Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

QUAERITUR: Jews using a Catholic church for their services

From a reader: EWTN is reporting that a priest at St. Louis parish in Austin is allowing a Jewish group to use his parish for Jewish holy day celebrations.  There is a picture at the EWTN article here: The altar … Read More

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36 Comments

QUAERITUR: Fragments – When does reverence become neurosis?

From a priest reader: I’ve been a priest for ten years, and the celebration of the Holy Mass is still the high point of my day.  I’ve always been scrupulous about cleansing the sacred vessels after Holy Communion and the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests | Tagged ,
25 Comments

QUAERITUR: how to address a deacon?

From a reader: What is the correct form of address for a religious who is a deacon?  The internal lore of the community is that one retains "Brother" but some of the younger brothers are insisting on "Deacon."  I have … Read More

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66 Comments

QUAERITUR: Do priests consecrate everything on altar? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

From a reader: Prior to the consecration, the altar servers are negligent in removing everything extraneous from the altar.  They have left the cruet of water on the altar, and more importantly, the carafe from which the wine was poured.  … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, SESSIUNCULA, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
29 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can the pastor tell the assistant what to preach?

From a reader: I am newly ordained.  An issue has arisen between myself and my Pastor, and you could say, a small number of vocal parishioners. [Imagine my surprise.] It appears as though I am too orthodox for them and … Read More

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18 Comments

QUAERITUR: Non-Catholic choir singing at St. Peter’s Basilica

From a reader: In your valued opinion, and those of your readers, is it permissible/proper/desirable/good for a Protestant choir to sing at Mass in St Peter’s Basilica? Certainly the controversy over bad Catholic choirs being allowed to sing for Mass … Read More

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, New Evangelization, Pope of Christian Unity | Tagged ,
52 Comments

QUAERITUR: non-Catholic maid of honor – CAUTION!

From a reader: My fiancee is wrangling about whom to choose as her maid of honor. [I can almost hear the writer’s inner voice: "For pity’s sake… just pick someone!  Now… is there a game on?"] She has a cousin … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
47 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can a priest say Mass alone?

From a reader: My question: is it valid and is it licit for a priest to say Mass when entirely alone?  (ie no server, just the priest, the rites and God)  I know this is not encouraged and that it … Read More

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39 Comments

QUAERITUR: Swiss Eucharistic Prayer

From a reader: This morning at Mass the priest used the 3rd Swiss Eucharistic prayer.  Is that licit?  What are the other Eucharistic prayers that are allowed other than 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the one for Masses with … Read More

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13 Comments

QUAERITUR: self-communication from the chalice

From a reader: I have a question about self-communication. I was at a monastery this weekend for a retreat and a monks allowed the laity to receive the Chalice. How they did it was a bit odd though. A lay … Read More

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9 Comments