Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

TRIDUUM NOTE – How early can the Easter Vigil 2017 begin?

We are getting to that time of Lent when we should be thinking about the schedule for the Vigil of Easter. Here is an oldie but goodie. Updated for 2017. From a reader: QUAERITUR: There is a parish in our … Read More

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TRIDUUM NOTE: Do you have a crotalus? How about two crotali?

Let’s think ahead to the Triduum. Traditionally, after the Gloria of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the church’s bells are silenced and a wooden noise maker is used instead.   The harsh sound is striking.   The … Read More

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PRACTICAL: What should be in a traditional MC’s “Go Bag”?

Here in the realm of the Extraordinary Ordinary, where I am President of the Tridentine Mass Society of the Diocese of Madison (a 501(c)(3) organization – please make a generous donation today!) I am fortunate to have as a colleague a … Read More

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ACTION ITEM! Declaration on Sacred Music – Cantate Domino – 50th anniversary of Instruction ‘Musicam Sacram’

My friend Prof. Peter Kwasniewski has been part of a project to create a Declaration on Sacred Music – Cantate Domino – on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Instruction Musicam Sacram, promulgated exactly 50 years ago … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Removing Holy Water during Lent

From a reader… I am currently serving at a parish as a transitional deacon. On Thursday I noticed along with the parishioners that the Holy Water was removed from the entrance of the church. They were looking all around for … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Can a pastor forbid an assistant from using black vestments?

From a priest… QUAERITUR: Can a Pastor of a parish forbid a Parochial Vicar from wearing a black chasuble at funerals? I just heard of 2 pastors in [a large NE Archdiocese] who have forbidden their traditional-minded parochial vicars from wearing … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Is it OK to clap at the end of the recessional hymn at Sunday Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: At our Sunday Masses there is instantaneous applause at the end of the recessional hymn. Is this OK? I have sent many emails to the parish priest and he agreed that this is not correct but … Read More

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Remember! Tomorrow is #AshWednesday – Fast and abstinence!

Remember that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.  Keep in mind the regulations for both abstinence and fasting.  Tomorrow is not just a day of abstinence but also of fasting. According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church, … Read More

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Make Church Great Again! “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid”

So I’m reading my email.  A reader sent the text of a Wall Street Journal piece (they have an evil paywall) entitled “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid“. “This hath potential”, quoth I, and in did I delve. … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Is there a good, conservative RCIA program?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I attend a Maronite church and our priest has decided he wants to offer an RCIA type program (Maronite Rite doesn’t technically have one). He’s a generally conservative priest and I was hoping you might suggest … Read More

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