On Who Should Receive the Offertory Gifts
September 26, 2021
Q: Who should receive the gifts from the offertory procession? The deacon, if present, or the celebrant? There seems to be a growing trend for the deacon, assisted by altar servers, to receive the gifts at the edge of the sanctuary while the celebrant remains seated at the chair. The deacon prepares the chalice, at which point the celebrant comes to the altar. Is this proper? -- S.M., Evansville, Indiana
Adjusting Texts for Number and Gender
September 19, 2021
Q: I am aware that a priest cannot change the approved liturgical texts used in Mass. However, I have a doubt regarding the mention of saints, the living and the deceased in the liturgical texts. Can a priest change the number and gender of the prayers to adapt them to a concrete celebration? -- D.A., Granada, Spain
Blessing With the Book of the Gospels
September 12, 2021
Q: Who can bless the congregation with the Book of the Gospels after the proclamation of the Gospel? Is it true that it can only be done by bishops? Sometimes I hear that the provincials of religious orders can also do it since they are considered as “bishops” for their order. Is this true? -- M.Z., Malta
Plenary Indulgence at Point of Death
September 5, 2021
Q: Pope Paul VI’s apostolic constitution on indulgences, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, mentions in No. 18 the plenary indulgence at the point of death. Therein he makes reference to Canon 468, paragraph 2 of the Code of Canon Law. It appears, however, that the Code he is referring to is that of 1917. My question is whether the indulgence is still in force, and if any conditions for gaining it have been changed? -- G.B., Saint Venera, Malta
Where a Homily Should Be Given
August 29, 2021
Q: Should a priest give his homily from the ambo, or can it be from the altar? -- S.W., Masai, Malaysia
A: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) is rather sparse regarding this point.
No. 136 says: "The priest, standing at the chair or at the ambo itself or, when appropriate, in another suitable place, gives the homily. When the homily is completed, a period of silence may be observed."
Offertory Antiphons
August 15, 2021
Q: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) speaks of an antiphon for the offertory at Mass, but the only place I have seen offertory antiphons is in missals for the extraordinary form; neither the now-defunct missals of the ordinary form nor the newly translated missals contain this antiphon. Do you know what happened to the offertory antiphon? Did the Latin "Novus Ordo" ever have them? If so, why were they dropped, and why would the GIRM speak of them? If not, why not? And if they do exist in Latin, why weren't they translated into English and given to us so that we can use them, as the Church obviously wishes? -- M.D., Cheyenne, Wyoming
A Hail Mary at the End of General Intercessions
July 26, 2021
Q: What sort of prayer is supposed to be recited at the conclusion of the Prayer of the Faithful? Is it permitted to substitute the Memorare for the Hail Mary? -- J.M., Harare, Zimbabwe
Mass Intention in the Prayer of the Faithful
July 18, 2021
Q: Some parishes here have the intention(s) of the Mass added in the Prayer of the Faithful, or general intercessions. Is that an acceptable liturgical practice? -- T.C., City of Navotas, Philippines
Funerals With Cremated Remains
July 11, 2021
Questio: During the funeral Mass when the cremated remains are present, are the remains sprinkled with holy water and reverenced with incense at the final commendation? -- D.Y., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Arriving Late to Mass
July 4, 2021
Q: How late can a person be to Mass for it to count? Does it count if they arrive just for Communion? -- T.F., Westminster, Colorado