Q: Hello Fr. Turner, thank you for the reliable assistance in staying faithful to the Roman Missal. Your books and blog have been most helpful. My question regards kissing the Gospel book. I saw your 2017 post saying that #133 admits to the use of other books (e.g., lectionary) but I do not read that there. From retrieving the book of the Gospels from the altar and after the proclamation, it follows that when “the priest kisses the book saying,,,” it is the Gospel book he kisses. the same language and sequence is in #175 when a deacon is the …
Hail Mary
Q: Is it correct to conclude the prayer of the faithful with the “Hail Mary”? == A: It is not correct to conclude the prayer of the faithful with the Hail Mary. Prayers during Mass are directed to God. Here’s a previous post https://paulturner.org/14194-2/.
Prayer of the faithful
Q: Sometimes our bishop asks the deacon to introduce and conclude the prayer of the faithful. Is this practice correct or is it being introduced in the Church, because I have seen more than three bishops doing it? == A: The priest introduces the prayer of the faithful (GIRM 71 and 138, and LM 31). The priest concludes these petitions (GIRM 71 and 138). The deacon usually leads the intentions, but the priest opens and closes them. I can’t explain how more than three bishops in your conference have invited deacons to take on parts reserved for the priest.
Book of the Gospels
Q: What would be your reaction when, as master of ceremonies, the bishop instructs before the Mass that the Book of the Gospels can be brought in procession if only there is no procession with it before the reading of the Gospel, and if there is procession with the book of the Gospel before reading the Gospel, the Book of the Gospel should not be brought in the entrance procession, but should be already put on the altar? == A: Permission for the Book of the Gospels to rest on the altar before Mass is at GIRM 117. References to …
Bilingual Easter Vigil
Q: At the bilingual Easter Vigil, the pastor would like to do only once the Renunciation of Sin and/or the Renewal of Baptismal Promises after Confirmation. These would seem to me to be two very different instances and circumstances. What shall we do? == A: You may combine the people’s renewal of promises with the making of promises by those about to be baptized. Pope Francis has done that at the Vatican’s Easter Vigil. Look in the Missal at Easter Vigil #55, and then at #49.
Deacon baptizing
Q: Can you remind me again the teaching/expectation of OCIA 575 regarding “deacons” baptism? This action of a “deacon” is presuming the separation of baptism and delaying “Confirmation” not at the same liturgy, correct? (OCIA 577; 215) So … at Easter Vigils an elect to be baptized – and fully initiated that evening – ought to be baptized by the same priest Confirming (not a deacon). Several priests can be associated with the Confirmation; but per the Rite/Order … deacons ought not to baptize if Confirmation is to be – and should be – celebrated. Thanks for helping me keep this correctly in my …
Reverence to the altar
Q: I would like to help us in clarifying something about the reverence to the altar when the tabernacle is in the sanctuary. According to GIRM 49, the appropriate reverence to the altar is a profound bow. GIRM 274 stipulates that: “If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated in the sanctuary, the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.” Does it mean that when the tabernacle is in the sanctuary, the profound bow is replaced with …
White stole
Q: I have a question about the instruction in HCWEMOM to wear a white stole/cope during Exposition and Benediction, given that at #79 in that text, it says, “…account should be taken of the liturgical seasons, so that these exercises are in harmony with the Sacred Liturgy from which, in a sense, they derive…” So why would the priest who presides at daily Mass during Lent, wearing purple, then change to white for Exposition/Benediction? Especially given HCWEMOM’s overarching intention to tie these devotions to the celebration of the Mass (#82, eg, “care should be taken that in exposition of this …
Role of the Deacon
Q: I need some guidance concerning the role of the Deacon. Ash Wednesday, Word Liturgy with distribution of ashes. Lectors for readings, servers and Deacon as presider. It seems to me that in the Entrance Procession that the Lector proclaiming the First Reading processes in the Book of Gospels (how we’ve been doing things here) and not the Deacon as his role is presider. Am I correct or not? I keep reviewing years of unchecked scripts at this parish. Thanks for your direction. == A: There’s no official explanation for how to do this. I lean toward having the deacon-presider …
Quinceañeras
Q: We have a large Hispanic population and several Quinceañeras each year. Due to the unavailability of Spanish speaking priests, the Quinceañera is usually celebrated with a Deacon presiding and a communion service. Not ideal – would obviously be wonderful to celebrate with the Eucharist…but what I wonder about is this – there was an unawareness that extra hosts should have been consecrated at the morning liturgy – but the lead sacristan has been out. So, apparently the deacon and another member of the staff brought consecrated hosts to the tabernacle from other churches. I know this can’t be …