Paul Turner’s Blog

Q:  What is an under stole? How is it worn? == A:  An under stole is just a stole. At […]

Q:  Could you please clarify if it is permissible to sing Alleluia during the Wedding (Mass) in Lent? The Gloria

Q:  The last few years at my parish there has been “veneration” of a relic of the true Cross in

Q:  At the conclusion of the Easter Vigil Mass, does the processional cross lead the recessional? == A:  That would

Q:  We were just informed that “in order to set a good example for the congregation, all Ministers of Holy

Q:  For Station of the Cross. What color vesture is a deacon or priest supposed to wear for that? Red

Q:  In the 1988 document you attached to an answer you gave…the one about Holy Week…it says that Lent starts

Q:   The rubrics gave no indication of the numbers for foot washing hence it could be more than twelve people.

Q:  I know, or think I know, that “sometime” ago the US Bishops “relaxed” the restriction on percentage of beeswax

Q:  As always, I turn to you for the definitive word on all things liturgical.  I am a Music Director.

Q:  At the ordination mass of our new bishop, the archbishop of another diocese presided over the liturgy of the

Q:  I was wondering if you could give me some insight about singing the Gloria during Advent or Lent. Yesterday,

Q:  Our bishop and the liturgical commission did something different for the Rite of Election … instead of a “greet the

Q:  Liturgical question: We have had a custom of kneeling during the penitential act during Lent. The custom looks like

Q:  Quick question … I need a little help explaining the difference between adoration on Holy Thursday vs adoration on First Friday with benediction.

Q:  I got on my desk and just read an article about “A Transparent Liturgy” in GIA Quaterly. Really good job!!! I

Q:  Much appreciation for all your edifying explanations and clarifications on liturgical matters. One issue that I still see being

Q:  Hi Father Paul, I just read a question to you regarding a priest using a tablet instead of a

Q:  We have a young woman in our confirmation group who has never received her first communion. What are the

Q:  This morning when I got ready for Mass, the priest told me that incense is not allowed in Lent.

Q:  The latest issue of Pastoral Liturgy has just arrived down under, this one with your article. I was shocked to see you

Q:  Given the priest shortage can a priest arrive in time for Liturgy of Eucharist after laity have led the

Q:  Is there a rubric in the NAB Lectionary (or the Canadian one) that specifies exactly what the people’s response

Q:  I am enjoying reading your blog comments on liturgical matters. Thank you. Well, I too have a question.  During

Q:  I recently attended Mass at a church where the priest used a tablet during the entire Mass.  It was

Q:  My parish’s Patron’s Feast Day, St. Patrick, falls on Saturday March 17, during the Season of Lent. Am I right

Q:  During the Mass, what is the laity supposed to do with their hands when the Presider says “The Lord

Q:  This question came up recently at our seminary. It’s not a big one, but I find it interesting. When

Q:  My pastor and I am updating the parish procedures for communion ministers. Father has observed something and is wondering if you

Q:  Our bishop had a death in his family, and the funeral will be the weekend of the Rite of

Q:  Can you clarify the reason behind placing the Book of the Gospels on the altar rather than in a

Q:  In my pastor’s reading of the new marriage rite the Gospel and psalm are not required in weddings with

Q:  A catechumen is awaiting an annulment and thus will not be eligible to participate in the diocesan Rite of

Q:  At weekday mass, where does the priest get the prayer after Communion? Is it the same as the one

Q:  Several churches in our area are withholding the Cup and advising the assembly to gesture during the sign of

Q:  A question has arisen about who may receive ashes on Ash Wednesday: Children baptized as infants who have not yet

Q:  Is it appropriate to celebrate only Holy Thursday Mass at a place (e.g. Newman Center), or should one intend to celebrate the entirety

Q:  Could you explain conditional Confirmation?   If the Celebration of Confirmation for an individual was not recorded and there is

Q:  Our bishop is going to preside at wedding in choir dress, while a priest will be the celebrant. Does

Q:  Hello!  I continue to follow and learn from your blog and the variety of questions and responses!  THANKS!! I

Q:  In At the Supper of the Lamb you cite Barba and speak of Study Group 10 who “wanted the people to

Q:  Can a lay person lead the service at the cemetery after the funeral?  Or must it be a deacon

Q:  Do you explain in one of your books what the 3 different sacramental oils are used for?  And the

Q:  Have the prayers for the “Rite of the Blessing of Oils and the Consecrating the Chrism” been updated? If

Q:  There seems to be an inconsistency between the RCIA (409) and the National Statutes (26) regarding the time of

Q:  Our students have noticed that we don’t always recite the creed at mass. Are we supposed to recite it

Q:  In a recent blog post you were asked a question about the rite of acceptance. The correspondent stated “We

Q:  Why did Baptism of the Lord fall on a Monday this year and not a Sunday? == A:  Because of Epiphany. The

Q:  We have migrant workers in our diocese from July through October. Some have never been baptized. Can the RCIA

Q:  We are confused about the sheer multiplicity of readings available for the feast day of Blessed Andre Bessette (shown

Q:  Thank you for your great work. According to the CARA report, what percentage of people who come into the

Q:  We have a child in the parish whose mother is a non-practicing Catholic and whose father is not religious.

