I am not old enough to remember the Latin Mass. Before Vatican II, was the Mass always in Latin? For many centuries, the Mass was in Latin, but prior to the eighth century, it was not. In the early church, the Eucharist was celebrated in the context of Jewish rituals and prayers, so obviously...
Read More »

Must I receive both the body and the blood of Christ to receive him fully? In recent years there has been a renewed interest and practice of receiving the Eucharist under both forms or species, bread and wine. But this is not necessary to receive the eucharistic presence of Christ. The Council of Trent...
Read More »

Having entered the flu season our bishop, along with many other leaders in the church have asked to consider a few of the ritual practices of our liturgy; specifically the issue of exchanging the sign of peace, and sharing from the common cup. Let me begin my remarks by stating clearly that it is...
Read More »

Wisdom 7:7-11;  Hebrews 4:12-13;  Mark 10:17-30 (cf. also CCC par. 2052 ff.) Having entered the flu season our bishop, along with many other leaders in the church have asked to consider a few of the ritual practices of our liturgy; specifically the issue of exchanging the sign of peace, and sharing from the common...
Read More »

1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51 Throughout the history of the church different understandings of Eucharist have influenced the way we approach the Eucharist.  In fact these different understandings were at the center of the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation.  While Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches profess belief in transubstantiation, other mainline...
Read More »

Why was the name for this Sunday changed from Corpus Christi to the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ? The Lectionary revised by Vatican II changed the name of this feast from Corpus Christi, the feast of the body of Christ, to the feast of the Most Holy Body and...
Read More »