Q: We will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption this year as a Holy Day of Obligation.  I do not set the Parish calendar, but I have noticed that we never have a Vigil Mass scheduled for days of obligation. Are we not obliged (no pun intended) to provide a Vigil Mass?  == A: No vigil Mass is required for the Assumption. In my parish this year we’re offering Masses only on August 15 as well ..read more

Q: As we know from the Bible, Deacons were called into service for the fair distribution of food to the widows. If that is the case who decided we should be the ministers of the cup?  I understand what GIRM 137 says.  But if I understand history deacons were before priest in the original church Christ started. They would have been distributing food for the body first (Not the Body of Christ). So, I am just wondering who this tradition started. == A: Joseph Jungmann says that evidence for deacons administering the chalice goes back to the third century. You ..read more

Q: Fr. Paul, in a recent post titled “Mass to Adoration” https://paulturner.org/mass-to-adoration/ you clarified some things regarding omitting the blessing and dismissal at the end of Mass when Adoration follows immediately, and when the blessing with the monstrance should be done.  As usual, this was all very helpful. My question has to do with when to place the lunette into the monstrance.  You mentioned at the end of the post that you place the newly consecrated Host into the lunette and then place it in the tabernacle.  Do you then take it from the tabernacle afte ..read more

Q: I am seeking your opinion.  A friend sent me the following Zenit article <https://zenit.org/2024/07/17/questions-about-liturgy-incensing-a-deacon-at-solemn-vespers> that seems to suggest that it would be OK for a deacon who is presiding solemn vespers or lauds to be incensed. (It also seems to suggest that a deacon may wear a cope when presiding vespers or lauds.) Thank you, and God bless. == A: GILH 261 does not say who incenses when a priest presides, but he obviously does not incense himself, so logically a deacon or acolyte would  incense him and the people after he ince ..read more

Q: You posted before that you do not believe the Triduum is one continuous liturgy.  The USCCB, however, says the Triduum is a “single celebration” (https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/triduum).  Just as the Mass is composed of 2 liturgies (Word and Eucharist), why can’t the Triduum be considered one continuous liturgy composed of other liturgies like the Mass? == A: The page you reference comes from the Prayer and Worship section of the USCCB website, not from the USCCB’s Office of Divine Worship. You generally find inspirational more than legislative material on th ..read more

Q: When you transition from Mass to Adoration, you don’t give the final blessing until the end of Adoration. Our Mass ends at 9:30 am and we transition to Adoration. Adoration ends at 8 pm. The people were used to receiving a blessing at the end of Mass. We normally have between 20-35 people at daily Mass.  There are only 4-6 people at Adoration at 8 pm. Is it permissible to silently bless the people with the monstrance at the beginning of Adoration?Thank you for addressing my concern. == A: Actually, no. No blessing with the monstrance is given until the end of adoration. This will ..read more

Q: We have been told our parish ministries are now to be called “apostolates” instead of  “ministries. “ Does that mean lay people should not  be called ministers. == A: Well, GIRM 100 still says, “there may be deputed lay ministers to serve at the altar and assist the Priest and the Deacon; these carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, or who are even deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers.”  ..read more

Q: We have a priest who joined our staff this month and he is asking for bells to be rung at the beginning of daily Masses (not weekend ones where we have music) during his short procession out of the sacristy and into the sanctuary. Are there any instructions on bells at this time? This is not our current practice. == A: I treat this in my book Let Us Pray. The USCCB’s Built of Living Stones mentions it in #99. The Book of Blessings includes a blessing of bells and notes that “It is an ancient practice to summon the Christian people to the liturgical assembly” (1305). See also ..read more

Q: I ran across a wrinkle that has me (canonically) curious regarding Sacraments of Initiation received at the Easter Vigil.  It seems highly problematic to my current understanding – which maybe you both can enlighten.  RCIA (soon to be OCIA) no. 226 states that if there is a great number to be baptized [the bracketed ‘exceptions’], they may be divided into groups and baptized by assisting priests or deacons…. Then, no. 232 states when there are a great many persons to be confirmed, the minister of confirmation may associate priests with himself as mini ..read more

Q: I receive frequent criticism of publications in our parish related to liturgy because they do not contain “reverential pronouns.”  While I am aware of the tradition of capitalizing divine pronouns, I have always avoided doing so for subjective reasons, namely that I find the consistent application of such a convention to be a slippery slope into hyper-piety and preciousness.  Objectively, I note that reverential pronouns are not used in the English ritual books nor in the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Given your vast experience with ICEL, can yo ..read more