Q: Can you comment on infant baptisms during a Lenten Sunday liturgy? A: Baptisms may take place on any day except the end of Holy Week, so there’s no rule against a baptism on a Sunday in Lent. Other days make more sense theologically and liturgically, but sometimes a Lent Sunday works best for the family, and a child should be baptized sooner rather than later.
Chrism and allergies
Q: Someone to be confirmed asked about the Chrism. I replied saying it is Olive Oil and perfume (balsam) that has been blessed (consecrated) by the Bishop. Do you know what kind of Olive Oil and/or perfume? (I did inquire to our diocese – and I thought you might know if the “ingredients” are pretty universal or not) Seems the one asking the question/s has some allergies, etc. A: The traditional formula is olive oil and chrism, but today it can be made of any oil and any perfume. You’ll have to check with the diocesan liturgy office to find out what oil …
Good Friday and Tenebrae
Q: The parish where I am now pastor has for the last few years celebrated a hybrid Tenebrae/Office of Readings with street procession on Good Friday in the evening. The Passion Liturgy is celebrated at 3pm. This Tenebrae is organized by the Filipino community which gathers monthly for mass at our church. It’s certainly popular among people in our urban parish. My liturgical sensitivity would be not to add things to the Triduum. Pastorally it might be a good addition to welcome people who can’t participate in the Passion. Any thoughts? A: Here’s a paragraph from my book Glory in the Cross: “The …
Adoration for catechumens
Q: We are planning a Diocesan retreat that we will be offering to catechumens, candidates and members of the various RCIA teams during Lent. We had originally planned to have a time during our retreat for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. But after reflection I thought possibly it was a bit premature to have this service at this point in the formation of the elect because they will have not participated at this point in the Eucharistic prayer. In researching this I found this point also made by Thomas Morris in his book “The RCIA – Transforming the Church”. On page …
Last month on the site
The following were added to www.paulturner.org: Homilies in both English and Spanish for Christmas, Mary Mother of God, and Epiphany. An Article and a Book Review for Worship Magazine A new Blog Post on baptismal promises. Different books are shown at the bottom of the home page.
Baptismal Promises
Q: Are you able to clarify for me the variation in the Renewal of Baptismal Promises as to be used for the new rite for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in Australia and as to be used in the Renewal of Baptismal Promises in the Easter Vigil/Octave of Easter? A: In the Confirmation ceremony the first question reads: Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?Whereas in the new Roman Missal the question at the Easter Vigil/Octave of Easter reads: Priest: Do you renounce Satan? All: I do. Priest: And all his works? All: I do. Priest: And …
Whose Mass Is It?
This new book is now available here: https://www.litpress.org/Products/B4867/Whose-Mass-Is-It Also, the homilies for Guadalupe and the 3rd Sunday of Advent are posted on the site.
December 7
The following were added to www.paulturner.org: Homilies in English and Spanish for the second Sunday in Advent. Workshop for the diocese of Dallas, Texas on December 1st. Article for Worship Magazine entitled ‘Misal Romano: A Tale of Two Translations‘ 3 new Blog Posts.
Conditional baptism
Q: I have a question regarding Conditional Baptism. With the terms “immersion” and “pouring” how might one justify “sprinkling” that is apparently typically done in the Methodist Church. I assumed a new position a year ago and my current pastor believes conditional baptisms are necessary in these cases. __ A: I think we can presume the validity of all Methodist baptisms. “Sprinkling” may mean a minimum use of water, but the form, intention and purpose of the ceremony is what the Catholic Church expects. I’m unaware of any formal challenge to the validity of Methodist baptisms by sprinkling. If your …
Presence of the body for two masses
Q: I went to a visitation this afternoon for the father of a friend. The plan was to have a rosary followed by a memorial mass. The body would then be transported back to Florida where he had been a deacon for 20 years. In Florida would be the funeral mass. The body was in the narthex and I was told that the body could not be present in the church for two masses. So the mass this evening was without the body in the church. It is the first time I had encountered this and was wondering what …