The following were added this past week to www.paulturner.org: Homily for September 20, 2015 Blog entries about altar location, priests facing the congregation, and upcoming talks in Richmond Workshops given at St. Mark’s in Independence And in other news, there was a Video and a News Article about the “Nuns on the Bus” stop at St. Anthony
Priest facing the congregation
Q: If the order of the Mass presumes that the priest has his back to the congregation, then why, for the last 50 plus years, have priests been facing congregations? A: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says this: “The altar should be built separate from the wall, in such a way that it is possible to walk around it easily and that Mass can be celebrated at it facing the people, which is desirable wherever possible” (299). There are cases where it is difficult if not impossible, so the Order of Mass makes some accommodation for it. But the priest should normally …
Talks in Richmond
Q: What can you tell me about your upcoming talks in Richmond, Virginia? A: You can learn all about them here: http://www2.richmonddiocese.org/worship/ My YouTubes on these are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqP8f0bPr6Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rmZqwRdkAU And you can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-liturgical-ministers-workshop-tickets-18338385605
Altar location
Q: My little hometown parish is about to dedicate their new church, and there has been a bit of a struggle over the altar. The pastor bought and had installed a marble high altar/reredos, and didn’t want an altar in front of it. He wants to say mass with his back to the people. The diocese has required him to install an altar in front, and that is the altar the bishop will anoint. The pastor calls it a portable altar, and intends to move it out of the way when he says mass on the high altar. What are …
Last week
The following were added to www.paulturner.org Homilies, in English and Spanish, for September 13, 2015 Blog entry about the Gloria during a Wedding Updated scores of the Royals pre-game activities.
Gloria at weddings
Q: Is the Gloria required to be sung at weddings? Does the rubric assume that the Mass to be celebrated will satisfy the Sunday obligation and serves as a vigil, thus the Gloria is sung? A: The third edition of the roman missal added the Gloria to sacramental celebrations such as weddings and confirmations. Even a wedding on a weekday in Lent will now have a Gloria, much as the Solemnity of St. Joseph or the Annunciation does. Any Saturday evening mass fulfills the canonical obligation to participate in mass on Sunday. It doesn’t matter which readings or prayers are said, or if …
So far in September
The following were added to www.paulturner.org Homilies, in English and Spanish, for September 6, 2015 Workshops on the Funeral Rite for the Diocese of Greensburg. Scores of the Royals pre-game activities.
Last week on the site
The following were added to www.paulturner.org A new post to Paul’s Blog. Rework and reformat of the Diocesan Liturgical Calendar. A Workshop for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Scores of the Royals pre-game activities.
Non-Catholics at the Eucharistic Table
Q. I know a set of Catholic parents who are trying to understand why the non-Catholic groom cannot receive communion at a Catholic wedding mass. Is there a source you can recommend that cogently and simply explains why the Roman Catholic Church does not welcome other Christian traditions to the Eucharistic table? A. Here’s my own bulletin insert on the topic: http://www.rpinet.com/ml/2310bi2.html Here’s the actual teaching, see paragraph 129: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html There are exceptions, as the same paragraph notes, but this wedding would not qualify. I was able to obtain permission for an Episcopalian prisoner to receive communion at the Catholic mass while …
So far in August
The following were added to www.paulturner.org Four new posts to Paul’s Blog. The homilies for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time in both English and Español. An endorsed book, “The Disciples at the Lord’s Table”. Updates to the Diocesan Liturgical Calendar.