Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

QUAERITUR: Am I forgiven if I don’t do a penance assigned in confession? Fr. Z rants.

From a reader: Good morning Father, when I went to Reconciliation this past weekend I received a two part penance– the first part was immediately carried out and the second part I was to perform later at home. [grrrrr] As … Continue reading

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | 42 Comments

QUAERITUR: Priest brushes his hands off over floor after handling Hosts

From a reader: This morning we got the double whammy. After subjecting us to the “We are the Eucharist” homily, the priest, after moving the Hosts from one ciborium to another, brushed his hands off over the floor (carpeted.) Is … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

QUAERITUR: Epiclesis in the Roman Canon

From a priest reader: In my Wilfrid Diamond dictionary of liturgical latin, the entry for “epiclesis”, is f., says, “an invocation. The “Supra quae” in the Mass. In the Greek Church a calling down of the Holy Spirit.” Is the … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Reading at Mass and “eye contact”

From a seminarian: I wanted to know if the lector should keep eye contact while proclaiming the word of God at Holy Mass? Many parish guidelines say that it’s important to keep eye contact. Keep eye contact… presumably with the … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Should I kneel to receive Communion from the chalice?

From a reader: If I receive communion kneeling must I also receive from the chalice kneeling? Look. The smallest drop of the Most Precious Blood of our Saviour and God, Our Lord Christ Jesus, is greater in dignity than the … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

QUAERITUR: Was the Holy Spirit’s guidance at Vatican II infallible?

From a reader: Was Vatican II an ecumenical council with infallible guidance by the Holy Spirit, or a pastoral council which is not infallible? The Holy Spirit’s guidance is never anything but infallible.  Can the Holy Spirit make a mistake? … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: plastic “catch” sheet on the altar

From a reader: Is it permissible to put a sheet of plastic on the epistle side of the altar at the TLM in order to catch wine and water spills? There has been some disagreement about this in our Latin … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

QUAERITUR: If I forget to confess a mortal sin, am I still forgiven?

From a reader: If i forget to confess a mortal/grave sin in the confessional, when i fully intended to confess it before i walked in, is it still absolved? If you truly forget to confess something, but otherwise make a … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Deacons and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

From a reader: A deacon did Benediction at our parish today (full-fledged, cope and all.) Is that legitimate? Yes, in the Latin Church deacons, transitional or permanent, can preside at, give, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  They dress in their … Continue reading

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What Rome’s CDW says about altar boys, girl altar boys, and lay service at the altar in general

I have been getting some… interesting, I think could be the word … email since I posted my praise and defense of Fr. Lankeit, Rector of the Cathedral in Phoenix where the excellent Bp. Olmsted presides. For those of you … Continue reading

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