Q: Are there any guidelines for the lighting of the consecration candles in a Church. We light ours on the anniversary of the dedication of our Abbey Church, and we have lit them for various solemnities (e.g., the titular of our monastery). But, I haven’t come across any guidance on this matter. Thank you for your help and common sense advice. == A: Thanks for your comments on my work. Here’s a previous post that you may find helpful: https://paulturner.org/lighting-dedication-candles/
Vespers
Q: We are praying Vespers during a Holy Hour on the Sunday evenings of Advent. 1) would we wear a stole the color of the Liturgical Season? Or a white stole because of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction?2) After the Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance on the altar, we sing “O Salutaris Hostia.” We then begin “God, come to my asssistance.” In the past, we simply made a sign of the cross while saying this. Recently, at other parishes, the presider is beginning with “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” …
Christmas Proclamation
Q: I am happy to note that you are again taking an online module of our Taking Liturgy Seriously course. Am looking forward to it. A couple of questions about the Christmas Proclamation, if I may. May it only be sung before the ‘Midnight’ Mass or, in a parish that doesn’t have a Midnight Mass, may it be sung before the earlier Vigil Mass? Is it appropriate for the Proclamation to be sung from the Ambo? Many thanks. == A: Nice to hear from you, and I look forward to the module with you all. My copy of your Missal …
Adoration
Q: Every Thursday at my parish I have Mass in the morning and then Adoration goes all day long until Benediction at 8:00pm. Before the Benediction, I have done a Procession with our Lord in the monstrance in the interior perimeter/aisle of the church, a one time circle, ending back on the Altar. We sing a “O Sacrament Most Holy” hymn in full in this Procession, and we usually have incense leading this procession as well. Is this actually permitted or not? This is a layover from COVID, and now I’m wondering if I should be doing this procession altogether or …
Advent wreath candles
Q: Are Advent wreath candles to be lit for liturgies only (as are altar candles), or do they belong to the marking of time outside the ritual events as well? == A: We have no governing rule on this. The blessing of an Advent wreath can be found in Chapter 47 of the Book of Blessings. It tells how to bless the wreath at Mass, and when to light candles on subsequent Sundays at Mass, so it expects that the candles will burn at least for Mass. But it is silent about other ritual events. As this is a home …
Individual benedictions
Q: We are putting together another Confirmation retreat. A question popped up regarding Adoration and Benediction from one of our Confirmation coordinators: “During Adoration, each person could either come forward to receive a personal blessing from Jesus exposed in the monstrance, or the priest could process around the Church to bless each person.” By this “blessing” this person mentions, she means Benediction. Looking at the new “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside of Mass” book, the closest guidance I can find connected to this multiple Benediction question is from paragraph #104 in the section on Eucharstic Processions as it states: …
Dedication anniversary
Q: I am working at a parish that celebrated the dedication of its new church this year on April 6. ( Easter fell on March 31 in 2024 so the dedication took place on the Saturday within the Octave of Easter.) Of course, April 6 would normally occur during Lent or the Easter season so the anniversary could not be celebrated on or near its actual date. I think I remember reading that the alternative date would be the Sunday before All Saints’ Day (October 26 in 2025, the 30th Sunday in OT). That makes some sense, although in reality, …
Consecrated Hosts
Q: Hello Father. Perhaps you have already addressed this question, but I cannot find it in my saved files. But when dealing with the consecrated Hosts out of the tabernacle what is the legislative rules governing who should be allowed to obtain the Blessed Hosts for the purpose of giving communion to the sick and home bound? I assume a priest, deacon and EME, but some question if the EME should be allowed to perform this. Thank you for your help. Happy Holidays Father. == A: The revised translation of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery is now …
Ringing the Bells
Q: I pray you are well. I read your article in the “Priest” blog regarding “Ringing the Bells”. I am deacon. The parish where I have been assigned has a new pastor who has decided to bring ringing the bells during consecration to our church. For some background, the parish is only 35 years old and I have been a parishioner there with my family the whole time. We have never had bells for consecration. Our founding pastor was against them for the reason you described in your article. Also, he was forward thinking and believed that the bells were …
Funeral Rites
Q: I am enquiring whether the new Edition of Funeral Rites For Roman Pontiff 2024. which was recently released and approved by Vatican, is in the Jerusalem Bible or New Jerusalem Bible version. Thank you always for paying attention with all our enquiries. == A: That book pertains to the funeral of a pope, not to funerals at parishes in the English-speaking world. At papal funerals, the readings may be proclaimed in several languages. In parishes, you use the translation approved by the conference of bishops.