Pope Francis recently decreed the women can be formally instituted as lectors (readers) and acolytes (altar servers) with an apostolic letter, issued “motu proprio” (by his own initiative) called Spiritus Domini. Guillaume Goubert, editor-in-chief of La Croix made this significant point in reference to the new legislation: Although he does not suggest it, Francis does Read more
Pope Francis’s little document Spiritus Domini is a most welcome development and a very interesting small brick in his larger pastoral edifice dedicated to implementing the reforms mandated over half a century ago by Vatican II. While some have presented Spiritus Domini as no more than giving formality to what has been common practice in some Read more
The pandemic has made anyone who enters a church sensitive like never before to how we are arranged in the building. Two meters apart! No bunching up! Signs on seats where we may sit. Tape on other seats making them off-limits. Signs on doors giving the maximum number that may enter — always a lot Read more
As parishes re-open to varying extents – and with a range of anti-viral measures from face-shields to people scattered by tape in near-empty benches, many clergy note that the numbers have not returned to the pre-COVID-19 level. The preferred explanation seems to be that now is still not ‘normality’ and that many are fearful about Read more
The Catholic Church is selling “the Eucharist” and people short and is making a mistake by turning Mass into a YouTube experience. The comments are from Thomas O’Loughlin, emeritus professor of Historical Theology at the University of Nottingham and Director of Studia Traditionis Theologiae. “There are some things Zoom and YouTube just won’t do because Read more
“All Masses Cancelled” That sign has just gone up outside my local church. Who could have imagined it just a couple of weeks ago? Most Catholics are simply glad. Large gatherings are just what we do not want at the moment. The loving thing right now is to keep our distance lest we catch and Read more