Pope Francis has been making waves. The Orthodox are trying to catch up with our new context. And some people are trying to turn back the clock. Looking East or West? Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has asked that priests begin presiding at the
Looking East and West Read More »
In the most recent edition of the Roman Missal (2002), the ancient “Prayer over the People” at the end of the Eucharist was restored – optional on weekdays of Lent, required on Sundays of Lent. For most people the challenge is to reduce the wordiness of our liturgies, to increase silence, and to emphasise the
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Why is Pope Francis’ change to the Missal, officially allowing women to have feet washed at Holy Thursday’s Evening Mass, stirring up so much dust? Well, remember, Roman Catholicism, always seeks the exact moment, the exact syllable, when any sacrament actually happens. And guess when many understand Jesus to have ordained his apostles? Yep –
Pope Takes One Small Step Towards Women Priests? Read More »
Stand around the Altar in a Circle Lost in translation, in the Roman Canon (used century upon century upon century and now RC Eucharistic Prayer 1), is that we all stand around the altar. The Roman Canon has: …Memento, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N. et omnium circumstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est et
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If you use the term “The Lord’s Supper” for the Eucharist, thinking that somehow you are being biblical in doing so, think again. If you recite the Last Supper story from St Paul as your way of consecrating bread and wine, thinking that doing so you are following Jesus’ command to “do this”, think again.
Not the Lord’s Supper? Read More »
Heads, feet, and hair seem to be essential to much religious practice. In the place of worship – Christian males: head uncovered, feet covered; Jewish males: head covered, feet covered; Muslim males: head covered, feet uncovered. Sikh: hair never cut. Buddhist monks and nuns: head fully shaved. Jewish (First Testament/Hebrew Bible) regulations about not cutting
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A recent comment quoted Episcopal bishop Charles Jenkins who said Before the storm [Hurricane Katrina], “I thought Christianity and priesthood were primarily about the cult,” Jenkins said. “And doing the actions correctly — holding my fingers correctly at Mass, not wearing brown shoes when celebrating the Mass. That it was getting all those right. “And
Holding ones Fingers Correctly at Mass? Read More »
The rules for the Sign of Peace in the post-Vatican II Roman Catholic Eucharistic rite were left to the individual “conference of bishops to decide in accord with the customs and mentality of the people.” In that rite, it occurs after the Eucharistic Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer and before the Fraction (the breaking of
