Q: What IS the preferred “cross” for Good Friday veneration? A cross or crucifix ? I see the pope uses a large crucifix. Any thoughts ? A: I’ve treated this in Glory in the Cross, but in short, you can make an argument for using either a cross or a crucifix. The rubrics all say “cross” on Good Friday, and I think that that is the better practice. We are not adoring an image of Christ, we are adoring the cross on which he died. “Behold the wood of the cross…”
Holy Family
Q: When Holy Family falls on a weekday instead of a Sunday, as it will this year on Friday, December 30, does it become a holyday of obligation? A: No. It’s just a feast day. Like St. Bartholomew on August 24.
Community or private mass?
Q: Are funeral Masses considered to be a community Mass or a private Mass? The concern being whether Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel should stop while funeral Masses are occurring. A: There’s no such thing as a private mass. Eucharistic adoration must cease whenever mass is taking place. Even a funeral mass.
Communion service
Q: Please look over the attached order of service and let me know if it would work for a layperson leading a communion service in a prison. Is this OK? A: I’ve looked at what you send me, and no, that’s not a good way to do a communion service. These points are going to sound picky, but here goes: People are not supposed to answer “And with your spirit” to someone who is not a priest or deacon. The Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei do not happen at a service outside of mass. It’s not a good idea to …
Presider’s chair – updated
Q: When a deacon presides for a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, may he use the presider’s chair? A: Yes. If a layperson presides, he or she does not use the priest’s chair, according to Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest 24, but a deacon does use it according to SCAP 19. Q: But look at this: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/frequently-asked-questions/deacons-at-sunday-celebrations-in-absence-of-priest.cfm A: Oh. OK, after further review, I see that I was using an older edition of the book Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest. Indeed, the legislation has changed. Paragraph 24 now says, “Leaving the …
The rite of welcoming candidates
Q: Greetings Paul. I hope that all is well with you. We here down under are somewhat bemused/amused by the campaign for president currently running in your country! Two paragraphs in the RCIA have always puzzled me but I keep forgetting to ask about them. I came across them again just now so decided to go straight to the expert for help! They are 381& 382 in the section on Preparation of Uncatechised Adults for Confirmation and Eucharist in the Australian version (my emphasis): 381. The period of preparation is made holy by means of liturgical celebrations. The first of these …
Other events during Mass
Q: When Mass is occurring in the church, are other events (meetings, etc) allowed to occur in the building? Our parochial vicar is claiming that when daily Mass is occurring no other events can occur in the building A: There is no such rule forbidding other events.
Inclusive language
Q: How will the use of masculine pronouns and words to refer to collective human beings be handled in the pending revision of the Liturgy of the Hours? Thank you always for sharing insight and information. A: There will be improvements to the use of gender-inclusive language, though the results will not please everyone. If you compare the Roman Missal with its predecessor the Sacramentary, you’ll see that the missal is far superior in its sensitivity to this question.
Revision to the Liturgy of the Hours
Q: I wonder if you have knowledge (or even input into) about the pending revision to the Liturgy of the Hours. Will there be rich and expansive texts for more saints and feasts maybe with particular resonance in these times? (St. Mary Magdalene, St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Teresa Benedicta, etc)? A: With regard to the pending revision of the Liturgy of the Hours, the new saints on the calendar will have at least a second reading in the office of readings and a collect. That particular project has been advancing separately from the revision of the entire office. …
Saints’ feasts
Q: In the Liturgy of the Hours there are a couple of saints’ feasts or “memorials” that have a very full treatment (antiphons, readings, etc.) in the “Proper of the Saints.” St. Lawrence, St. Agnes, St. Martin of Tours are examples of these. On the other hand St. Matthew, alone among the gospel writers, does not get that treatment. I imagine Sts. Agnes and Lawrence have particular importance to the Roman church from the earliest times, but there must be others who would also have that distinction. The three seem like they has particular popularity—but there are other saints with …