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Category Archives: The Armchair Liturgist
The Armchair Liturgist: Worship Aid in the Bulletin
Some discernment over my parish’s communications media in the works for this summer. One of the proposals, which has been dismissed wherever else I’ve ever served, has a surprising ally: incorporating the weekly worship aid into the parish bulletin. Our … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Sixth or Seventh Sunday?
When the directive surfaced to observe Ascension on the nearest Sunday rather than the traditional Thursday, an option was offered in its wake. I don’t see it mentioned on the USCCB site today. I do remember that instead of losing … Continue reading
Posted in Easter, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Paschal Candle and Easter Adoration
On his blog, Father Paul Turner responds to a question about adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the Easter season: should the Paschal Candle be lit? Sit in the purple chair and render judgment. Is this Candle only for Mass? … Continue reading
Posted in Easter, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist Prays Triduum Hours in a Parish
Hours from now till Easter evening: what to do? In my experience, my parishes have done morning prayer on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Usually at the same time as morning Mass. One or two people are often surprised it’s not … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Week, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist Saves Your Seat
One of the Church’s processional days beckons. It’s Palm Sunday and we’re on our way to Jerusalem. My parish invites people outside, weather permitting, and maybe yours does too. We also field the occasional protest that if the weather’s too … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Mass Intentions Aligned With The Liturgical Year
One of my duties at my new parish is to monitor the parish bulletin. One of those sub-tasks is to check the publication of Mass intentions. I noticed that during Christian Unity Week, the pastor has listed a prayer for … Continue reading
Posted in Parish Life, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Special Observance On A Sunday
A few special observances can bump a green or a Christmas Sunday (yes, even Holy Family Sunday) from the liturgical calendar. We spoke of those in the series on Masses for Various Needs and Occasions. A local bishop can also … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist Names People, Again
At the parish this week, lots of names coming in for prayers. It wasn’t really a function of the pastor and I settling the wording on Wednesday and me copying the two versions (though it seems there’s a law governing … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Major Feast On A Sunday
A handful of major feasts (pardon, solemnities) can bump a green Sunday from the liturgical calendar. Some are non-obligatory when they fall on (most) weekdays. In the US, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin occurs on a Sunday. Next weekend’s … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Silence In The Prayers Of The Faithful.
On the Universalis site, I found rubrics and text for the Prayers of the Faithful. After each intention there is a pause while the faithful pray. The minister says: Lord, in your mercy. All reply: Hear our prayer. The Priest … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Peace In The Twenties
People are starting to think and plan more openly as the post-pandemic future gets a bit clearer. Like here. I think the big picture issues are vital: parish viability outside the wealthy communities, plus the core issues we’ve stumbled on … Continue reading
The Armchair Liturgist: Ashes in 2021
In the time of pandemic, our parishes are getting instruction on distributing ashes two weeks from this writing. Sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents was the first suggestion I saw a few months ago. A later complaint: ashes in … Continue reading
Posted in Lent, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Pandemic Christmas
Many American dioceses have permitted earlier Christmas Eve Masses this year. My parish starts at 2pm, which is the most anticipated liturgy I’ve yet experienced. I was noting this word from an Ohio diocese: (A)ttending any mass between Christmas Eve … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist: Reformation Sunday
As I understand it, Lutherans and Calvinists are the chief observers of Reformation Day, October 31st. Many churches in the US opt for a weekend celebration, and move the feast to the last Sunday of October. Today is the earliest … Continue reading
Posted in ecumenism, The Armchair Liturgist
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The Armchair Liturgist Gets One Livestreaming Mass
My parish has fielded several negative comments about our livestreaming Masses the past three weekends of our “soft reopening.” We also see our numbers dropping in both attendance and in the internet experience. The reason given? The poverty of the … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, The Armchair Liturgist
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Catholic Sensibility 