Q: Thank you for your time and attention to the many questions you are asked. Personally, I value your work and responses in my ministry. Recently, we have noticed some women, who are regular Mass attendees, have begun to wear scarfs. It is a new “habit” at Sunday Mass and Daily Mass. We are struggling to understand where this originated and why? And why all of a sudden! My grandmother and mother spoke of wearing scarves but never shared why. Honestly, they did not wear veils but shared stories of how it was done in the past. Can you direct …
Anointing of the Sick
Q: I had a mom ask me a question for her child. Her child has ongoing, chronic pain and migraines are common for her child as well. Is someone in that condition able to receive the Anointing of the Sick Sacrament? And could they even receive it multiple times if their condition does not change? == A: God bless you for giving such careful, pastoral care to your people. Yes, you may anoint that child, and the anointing may be repeated. See Pastoral Care of the Sick nos. 9 and 12.
Eucharistic Prayer IV
Q: Hello Fr. Paul. I’m a layperson trying to get more acquainted with our Eucharistic Prayer IV. I would like to compare our current English translation with the Latin original, to get a better sense of where the words come from. But I’m having a hard time finding a Latin copy of EPIV on the internet. (The only Latin Eucharistic Prayer I can find in Latin online is the Roman Canon.) Do you know of any sources? == A: I did a quick search, and I couldn’t find it either. You may have to check a local library and ask …
Dialogue Masses
Q: When I was young in my religious community there was an older priest who made a point of speaking softly or at least moving his lips when praying the Liturgy of the Hours by himself. Budding liturgy terrorists among us attributed that some sort of scrupulosity. Now, these many years later, I find that reading out loud can sometimes help me pay attention. So, my first question: prior to the renewal coming from the Second Vatican Council, was there either a canonical requirement or devotional practice regarding reading aloud. Second: how about Mass? My understanding is that typically …
Patronal solemnity
Q: We have a number of parishes named “St. Mary” – but not further specified. May the parish simply choose under which title to celebrate the parish’s patronal solemnity? Or is something more “official” required? Likewise, we have a number of churches that have been renovated extensively and subsequently re-dedicated. I am assuming that the date of the re-dedication, not the original dedication, is observed as a solemnity in the parish. == A: I treat this in my forthcoming book, Sacred Times. Look at Calendaria particularia 35, DOL 481 (4030), p. 1253. You’ll see that the default titular day is the Assumption, August …
The prayer of purification
Q: Thanks for your helpful blog! I was speaking with a fellow Deacon and the topic of the prayer that is said during the Purification of the Sacred Vessels. My first pastor introduced me to the prayer and helped me to learn and memorize it. My brother Deacon said he had never heard of the prayer. When I consulted the Roman Missal, it allows for the Priest, Deacon or acolyte to purify, but the confusion is the line “while he carries out the purification, the Priest says quietly (the prayer of purification).” RM page 670 #137 So, is this prayer …
Exposition and Benediction
Q: We have been revising our worship aids for Exposition and Benediction according to the new edition of “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside of Mass” and noticed that the dialogue “You have given them bread from heaven…”, normally said immediately before the prayer preceding Benediction, has been omitted. Should we stop using this dialogue or is it still an option? == A: You can find my previous posts on this here https://paulturner.org/?s=dialogue+exposition The reformed liturgical book (first known as Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass) never included that dialogue, which did appear in the …
New altar
Q: In our convent, there was a beautiful stone altar that was removed from its base some years ago and the top slab of marble was kept in our convent with the relic removed. A simple wooden altar replaced it, and I don’t know what happened to the original base for the stone altar. I had a new base made for the original altar which should be done very soon, and then we are going to put the original altar back into the chapel on the new base. I am looking for a relic to put into the altar (it …
Order of baptism for children
Q: I just wish to share my surprise, being a foreigner. I am wondering why at numbers 51, 88, 276, 314 of the 2020 USA order of baptism for children it is written that after anointing with oil of Catechumens, the presider in silence “lays his hand on the child”. On number 115 that gesture is even without the anointing. How did this end up in the US ritual? What sense does it make with this kind of anointing? Is it correct? I don’t think it’s an epiclesis, otherwise the Deacon could not do it. == A: The typical edition …
Reception into Full Communion
Q: I have a question. Can you recommend a good resource, book or articles, for the theology and practice that grounds Reception into Full Communion for children? Specifically, we are wrestling with working with children 7 or older who are baptized outside the Catholic Church whose parents and/or they are seeking Reception into Full Communion. What has been done here and many other places is a Profession of Faith and then the children are placed with their peers, usually separating First Eucharist and Confirmation. == A: I can’t think of anything that tackles exactly that question. There should be something! …