Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

ASK FATHER: Marriage licenses with “Spouse 1” and “Spouse 2”

From a Protestant clergyman reader… QUAERITUR: Thank you for your blog. Your courage and clarity motivate me. I am a Protestant clergy and am struggling with whether or not I should even morally be signing marriage licenses anymore. I had … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Scheduling a specific Mass for a profession: IT professionals

From a reader… QUAERITUR: How do you go about scheduling a specific Mass for a profession? I am a member of a new group called Saint Isidore’s Guild, a professional apostolate of programmers and other IT professionals under the patronage … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Firearms at Mass, laity and priests – UPDATED

In the wake of the recent horrible Texas church massacre, I now have several email conversations going on – with laity and clergy – about having a concealed firearm in church. This is an issue which needs sober assessment by … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: The usual requirements for gaining indulgences

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Do all indulgenced works (eg visiting the Bl Sacrament for 30 mins) carry with them the three usual requirements (Communion, Confession & prayer for the Pope’s intentions)? In the Norms for gaining indulgences in the Enchiridion … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: How much “work” on Sunday?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I know we are to abstain from unnecessary servile (manual) labor on Sundays. How strict should we be with discerning whether the labor is “necessary” or not? For example, can mere convenience justify a small amount … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: How to “pray for the Pope’s intentions” if I don’t like them or him?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: With the pope not being what I would call a friend to the traditional mass, my wife has asked how do we pray for his intentions? Can we as lay people be critical of the pope? … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Priests don’t say daily Mass in the parish

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Is it the case that any Masses that a parish priest says, other than on a Sunday, are “private Masses” and, therefore, it is entirely up to him whether or not he says them? This is … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

ASK FATHER: Mass obligation and falling asleep during Mass

From a reader… QUAERITUR: This morning at Mass (All Saints), as I held a sleeping toddler and fought fatigue myself, I recalled the Holy Father’s recent words (echoing St. Therese of Lisieux) about not being too upset about falling asleep … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Too much Precious Blood consecrated. Who should consume?

From a seminarian… QUAERITUR: First and foremost I have to thank you immensely for this blog, which has greatly helped me and some of my brothers from our Seminary down here in Brazil (where stuff like those on Fishwrap are … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Can a Permanent Deacon perform a Baptism according to the Old Rite?

From a permanent deacon… QUAERITUR: Can a Permanent Deacon perform a Baptism according to the Old Rite? I would be using the booklet entitled “Baptism” published by Angelus Press. My old pastor, the late Msgr. Richard Schuler, used to tell … Continue reading

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