Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

QUAERITUR: Genuflecting before a tabernacle

From a reader: Dear Fr. Z., I am aware that the GIRM for OF Masses requires all passing in front of a tabernacle to BOW instead of genuflect, and for everyone to comport to the action of the priest during … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices |
39 Comments

QUAERITUR: Why were the candles in echelon instead of in a line?

Under another entry, a commentator asked: Why [were] the altar candles sometimes in line (as for the Mass of 1 Jan) and sometimes in echelon (as at Christmas Midnight Mass). I think he was asking about putting the candles at … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
24 Comments

QUAERITUR: Hand-missal for new, corrected translation. Reader needs help!

From a reader: Dear Father: I want to purchase a daily Missal for the first time in my 53 years. I want to buy the “best” version. However, I do not know what that is. I searched your site first as … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
39 Comments

QUAERITUR: Why so many variations in Mass depending on the priest?

From a reader: I am a new convert to the Faith within the last nine months, and I am still in the process of joining the Church formally. As such I’m still learning a good deal about the Church, her … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , ,
36 Comments

QUAERITUR: Why does the pope say a couple living together is “not excluded from the love of the Church or from the love of Christ”?

From a reader: Why does the pope say a couple living together ‘married’ without an annulment of a previous marriage is “not excluded from the love of the Church or from the love of Christ”? Christ said they were committing … Read More

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity |
31 Comments

QUAERITUR: simultaneous Masses v concelebration

From a reader: Canon 902 states that “Unless the welfare of the Christian faithful requires or suggests otherwise, priests can concelebrate the Eucharist. They are completely free to celebrate the Eucharist individually, however, but not while a concelebration is taking place in the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
59 Comments

QUAERITUR: About negative judgments for “annulments”

From a reader: Archbishop Sheehan’s Pastoral Letter on Couples who are cohabitating was published in my church bulletin, ….  I belong in the third group. My husband, who is not Catholic, was married in the church in Diocese A. After 20 … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, HONORED GUESTS | Tagged ,
1 Comment

QUAERITUR: Should I write to the bishop about urging priests to hear confessions?

From a reader: Would it be appropriate to write a bishop asking if diocesan priests under his leadership be encouraged to hear confessions more regularly? Most parishes seem to only have confessions on Saturday afternoons. I know our priests are busy, but … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
30 Comments

27 Dec: Today we bless WINE! HUZZAH!

The liturgical year guided and nourish and shaped Catholics for centuries.  It does so far less now.  But once, people not only followed the turning of the earth and the wheeling of the stars and the rising and setting of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
10 Comments

QUAERITUR: Blessings at Communion… again.

From a reader: In the OF some Priest’s will bless those who present themselves in the Communion line with their arms crossed. (Although I am doubtful to the legality of this) So can a Priest who is celebrating the EF bless … Read More

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13 Comments