Q: I know the rules for urns with ashes can be present for a celebration of a funeral Mass but I’ve never heard the reason why a small pall cannot be placed over them. If it is assumed that the ashes contain the whole body, why not the recognition that the body in cremated form was baptised as well? == A: OCF 434 says, “The covering of the cremated remains with a pall is omitted.” But it does not explain why. The reason is probably related to the preceding paragraphs that frequently say we avoid using prayers that refer to …
White vestments
Q: I hope this email finds you well. I have a question. I know that white vestments are used during the liturgy during Easter, Christmas, various solemnities and holy days and funerals. However, can white be worn during ordinary time to honor a specific localized event. For instance, if residents in the parish neighborhood are recently murdered and the communion service/mass is celebrated to recognize the tragedy and honor the victims? If the State executes an individual and the liturgy is celebrated to remember the victim? If not white, would any other color be ok? Red? Black (to emphasize mourning)? Thanks …
Cremains
Q: Thanks so much for all your posts. They are very helpful in ministry. The question I have is as follows. I know the norm for a Funeral Mass is to have the body present. While attending a presentation on end of life issues, the presenter stated that if cremains are present at the Mass it is considered a Memorial Mass and not a Funeral Mass. I thought the rite allowed for when cremains are present at a Mass that it would be considered a Funeral Mass and not a Memorial Mass. Can you explain/clarify? == A: Thanks for your comments …
Urn
Q: Is there anything liturgically amiss about an urn with cremated remains being placed in a casket for the celebration of a funeral Mass, after which the urn would be removed from the casket for interment in a columbarium? In other words, the body has been cremated before the funeral, but instead of an urn being the visible container during the funeral, a casket containing an urn is the visible container. Would a pall still be prohibited by the rubrics in such a case because there isn’t a body, only cremated remains? == A: I don’t know of any legislation …
Christ presence
Q: In Eucharisticum Mysterium, 9, speaks about “the principal ways in which the Lord is present to His Church in liturgical celebrations.” It states that Christ is “always present in a body of the faithful gathered in His name” and that he is “present too in His Word.” Then it goes on to say: “In the sacrifice of the Eucharist He is present both in the person of the minister … and above all under the species of the Eucharist.” My question is, is Christ present in the person of the minister only at Mass or also at other liturgies …
Sign of the Cross
Q: Father Turner – Thank you so much for your new book Eucharistic Reservation! It is very helpful in understanding the theological and liturgical background that has led up to the new rite book. I have a question about the sign of the cross at the beginning of The Rite with a Fuller Celebration of the Word of God. On Page 47 of your book you write that “Nor does this ceremony begin with the sign of the cross”. However, paragraph 27 of the new rite book seems to indicate that the minister “beings with the Sign of the Cross”. …
Rededication of the altar
Q: Good evening! I am a longtime reader of your blog and books and thought I would submit my first question. My parish is celebrating its hundredth this year. Our pastor wondering if there was any reason behind doing a sort of rededication of the altar? Is there anyway to somewhat mimic that right without it appearing to be a whole new dedication? Any other ideas you may have heard about these types of anniversaries would be appreciated! Thank you! == A: Thanks for following my work and for your question. Congratulations to your parish! I would not recommend any …
Roman chasuble
Q: Thank you, Fr. Paul, for everything you do! If a priest is to wear a Roman (fiddle back) chasuble, may he criss the stole if the chasuble is designed to have the stole crossed? I know current law envisions the stole of a priest to lay flat, but would the custom of that type of vestment be permitted? Thank you! == A: I treated the crossed stole in a previous post: https://paulturner.org/crossed-stole/. There is no exception in the rubrics for a fiddleback chasuble.
Update on “Eucharistic Prayer IV”
Q: Greetings Fr Paul Regarding this blog entry: https://paulturner.org/eucharistic-prayer-iv-3/ The current Missale Romanum is available in the Verbum (and Logos) software system, which may be of interest to some of your readers: https://verbum.com/product/37679/missale-romanum-edito-typica-tertia The English translation (2011) is also available: https://verbum.com/product/166706/the-roman-missal-third-typical-edition Along the Latin dictionary options also available in Verbum, I would expect someone could do the type of translation comparison that your correspondent is seeking. Thank you for your Blog and writings. I greatly appreciate them, especially in my RCIA work here in Australia (“OCIA” hasn’t caught on here, as yet!). == A: Thank you very much for this …
Concelebrant roles
Q: In the absence of a deacon, and when one or more priests are present to concelebrate, a concelebrant is supposed to take his parts of the deacon (GIRM 208). Does he read the gospel? Does he prepare the altar? Does he assist at the eucharistic prayer? Invite the sign of peace? Does it make a difference when the bishop is the presider? ==A: In this circumstance, the following would apply: A priest receives the blessing from the bishop and then proclaims the gospel—but he does not receive the blessing if the principal celebrant is another priest. In the absence …