Q: As we are approaching the time for the Chrism Mass, I am curious to know if there is any order for the procession of concelebrant priests, at the Chrism Mass particularly, and in any stational or pontifical Mass in general.
I have heard some people saying that the order of the procession of priests when the bishop is there is according to the seniority in the ordination. Others think that it is according to the height for a good harmony. Some others think that it does not matter as long as those with some responsibilities in the diocese are at the back with the bishop.
Is there any unwritten instruction about this, or these are just opinions.
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A: The order of procession is given in the Ceremonial of Bishops 128. It calls for the concelebrants to enter the procession between the deacons and the bishop, but it makes no further distinction about the ordering of the concelebrants among themselves. Dioceses may have their own traditions ordering the priests in the various ways you suggest, but the Ceremonial does not require everyone to do it the same way.