‘Outwardly Like Ourselves’

January 25, 2026

Question: My question is not exactly about the liturgy rubrics, but rather about the text of the opening prayer (collect) at Mass on Tuesday after the solemnity of the Epiphany. The text of the collect as I have in our Missal says: "O God, whose Only Begotten Son has appeared in our very flesh, grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed through him whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves. who lives and reigns with you ...." It dawned on me that there is something not right in the wording, which seemed to suggest that Christ was not truly and fully human but only "outwardly like ourselves.” Is it a lack of attention to proper translation wording, or are we sidelining the whole struggle of the first three centuries over the nature of Christ, definitively concluding with the definition at [the Council of] Nicaea, if I am not mistaken, that Christ was both truly, really and fully divine and truly, really and fully human? Although the opening line of the prayer does affirm the teaching and faith that the "Only Begotten Son has appeared in our very flesh," the conclusion "whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves" seems to suggest it is only an outward appearance and not a reality of being fully human as ourselves! Am I misreading the text? — J.S., Johannesburg, South Africa

Removing the Christmas Creche

January 18, 2026

Question: Should the creche be removed from a church before the feast of the Baptism of the Lord? The person responsible for removing the creche was unable to come, so we simply removed the Infant Jesus from the creche in the meantime. — V.S., Annecy, France

Seminarians, Deacons and Collars

January 11, 2026

Question: It has been my understanding that the "collar" is a sign of the one in the clerical state. Why then are seminarians , who have yet to be admitted to the clerical state by ordination to the diaconate, allowed to wear the collar? As a corollary, those ordained to the clerical state as permanent deacons are restricted from wearing the "collar." The complementary norms for the U.S. regarding clerical garb states, "The Code of Canon Law does not oblige permanent deacons to wear an ecclesiastical garb (Canon 284). Further, because they are more prominent and active in secular professions and society, the U.S. bishops’ conference specifies that permanent deacons should resemble the lay faithful in dress and matters of lifestyle. Each diocesan bishop should, however, determine and promulgate any exceptions to this law, as well as specify the appropriate clerical attire. Why do we allow such diversity, which leads to confusion? — D.L., Athens, Alabama

Bows and Genuflections

January 4, 2026

Question: Is it necessary to bow down to the altar at the beginning of Mass when the tabernacle is in the sanctuary? I see priests doing it and it seems redundant. They do that before leaving, too. They bow down to the altar and then genuflect and then leave. — J.S., New York City

Incensing at Mass

December 21, 2025

Question: In the Tridentine Mass, the gifts at the offertory were incensed, making three crosses over the gifts with the thurible, then two counterclockwise circles and one clockwise circle while saying a prayer. Is this way of incensing the gifts at the offertory still permitted in the Novus Ordo Mass? — T.R., San Diego, California

Recitation of the Divine Praises

December 14, 2025

Question: There are so many online articles regarding the Divine Praises. I don’t see any articles that address the method of delivery of the Divine Praises. Example: We have one lector who provides everyone with a scripted worship aide containing all the words of the Divine Praises, yet requires that she speak the first line, and everyone repeat it after her: ‘Blessed be God,’ then, ‘Blessed be God’ and on and on. If the audience were 5 years old and could not read, or if adults had no script, I might understand this, but is it acceptable to let the adults in the room be adults and read the prayer together in concert or unison? As we would recite the Our Father or the Hail Mary? I feel we are treating our adults like children when we pray like this. Perhaps there is a historical or liturgical reason why it must be done as such. I would love to have you weigh in on this. — V.D., Southern California

Applause Within Mass

December 7, 2025

Question: Are there any rules/norms regarding applause during Mass? It's Mother's Day — applause. It's Father's Day — applause. It's Veterans Day — applause. It's someone's birthday — applause (usually includes singing Happy Birthday). It's someone's anniversary — applause. There are visitors — applause. The parish met its fund-raising goal — applause. We have a new altar server — applause. The school team won the big game — applause. Someone gives a sales pitch for some parish organization — applause. And on and on. You get the idea. The Mass becomes more of a self-centered variety show than worship. — R.P., Boise, Idaho

Flags Over a Coffin

November 30, 2025

Question: What is the Church's position about draping a coffin with a flag for the funeral of a returned serviceman? — P.G-W., Melbourne, Australia

Women and Girls as Altar Servers

November 23, 2025

Question: A recently baptized friend does not understand why some churches reserve the service of the altar to boys. She would be in favor of also having girls at the service of the altar. Thank you for an explanation. — V.D., Bordeaux, France

When to Set Out the Vessels for Mass

November 16, 2025

Question: I have often wondered what is permitted and what is the best practice when it comes to setting out the vessels for Mass. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) No. 139 indicates that no items are on the altar before the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist but are then brought there by an acolyte or other lay minister. However, later, in the section “Mass at Which Only One Minister Participates,” it indicates that the necessary vessels may be prepared on either the credence table or “the righthand side of the altar” (GIRM 255). Would it be permissible, and if so, advisable, to set up the chalice and “necessary vessels” on the altar when there are no servers at Mass, even if there may be people forming a congregation in the pews? Also, what might be understood by the term “necessary vessels”? Would this include not only the chalice, paten and cruets but also the finger bowl and towel as well, and even a communion plate for the people? I have seen priests do a variety of different things. Many people also think it looks beautiful for a nicely veiled chalice to be on the altar from the beginning of Mass. — J.D., Wagga Wagga, Australia