Q: Thank you Fr. Paul for your help. Is there any way that we can use 2 readings for this celebration as is done in Mexico? Can the pastor or bishop allow it according to liturgical law?
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A: I’m not sure what this means, but GIRM 357 says, “If, however, according to the norms a Feast is raised to the rank of a Solemnity, a third reading is added, and this is taken from the Common.”
Honestly, if a feast is raised to a solemnity, then it’s not a feast any more. So this could mean something like celebrating a feast as if it were a solemnity.
In the midst of that uncertainty, I’d probably say yes, go ahead and add another reading.
However, it should be noted that there is a difference between feasts and solemnities, and although many individuals, especially in the hispanic community, cannot think of Guadalupe as anything but a solemnity—if not a day of obligation—and don’t get me started on the comparison between Mass attendance on December 8 and December 12 in the hispanic community—it is a worthy custom to retain two readings on feasts for the proper balance of the days in the liturgical year.
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Q: I spoke to one of my priest friends, and he gave the example of a parish celebrating their patron saint day, they would be allowed to raise the feast to a solemnity, but he was skeptical that a pastor could do it without a reason given in law, so I am going to leave the one reading and maybe come back to this question again next year…
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A: Ah, yes. I think he has it right.