Orans Gesture at Funerals

October 18, 2026

Question: My question is related to the position of a priest’s hands in some of the prayers at funerals. For the prayer of commendation and committal, what is the proper gesture for the priest? The rite doesn't seem to specify. There are other prayers that don't seem to specify the gestures; I have seen different ways (for example, the concluding prayer of vespers—orans?). What are some principles to help guide the use of gestures in prayer if the liturgical books do not specify? — P.T., Baltimore, Maryland

Candles for Communion to the Sick

October 11, 2026

Question: Many older artistic representations which show Communion being taken to the sick strongly feature the presence of a candle, sometimes borne by a server or servers, but it seems very uncommon for this to happen today. When a cleric or an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion removes hosts from the tabernacle to distribute them to the homebound and the sick, should candles be lit either side of the tabernacle? Should this also occur when Hosts are replaced back in the tabernacle? Should a candle or candles be lit in the homes or hospital rooms where one gives the homebound and sick Communion? Could or should one or more available altar servers carry a candle on the way to each home if this were practically possible? Finally, are there any universal norms about the required liturgical vestments for this rite? — J.D., Wagga Wagga, Australia

Omission of the Consecration at Mass

October 4, 2026

Question: During a Sunday Mass at church the priest forgot to do the consecration of the bread and wine. He was in his 50s and looked healthy. A priest assistant tried to tell the priest, but he was not aware. So, the communion was distributed without the consecration having been done. This case has been reported to the archbishop. If this happens at a Mass I attend, what should I do? Should I attend another Mass? What if I cannot attend the next Mass? — M.Y., Jakarta, Indonesia

When Words of Absolution Are Changed

September 26, 2026

Question: At confession, if a confessor says, “I forgive you all your sins” instead “I absolve you of your sins,” is that confession valid? — B.B., Calgary, Alberta

Deacons, Communion and Benediction

September 13, 2026

Question 1: I've been attending a local daily Mass where there are a priest and a deacon. For distribution of Communion, the priest has been cleaning the vessels while the deacon distributes the hosts. Should it be the other way around? — T.F., Cortland, New York

Question 2: May a permanent deacon, in the absence of a priest, preside the Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament at the conclusion of the time of exposition? — N.F., Nouméa, New Caledonia

Doxology at the Nunc Dimittis

September 6, 2026

Question: There’s a rubric directing that after each canticle there should be a doxology, but I noticed that after the Nunc Dimittis, the Gospel canticle at compline, the doxology is not said. Is this proper? The other two Gospel canticles, the Magnificat and the Benedictus, conclude with a doxology. — C.N., Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Communion at Weddings Outside of a Mass

August 30, 2026

Question: Couples preparing for marriage sometimes include a partner who converted to Catholicism from another denomination or faith. Often, theses couples bring up the question whether to celebrate the sacrament of marriage in the context of the Mass or in the celebration of marriage outside of Mass since a lot of family members are not Catholic. I advise that for a Catholic couple it is certainly preferrable that they celebrate within the Mass, but if a presbyter is unavailable, it is equally valid to celebrate the sacrament outside of Mass. Then comes the question regarding reception of Communion. Due to the imbalance of Catholic and non-Catholics in attendance, the couple ask for Communion only for themselves. It is my understanding during a Mass all Catholics have a right to receive and cannot be denied that right. Is the same approach applicable to the celebration of marriage that takes place outside of Mass using the acceptable option of distributing Communion in the ritual book? A second question is that certain pastors will not allow the distribution of Communion outside of Mass. Does this not diminish the right of the Catholic couple? — D.L., Madison, Alabama

When Candles Should Be Used

August 23, 2026

Question: Is it correct to celebrate the sacraments without any lit candles, for example, a wedding, with or without Mass? What about other celebrations? — E.D.S., Brasilia, Brazil

When Holy Water and Holy Oils Run Short

August 16, 2026

Question: My question regards blessings such as that of fire, candles, water and oils. In some ceremonies, such as the Chrism Mass, the Easter vigil and the feast of the Presentation (February 2), these objects are blessed at Mass. Do these objects receive the blessing in such a way that they can transmit the blessing by being placed into contact with other similar objects? In other words, so that it does not run out, is it correct to add ordinary water to blessed holy water? So that it does not run out, is it correct to add unblessed oil to the holy oils and the sacred chrism blessed by the bishop in the Chrism Mass? And so that the light from the fire blessed during the Easter vigil be perpetuated, may it be passed along to another candle? — J.P.G., Zipaquirá, Colombia

Blessings of Married Couples

August 9, 2026

Question: These are follow-up questions to your October 24, 2017, and February 5, 2013, articles on Zenit about the renewal of the couple's marital commitment (not vows) on milestone anniversaries. My questions relate to the revised Order of Celebrating Matrimony as implemented for use in U.S. dioceses in 2016. My first question: May I use Appendix III ("The Order of Blessing a Married Couple Within Mass on the Anniversary of Marriage") within Masses other than the "Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, no. 11. On the Anniversaries of Marriage,” as mentioned in the rubrics in no. 237? For example, can I use it within Mass on a Sunday in Ordinary Time or some other feast day if I keep the proper text for the Sunday/feast day Mass and the Sunday/feast day readings? My second question: May I use that same text from Appendix III outside of Mass but modify it to reflect the "Order of Blessing of a Married Couple Outside Mass” in the Book of Blessings? In other words, use the text of Appendix III, while trying to maintain the structure and chief elements of the rite in the Book of Blessings? — D.G., Irondale, Alabama