Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

QUAERITUR: Use of force to defend a church from vandalism

From a reader: Is is okay to fight in churches ? Can one shoot or punch vandals ? Can one defend the priest, or himself, or the Sacrament ? Many who comment on destruction stories want to put up watches. … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Chapel veils revisited – What color?

From a priest: A quick question: a woman approached me wondering if there was anything inappropriate in wearing a white veil as an older, married woman.  She was told by another parishioner that white is only proper for young women … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare | Tagged , , | 63 Comments

Card. Burke on women covering their heads in church

The great Canonical Defender, Dr. Ed Peters has an interesting note on the use… here we go again… about women wearing head coverings in church. He has something from Cardinal Burke in the topic. But first, in a nutshell here … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, Linking Back | Tagged , , , , , | 116 Comments

Question about Pope Benedict’s Holy Thursday adoration at Altar of Repose

If any of you watched the Holy Father’s Mass at the Lateran, and perhaps recorded it, could you do me a favor? I noticed that the Pope’s time of silent prayer before the Altar of Repose after Mass was especially … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Can we attend non-Catholic weddings?

From a reader: Is it wrong if not in fact sinful to attend the weddings and funerals of non-Catholics? For as Pope Pius XI stated in his encyclical treating on Christian unity, Catholics are never to participate in schismatic or … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

QUAERUNTUR: Of several issues, personal and other, with a few rants

I have far too many emails in my box about several points.  I hope with this I can put them to rest. The resignation of Amb. Kmiec.  What do I think? I think what I wrote before about the poor … Continue reading

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QUAERITUR: Using the new, corrected translation before Advent in private concelebration.

From a priest: Dear Fr. Z, I’d be interested in your thoughts on this: The new translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal (Ordinary Form) becomes the official text for Mass in the United States on the first … Continue reading

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | 12 Comments

QUAERITUR: Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Kiddies

From a reader: Masses at our local Catholic grade school use Eucharistic Prayer II for Masses with Children, in which many congregational responses are added, even during the Institution Narrative! Please tell us these are going away with the new … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The future and our choices | 14 Comments

QUAERITUR: Inserting a ditty into the reading of the Passion

UPDATE:  A reader in a comment below shows that I was wrong about my answer.  But I am going to claim that I am also right, depending on which country you are in.  It was inconceivable to me as I … Continue reading

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , | 45 Comments

QUAERITUR: Holy Thursday altar of repose in the basement where coffee is usually taken

From a reader: Is there any guidance about where the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday should be located? For many years at my parish, it was located at one of the side altars in the Church (we have five … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , | 11 Comments