Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has asked his fellow priests to stop bidding their parishioners “good morning” at the start of Mass.
In an article posted on the Philippines bishops’ conference website, Cardinal Tagle said saying “the Lord be with you” is already sufficient.
“With all due respect, my brother-priests, I do not see the need for saying ‘good morning’ and similar greetings when God’s real presence in the Holy Eucharist alone suffices,” the cardinal said.
“Is not the expression ‘The Lord be with you’ more than enough?” he added.
Any person can wish another good morning, but “The Lord be with you” is heard only during Mass, which explains why it must be emphasised, he explained.
The cardinal made these remarks in a homily during a Corpus Christi Mass at Santa Cruz Church in Manila.