Moving Patronal Feasts

September 6, 2025

Question: Last September you published a response clarifying a question about duplicating the celebration of a liturgical feast. However, according to the Table of Liturgical Days, the Sunday of Ordinary Time takes precedence over the feast of the patron saint of a diocese, is that correct? For example, if in a diocese the patronal feast is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) and in the civil calendar that date does not coincide with a Sunday: a) can the diocesan bishop move that patronal feast to the following Sunday? b) if so, would it be correct for the bishop to order that the patronal feast day be celebrated in the diocesan cathedral on August 15 with the presbyterate and the lay faithful, and that in the parishes the celebration of the liturgical feast be doubled both on August 15 — as indicated by the general liturgical calendar — and on the following Sunday — according to the disposition of the diocesan bishop? — J.G., Zipaquirá, Colombia

Incensing During the Liturgy of the Hours

August 31, 2025

Question: We are praying lauds and vespers with the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. As written in the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours (No. 261), the altar may be incensed during the Gospel canticle. However, we received a complaint that the celebrant is not supposed to incense the altar when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on it, but it would be permissible if the Blessed Sacrament is not on the altar, say, but on the retablo. I have not found anything to support this claim. I would like to ask for your opinion on this. — J.S.

Masses of Christian Burial

August 24, 2025

Question: If a Catholic hasn’t been to Mass or confession for several if not many years, is there some benefit to this person to have a Mass of Christian Burial after death? Also, for a practicing Catholic who has attended Mass regularly and gone to confession when needed, would it be wrong if this person decided in advance not to have a Mass of Christian Burial after death? — T.B., Courtenay, British Columbia

Churches Named for ‘St. Mary’

August 17, 2025

Question: As a follow-up to the June 7 question about a solemnity linked to a parish patron, what day of the liturgical calendar should be celebrated as a church’s solemnity if the church has the generic title "St. Mary’s"? Can the parish priest or diocesan bishop simply select one of the Marian feast days to celebrate it as a solemnity (if it is not such already)? — F.D., Wagga Wagga, Australia

Who Can and Cannot Give Homilies

August 2, 2025

Question: I am concerned by a practice in which a priest defers to a visiting non-cleric (religious sister or brother) or permits a lay person to offer a reflection. The reflection usually follows a one- or two-minute comment from the presider who claims it was the homily. I have been taught that canon law is clear as to whom the homily at Mass is reserved, as well as the exceptions permitted by the bishop for a layperson to preach. However, this is not the case about which I am speaking. — T.O., Gloucester, New Jersey

Celebrating at a Second Mass

July 27, 2025

Question: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) in No. 203 recommends priests to concelebrate whenever they gather together with their bishop. The GIRM in No. 204, however, only indicates that a priest has a faculty to celebrate or concelebrate more than once in a day, for the benefit of the faithful, in certain prescribed circumstances. If a pastor were to concelebrate a funeral Mass with his diocesan bishop, would he be able to celebrate again for the people of his parish on that same day? Ostensibly, it would seem that a funeral celebration is not really a "gathering of priests," even if there are many priests at it, and so the permission given in No. 204.e arguably does not apply. If so, does this mean that a priest, if he wanted to offer Mass for his parishioners on the same day as a funeral that he was attending, could only attend such a funeral "in choir," and not concelebrate? — F.D., Wagga Wagga, Australia

Miter and Crozier at Civil-Military Ceremony

July 13, 2025

Question: At the end of our national memorial Mass for military service personnel, after the blessing yet before the closing hymn, there is a ceremony in which a wreath is being presented by one of the generals present. We play the Last Post and the national anthem. Since the bishop has already given his blessing, at this point he is wearing the miter and holding the pastoral staff. Should he remove the miter/staff for this ceremony or can keep them? I couldn’t find anything in the ceremonial about this eventuality. A second question regards the difference between holding the crozier with the crook outward or inward. I told the bishop that I am only familiar with holding the crook outward/forward, and then the good man went on to make a distinction between whether you are in your diocese or not, or which part the celebration it is (I think he mentioned something about the Gospel/homily) and so on. I told him that generally a bishop can only use the crozier in his own diocese and that I suspect the distinctions must be from pre-Vatican II days. — S.B., military chaplaincy and episcopal master of ceremonies.

Kneeling at the Consecration

July 6, 2025

Question: My professor of liturgy at the major seminary is strongly against the attitude of kneeling at the time of consecration during Mass. Other seminarians from other seminaries, however, say that it is rather the ideal time for contemplation, adoration and great respect for Christ who offers himself for us during Mass. So, when I meet a member of the faithful who asks me what exactly to do, I am always in doubt. What to do? — A.M., Burundi

Change of Presider During a Mass

June 29, 2025

Question: I was attending the Mass at my home parish during my summer break which coincided with the transfer of the parish from the old pastor to the new pastor. The Mass began with the previous pastor presiding, and after the homily the new pastor began to preside the Mass. I know that if for unavoidable reasons a priest is not able to finish the Mass, then another priest can step in and finish it. But it was not the case here. Can you give me a little clarity about this? I would love to get in touch with the diocesan bishop to discuss further about this, but I want to be precise with him. -- F.C., Rome

St. Michael Prayer, Long and Short

June 22, 2025

Question: Can the laity pray the long version of the St. Michael Prayer? Some say yes, others say no. Could you please clarify? — D.K.