider this circumstance, but the revised Order of Celebrating Matrimony makes several …

Q:  In our baptismal record, a number of entries mention baptism of children above the age of reason with a notation of ‘neo-conversus, baptism absolute’. A Google search reveals that this is old terminology for those who were received into the Church. What is not clear is if these people were baptized, or baptized & confirmed, or simply made a profession of faith (having perhaps been baptized in a Christian community). Can you shed any light on this practice and how I should interpret this notation? It has become relevant because I don’t know how to fill out a requested …

  Q:  Should altar candles be lighted for other liturgical services besides mass? A:  Probably. GIRM 307 says: “The candlesticks required for the different liturgical services for reasons of reverence or the festive character of the celebration (cf. no. 117), should be appropriately placed either on the altar or around it.” I think that includes other services.

Q:  Our diocese will be moving toward Restored Order within the next three years. That means that our children will celebrate confirmation before they receive first communion. Have you ever documented a brief history of this practice in any of your writings? Do you have a document that you might easily direct me toward? I am very grateful for this help! I hope you are well and gratefully receive your blog entries now. A:  Be assured of my prayers as your diocese moves to a new order of Christian initiation. This book should be helpful: Ages of Initiation. The book …