Q: The second paragraph of GIRM 83 states that “…The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words dona nobis pacem (grant us peace).” Since, “The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace…” (GIRM 83 first paragraph), the fraction itself of a “regular” big host does not take …
Stole for communion
Q: Thanks, Paul, for your April 10 post. I asked the priest MC who serves my bishop the same question of putting a stole when receiving Communion. His response is below. What do you think? Clarification can be found in Peter Elliott’s Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite, wherein (page 62, question #175), he says: “The M.C. may wear an alb, but choir dress may seem preferable, to distinguish him from servers. A priest or deacon acting as the M.C. wears a stole only when receiving Communion or during duty at the tabernacle.” He does cite a reference in the …
Choir dress description
On what constitutes/describes choir dress in general, my first thought is to look at GIRM 310 and 114 together. (I am looking only at the American GIRM, and I have not consulted the Latin.) GIRM 114 foresees priests who are not the principal celebrant concelebrating, preferably, but if not, “they wear their proper choir dress or a surplice over a cassock.” On its own, this line can very naturally be read to mean that some priests (e.g., secular canons) have something called “choir dress” and that other priests have nothing called choir dress, and thus wear cassock and surplice instead …
Choir dress
Q: This is a follow-up to https://paulturner.org/choir-dress-for-deacon/ (August 2022) based on some things I have noticed over time in the Ceremonial for Bishops (CB). During its treatment of the ordination of priests, CB specifies in paragraph 532, “Next all the concelebrating presbyters and all other presbyters present, provided they are vested with a stole worn over an alb or over a cassock and surplice, lay their hands on each of the candidates, in silence.” This paragraph ostensibly provides for the presence of priests wearing stoles during Mass who are not concelebrating. It would seem to me that a priest MC, hitherto vested …
Bell ringing during the Gloria
Q: The Holy Thursday Evening Mass of Lord’s Supper calls for bells to be rung on the singing of the Gloria, then they went silent until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. But some parishes extend this practice of bell ringing during Gloria even on regular sundays and solemnities. Are they wrong? == A: Well, there’s no provision for it. One could argue that bells are a musical instrument, so they are no different from adding an organ, guitar or piccolo to the Gloria. But the specific mention of bells for two days on the calendar implies that they’re not …
ICEL additional collects
Q: In view of your forthcoming visit to England I have acquired your latest book, Words Without Alloy, for which many thanks, it was very interesting. I was intrigued by your almost throw-away comment that the ICEL additional collects were rejected by the Vatican. Was it the Vatican, or the bishops, who feared too much choice who declined to approve them? They could have been inserted easily in the latest revision of the Missal.== == A: The years of the revision of the English translation of the missal were fraught with stress. ICEL felt it needed to adhere its translation as close to …
Letter to the Hebrews
Q: I am from mainland China. Recently, I have been reading through your book entiltled Words Without Alloy which benefits me greatly. I was wondering who assigned the Letter to the Hebrews on the first four weeks in Ordinary time. I notice that scholars suggested it in the schemata 127,Nov.2,1965(p.7), but later it says: “the Letter to the Hebrews occupies the first four weeks of the first year”(p.260). I ‘d appreciate it highly If you’d share with me more about it. I am looking forward to your reply. == A: Schemata 127 recommends Hebrews as part of the period between Epiphany and Lent …
Mass on Election Day
Q: I am looking ahead for appropriate opportunities to utilize Masses for Various Needs. Election Day (November 5) seems an appropriate opportunity to utilize Mass 21: For the Nation or State. However, the Missal provides only a collect. Where are the remaining prayers (Prayer Over the Offerings and Prayer After Communion) taken from? There are several other Masses for Various Needs that similarly provide only a collect, so this question would apply to them as well. == A: You’ve landed on a fine suggestion for Election Day this year. As you’ve noticed, there are several Masses in that section that …
Diaconate ordination
Q: I am just watching a livestream of a diaconate ordination in Paris. The candidates were all presented after the entrance rite and before the liturgy of the word. Is there a provision for that? == A: I didn’t cover this in my book Present for God’s Call, but yes, that’s what they do in France and in French-speaking Canada.
Masses with First Communicants
Q: Should the renewal of baptismal promises be done at Masses with First Communicants? Thanks for the help! == A: We have no formal ritual for first communion. It’s completely a grassroots ceremony. Communion is one of the initiation sacraments, so I understand the instinct to renew baptismal promises on that occasion. However, we have no ritual calling for it, as we do for confirmation. Perhaps it’s best for the children to experience communion at Mass as normally as possible. If it’s a Sunday or solemnity, then, their first communion Mass includes the creed.