A reader asks: “Does the Church give any guidance about what hymns or worship music can/should be used at Mass?” Monsignor Charles Pope answers that while Catholic Hymnals used in our parishes require ecclesiastical approval in order to be used, there is
A friend of Kathryn Jean Lopez recently celebrated his 10,000th Mass. Lopez writes: “A priest is supposed to celebrate Mass as it were his first, last and only Mass. And the sight of a priest who truly prays the Mass with a
The word scapular comes from the Latin word scapula, meaning “shoulder.” Many religious wear larger, tunic-like scapulars as part of their habit, in different colors depending on the order, and smaller versions worn by lay people are often worn under their clothing.
Unleavened bread is required for a valid liturgy since, historically, leavened bread was considered unclean
What do you see when the priest elevates the host at the consecration during Mass? This isn’t a trick question, but it’s one that goes to the heart of how we, as Catholics, should view the world. In my last column, as
Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, famously calls the Eucharist — the Mass — “the source and summit” of Christian life. But what is a Catholic to do when Mass (indirectly) is also the source and summit
A few weeks ago I was making small talk with an acquaintance at my daughter’s softball game — a typical end-of-the-week conversation. It always starts the same: “Big plans this weekend?” And so I quickly rolled through the schedule: “Not really. We’ve
A reader asks monsignor Pope, Is it proper for the priest who is celebrating Mass to leave the sanctuary and sit in the congregation to listen to the homily when it is delivered by a deacon? In a word: No. As a
Every Catholic is familiar with the sights, the sounds and even the smells that adorn the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Glowing candles, ringing bells and the aroma of incense are etched forever in our senses. These ancient sacramentals both inspire and
Question: In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says that we should not despair for those who have taken their lives because, “By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance” (No. 2283). Can we assume