Q: On Easter Sunday morning neither the Presider nor Deacon included the ALLELUIA for the Final Blessing, nor did the Assembly receive the solemn blessing. Are those considered optional?
A: Sometimes we priests go into automatic pilot, and it’s hard to remember something like the alleluia. But it should be done.
The solemn blessing is optional on Easter Sunday morning. It is expected at the Vigil, but it may be replaced with one from the Rite of Baptism.