Q: How do a priest and a bishop divide their roles and responsibilities in the celebration when a Missa Coram Episcopo is held? I am referring to the Missa Coram Episcopo using Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite/ Novus Ordo.  Thank you. == A: The Ceremonial of Bishops no longer uses the term Missa coram episcopo, but it does give instructions for Mass at Which the Bishop Presides but not as Celebrant. These can be found at nos. 175-186. The bishop wears a cope. He usually uses the miter and pastoral staff and processes behind the celebrant. He incenses the altar and …

Q: On Friday mornings after mass, we have a 30min period of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction. Our pastor ends mass in the usual way and processes out. After removing his chasuble and putting on a cope, he returns, going to the Tabernacle and, after placing the Luna in the Monstrance, begins Exposition. He will be away on 2 fridays, when a Communion Service will take the place of a Mass. My questions are:  After communion, when the remaing hosts are returned to the Tabernacle, can the Luna be brought immediately to the Altar, placed in the Monstrance, …

Q: When a deacon greets the people before proclaiming the gospel, he does it with hands joined. When there is no deacon, does a presider extend his hands? What about a concelebrant? == A: A priest who proclaims the gospel in the absence of a deacon keeps his hands joined when greeting the people before the gospel. He is doing what a deacon does. Here’s a previous post: https://paulturner.org/extending-hands-before-the-gospel/

Q: Thank you for your work! Why do we not consecrate chalices with chrism anymore but instead bless them?  == A: I cover the blessing of a chalice in my book, New Church, New Altar. However, we don’t have much information about the decision to eliminate the chrism. It could be that the practice did not enjoy the same antiquity as the anointing of an altar, or that the anointing of objects has been more rare. (Bells used to be anointed with the oil of the sick.) The chalice is still set aside exclusively for a sacred purpose.

Q: We have a First Communion Candidate (2nd grade) who cannot do any gluten, including low-gluten, so we are offering the precious blood. If his parents do not approve of wine or mustum, I told the DRE the only option is a “spiritual communion”. In your experience and knowledge, is there any other recourse for this child? In advance, my thanks, as always… == A: That child is entitled to communion by consecrated wine or mustum. That is a far superior solution than a spiritual communion.

Q: Thank you for your untiring effort to help us to celebrate the liturgy well. Speaking of intinction, I know of two priests who, when they preside, often dip the host into the Precious Blood before consuming it—that is, they often consume by intinction—and then pick up the  chalice to drink the Precious Blood.  (Yes, they consume by intinction, and then still consume from the chalice.)  Sometimes, when they dip the host into the chalice, it looks like they are fishing for something, and I have come to think that they are trying to fish out the particle of the …

Q: At what side of the altar the book of the gospels is supposed to be placed when entering in the procession? At the front side immediately as the deacon reaches the altar or the deacon has to go around the altar and place it at the side facing the assembly? == A: There is no stated preference about where the book goes, probably because sanctuaries are so different. It can be placed either way. Here’s a previous post with another previous post: https://paulturner.org/book-of-gospels-on-the-altar/

Greetings from Down Under. Q 1 I witnessed two priests conferring the Sacrament of Anointing on a community today. They did not lay hands; only anointed forehead and open palms of two hands Q 2 On whom can the Sacrament of Anointing be conferred. My understanding is it is not a death bed sacrament. Given Jesus healed people, healed those troubled in spirit, is it appropriate to anoint people who are not only physically sick, but psychologically and emotionally sick, including those grieving intensely.  As always your insights are much appreciated. == A: Every anointing is to include the imposition …

Q: I got a question about intinction.  I think it is ok for a priest or deacon to administer Communion by intinction, that is, dipping the host in the precious blood and administering it to the communicant.  May extraordinary CMs do this too?  == A: Communion may be administered by intinction (GIRM 285, for example). When GIRM 287 describes the practice, it says the priest distributes communion while a deacon or minister holds the chalice at his side. The communicant holds a communion plate. That is quoted again in the norms for distributing and receiving communion under both kinds in …

Q: Might you know the provenance of the formula “May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ” (93 in the sacrament of penance)? == A: I treated your question in my book on the Order of Penance, Be Renewed. The revisers traced that formula to the 15th century Penitential of Vallicella II. But Thomas Aquinas had already recommended the second part of it, so its origins are quite old. It was the 5th element of the 5-part preconciliar absolution.