Q:  May the readings for a Funeral Mass be drawn from other scriptures than those listed in the Order of

Q:  I have a question about Baptism of Desire. What happens to the soul of the little ones who die

Q:  Are the Bishop’s going to actually change the Our Father here in the U. S. or the Holy Father

I have been pondering about the hierarchy of angels as I think about the RM3 Prefaces.  While I know there

Q:  At our early and packed mass on Christmas Eve we double to amount of bowls and chalices for communion.

Q:  I was just re-reading your piece on the Our Father and updating the language. While I agree that sometimes

Q:  Two weeks ago, I played for a funeral Mass. I was a bit caught off guard when the priest

Q:  On a recent post regarding the use of patens I was unclear what was being referred to as the

Q:  Been advised that Catholic liturgy requires 2 songs during the communion service. In our church both are Cantor driven

Q:  How many deacons may serve at the mass? == A:  Multiple deacons may vest, but a bishop’s stational mass

Q:  Regarding incensation to the main Celebrant and con-celebrants, how many times and how many swings does the deacon make?

Thanks for all your great work. I always enjoy what you write. You are doing a great service to the church

Q:  Are the Rites of Welcoming and Acceptance optional? We have a catechumen who travels every weekend for his job

Q:  I have a question about how to handle the ashes after a cremation and before a funeral mass or

Q:  Where are you with this idea of changing the words in the Our Father? == A:  I think that

Q:  A friend’s daughter is getting married in a Protestant church. He told me that his priest told him that

Q:  I am a parish Liturgy Coordinator. My question is this: Does the water in baptism need to be poured

Q:  Recently I celebrated a Rite of Acceptance during a Sunday Mass on the First Sunday of Advent at a neighboring parish. After the

Q:  If, at the Easter Vigil, there will be no baptism, but there will be the reception of someone into

Q: When did “Yahweh I know you are near” change to “O Lord I know you are near”?  Why the

Q:  Our retired bishop and I were talking the other day, and we were saying that there is not only

Q:  I saw your blog post about lighting candles at the Easter Vigil. https://paulturner.org/easter-vigil-candles/ What about the second lighting of the candles

Q:  Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge and pastoral practice.  I have a question concerning the celebration of

Q:  Our parish has been worshiping in a church without kneelers, but we are building a new church. When we

Q:  We’re building a new church. If our tabernacle location remains on the altar predella, must it be directly behind

Q:  My question is regarding the Blessing of the Advent Wreath during Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. The Book of

Q:  Our parish celebrates a 5:30 pm Mass on Sundays.  On 12/31, would this Mass be for Holy Family or vigil for

Q:  Sometimes a Presider at a Reconciliation Service has given a general penance for the congregation.  For example stay and

Q:  I wonder if you could help me with a bit of a problem. Speaking to a guy locally, who

ORIGINAL POST: In Paul Turner’s Blog on March 9, 2016 Q:  Are the prayers of exorcism in the scrutinies the

Q:  My comment has to do with the choices offered for various saints for feast days in the Liturgy of

Q:  Would you please help me with “Sing to the Lord”, chapter IV, section A, paragraph d: Hymns. What are

Q:  I am being asked around the office if attending an afternoon Mass on Sunday December 24 satisfies the obligation for both Sunday and

Original Post: Q:  Our deacon is training a couple of guys to lead communion services. He has told them that

Q:  Could you give me some information on the need for and use of patens.  I am a Eucharistic minister.

Q:  Our parish wants to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Saturday 4 pm mass on December 9 this year. May we use the

Q:  I have two Catholics in RCIA preparation. Both were baptized but got no further sacraments. They are civilly married

Q:  Did you know that in 1999 the Congregation for Divine Worship instructed a bishop to confirm without delay a young

Q:  Being a music minister, I do some 5-7 liturgies a weekend.  Someone told me it is only permitted to

Q:  Is there any ritual book or instruction that lays out how to have baptisms at Sunday Mass?    I have been

Q:  Is there any commentary or instruction available that could explain how different canticles and psalms were chosen for the

Q:  Our deacon is training a couple of guys to lead communion services. He has told them that they are

Q:  In my prison ministry, one resident grew up in a Catholic family but was never baptized. He is asking

Q:  Father, when the blessed host at Mass is accidentally run out of at the communion rite, is a priest

Q:  Will the new Spanish translation of the missal for use in the United States use “for you” or “for

Comment:  I love the way you respond to the blog questions.   And thank you for your critiques of the National

Q:  According to the Roman Missal, Ritual Masses #3, if a Baptism is conferred during Mass then it is permissible

Q:  A parishioner wants to bring an urn with the ashes of her deceased relative to the parish mass this