Q: I was reading your recent article in the Priest Magazine on the new OCIA translation, and I have read others of your liturgical commentaries, which I find very helpful. I thought I would pass along a question, if you wouldn’t minding guiding me in the right direction. This year, I have a person who wants to enter the Church, is being catechized, etc. However, they are not able to find a record of their baptism. Their Church (a Christian alliance community) was closed and all the Church’s records were destroyed by a severe storm. It was not part …
Pastoral curiosity about first communion
Q: People ask such interesting questions and I really appreciate your answers. I’ve been thinking about about the child who was baptized in a protestant church before making her first communion without making a profession of faith and receiving confirmation. https://paulturner.org/first-communion-4/ As presented, the case feels rather dry and off-putting, even if your resolution is liturgically and canonically correct. A little pastoral curiosity could make for a much richer experience for all involved. To me it seems unlikely that this child’s irregular situation is an isolated case of a family of otherwise faithful practicing Catholics. What led them to …
First communion
Q: Bishop was reviewing sacramental records in a parish, and discovered that a 7 y/o child who recently made her first communion was baptized in the reformed church. No profession of faith/reception and no confirmation (obviously) was celebrated. First Communion alone doesn’t rally “count” as a profession of faith / reception, right? So… treat her as a candidate, do whatever preparation is needed, then have her profess the faith, be received, and then confirmed? Most likely in pretty short order…. It would seem that minimal additional preparation would be necessary, provided the girl expresses her desire to be Catholic and …
Concelebrants and intinction
Q: I have been following your blog since you came to the UK and am very grateful for your generous sharing of your knowledge and understanding of all things liturgical. Regarding, your answer about concelebrants at a funeral, is there not the option of them receiving through intinction? We are having a Deanery Confirmation Mass this week and that is how the concelebrants will receive from the chalice. == A: Thanks for your remarks about my work. Yes, concelebrants may receive by intinction. But the main celebrant must drink from the chalice. I’ve covered lots of issues on concelebration in …
Sprinkling Rite
We have been using the Sprinkling Rite during the Easter Season in place of the Penitential Act. I realize the Sunday of Easter takes precedence over the Confirmation texts. However, given the Renewal of Baptismal Promises and Professional of Faith is stated during the Rite of Confirmation, it almost would seem that one would use one of the other options for the Penirtential Rite and use the Sprinkling after the Renewal of Baptismal Promises, just like on Easter Sunday. Given Google these days, there are Confirmation documents galore from various dioceses throughout the world on how to and how not …
Vigil of Pentecost
Q: Our Bishop will come to celebrate the mass of Confirmation and First Communion for our children. I just realized that the liturgy of the Vigil Mass offers 4 readings and 1 Epistle and those readings make me confused about if I should use all of them for mass since the mass for Confirmation and 1st Communion will be pretty long, to be honest. My question is that, would it be possible for me to pick one of the 4 readings and use it as the First Reading of that mass and then the Epistle as the second reading ? …
Sacraments of initiation
Q: Do you have anything that we can share with parents who balk at their unbaptized 7 y/o receiving all 3 sacraments of initiation? They “want” their child to be confirmed with their class later…== A: I wrote this for Catechumenate with the other parents in mind, but it may help. https://paulturner.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/envy_confirmation.htm
Children receiving Sacraments
Q: I have three kids who are all over the age of reason that have been delayed entering the Catholic Faith for years. They will all receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion in the near future. I have been doing separate classes with the family. I am asking for possible options that I may use for them to receive these Sacraments. A family member of the kids is coming in to town for Easter Sunday weekend. I have a guest priest presiding for the Vigil. Am I able to have the three children receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy …
Children baptized outside of the Catholic Church
Q: Thanks for all your great work, you’re a tremendous resource to many of us! I have a question for which I cannot quite find a matching situation for in your archives. In your book When Other Christians Become Catholic, you cite Canonist John Huels regarding a juridic act of reception for children baptized outside of the Catholic Church (p144). Your quote of him speaks to the implicit declaration of the parents that they want their child to be Catholic by virtue of notifying the pastor of their child’s (Protestant) baptism for record in the parish register, an indication of …