Q: My parish has for many years had four or five readers read the first few verses of the first reading of Pentecost Sunday in multiple languages, culminating in the full scripture being read in English. During the last few verses the non-English readers read aloud softly each in their own language while the English reader (on the microphone) was definitely the prominent voice. Recently I have been told that what we are doing is not allowed, by Vatican decree, but I have been unable to find this. Can you comment? A: Guidelines from the USCCB are here: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/frequently-asked-questions/guidelines-for-a-multilingual-celebration-of-mass.cfm. There is …
Litany of the Saints at Confirmation
Q: Some of our parishes want to use the Litany of the Saints for Confirmation Liturgy. Where exactly should this take place? I realize that it should take place before the reception of the sacrament/anointing – and in that case also takes the place of the General Intercessions…but after the Kyrie? After the readings? What is recommended? A: Well, the Order of Confirmation does not envision this, but if you want to include it, I’d suggest placing it in a similar location as it falls in the baptism of adults: near the beginning of the sacramental ritual when the candidates …
Handlayings at Confirmation
Q: In the Ritual for Confirmation under Section II, 7-9, the Bishop may delegate specific priests to administer Confirmation. OK, I get that. In Section III #9, Confirmation is conferred through anointing and the laying on of the hand; – OK, that is Bishop and or his appointed or delegated Priest. Then separately is the “laying of hands” accompanied by the prayer Almighty God… The next paragraph says the Priests who are at times associated with the principal minister join him in the laying of hands. (referring to the actual Confirmation laying hands.) THEN the next paragraph, “through the laying …
Three readings at mass
Q. When, if ever, is it appropriate, permitted, or required to have three readings at mass, outside of Sundays and Solemnities? I ask because, for the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and for the Ritual Masses, it’s not really clear to me when (if ever) three readings should be used. I see they all have options from the Old Testament and New Testament, but I don’t know whether three readings are intended to be used at those masses, or whether there are simply options from both the Old and New Testaments but only 2 readings should be used (one …
The cross on Good Friday
Q: Good Friday Rubric #33 states: “After the celebration, the altar is stripped but the cross remains on the altar with two or four candlesticks.” I assume the cross referred to is the veneration cross, from the showing/ veneration of the Holy Cross. What do we do with the cross on the Easter Vigil? Leave it on the altar? Place it in the narthex or outside w/white shroud? Remove entirely? Thanks again. Your book has been a great resource to our parish. A: There is no direction pertaining to the cross after Good Friday. You are correct that the rubric …
Conditional baptism
Q: I have a question concerning conditional baptism. I looked in your book for priests on Celebrating Initiation and The Catechumenate Answer Book but couldn’t see any mention of it. So I looked up Canon 869 which quotes the RCIA Appendix by saying the minister “should administer it in a private form.” However, the Australian version of the same segment says: “the minister should explain beforehand the reasons why this is being done and a nonsolemn form of baptism is to be used.” #393 I am presuming that “nonsolemn” means it is not only shorter but also private, as quoted …
Holy Thursday Question
Q: I have a Holy Thursday question for you. Right now we are experiencing freezing rain and one of our parishes is currently without power…they have called to ask what to do if the power is not back on by tonight. I would imagine there are building occupancy laws that would state the church could not gather if the power was out – so finding a way to inform parishioners and invite them to attend at a nearby parish. The pastor asked what he should do – I said he could go to same parish and concelebrate there. He …
Confessions on the Easter Vigil
Q: Can I hear confessions on the Easter Vigil ? Is it Liturgically or Canonically ok to do that? A: Yes you may. You find permission in the missal. The first rubric of Good Friday says that penance and anointing of the sick are permitted on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Location of the tabernacle
Q: If the pastor and parishioners desire to locate the tabernacle in the worship space rather than a side chapel, should it be placed to the side or to the center against a back wall? I have an understanding of church history and practice in this regard, however, I am most interested in liturgical theology in the spirit of Vatican II. A: I think the more important question is, “How are you using the tabernacle?” If people receive communion from it at every mass, you are defeating the purpose of the altar. See my book, Whose Mass Is It? …
Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday
Q: Holy Thursday, the tabernacle is to be empty at the beginning of Mass with the doors open and the tabernacle candle extinguished; is it proper to reserve the Blessed Sacrament some place else before Mass, and possibly distributed during the Holy Thursday Communion Rite, or should it all be consumed before Mass begins? A: It’s best to reserve the Blessed Sacrament somewhere else; for example, in the sacristy. The hosts don’t have to be consumed before the mass. Please do NOT distribute previously consecrated hosts during the Holy Thursday mass. That’s precisely why the tabernacle should be empty beforehand. …