Category Archives: The Armchair Liturgist

Our parish’s new sound system includes those wireless microphones that fit over the speaker’s ear. Our departing associate pastor gave them a thumbs-down. But he also moves his head side-to-side quite a bit while speaking, and doesn’t always give a … Continue reading →

I played a wedding at our sister parish, St Cecilia, yesterday. They had posted a sign on the doors, something to the effect of “Our air conditioning system needs repair. We understand it will be a warm weekend, so if … Continue reading →

Ash Wednesday will be something of a scramble in temporary worship conditions in my parish. Ordinarily, our church is conveniently located across the street from campus–the student union in fact. And we get droves of people for four Masses–one at … Continue reading →

I’ve seen here and there an effort to translate the experience of the Nativity of the Lord into a devotion akin to the Way of the Cross. As I make it out, Advent and/or Christmas deserve some particular spiritual pilgrimage. … Continue reading →

The priest at daily Mass today dropped a piece of “homework” at the end of his homily. “Deuteronomy 11:12,” he said. “Look it up–that is your message.” I did look it up. It’s here. What do you think of this … Continue reading →

The General Intercessions/Prayers of the Faithful/Prayer Petitions/Universal Prayer continue to be a liturgical locus where the universal and the personal and the places in between get a bit blurred as they stir and mix together. The relevant sections of the … Continue reading →

By now, many clergy and wedding musicians are familiar with the expanded prescriptions of the Gloria, including its provision in ritual Masses, including weddings, and even on a Lent or Advent weekday. I had a wedding Mass this past weekend … Continue reading →

If you’re in a parish that has long announced the liturgical music for people to sing, perhaps you find it a difficult locus for renewal. In my current parish, a choir member invites people to stand and greet. After about … Continue reading →

Spending a chunk of office time earlier today setting up the liturgical schedule on the parish calendar, I noted that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception falls on Saturday. In my parish, this puts us in a bit of a … Continue reading →

This is one for the clergy in the reading audience, mainly. But anyone, feel free to chime in. At the end of the preparation rites, just before the preface dialogue, the musician(s) wake up (or sleep walk) and start up … Continue reading →

Here’s a possible typo in MR3. I know others have commented on the few references to those to be baptized as “catechumens” when in fact those to be baptized tomorrow night are the “elect.” It might be that the Church … Continue reading →

I was thinking last week that I really need to take a jug of iced tea on a sunny day, sit in my backyard, and read MR3 through cover to cover. Anybody done that yet? The reading of the MR3, … Continue reading →

Maybe this is a few days late, but when our associate pastor asked about candles for this past Friday’s blessing of throats, I mentioned those specialized, pretzelized concoctions: And my colleague said, no, just the plain two candles, please. We … Continue reading →