How Much Can a Priest Change in the Mass? Communion and More

“How much can a priest change in the Mass?” This question opens a discussion on the boundaries of liturgical modifications, alongside inquiries about the sacrilege of receiving communion in the hand, the optional nature of certain prayers during the Communion rite, and the significance of the priest’s gestures before the Gospel reading.

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Questions Covered:

• 02:40 - How much is the priest allowed to change things in the mass?
• 10:40 - How do we answer sedevacantist who say that prior popes made it a sacrilege to receive communion in the hand?
• 13:00 - In the Communion rite, in the preparation, sometimes there is a prayer the priest says and sometimes there is not — is it optional?
• 21:35 - i finally have made the decision to come to the Catholic church. Getting to talk to Tom last week about hyperdulia really helped. I was hoping for a book suggestion for Catholic basics.
• 23:20 - At what point during the Mass does the bread and wine become Jesus?
• 31:05 - what is the difference between infallibility & indefectability? The English translation for indefectability seems to indicate the Church is without error, but how if Clergy are sinners?
• 33:00 - When the priest is about to read the gospel, he makes the sign of the cross on his forehead, lips, and heart. What is the significance of that? Are there words that accompany that?
• 34:38 - I’m in the Reformed tradition. I was taught that Catholic Mass was like sacrificing Jesus over and over again, but I’ve never actually asked a Catholic their view of that. What is the Catholic view of that?
• 46:54 - If you go to a SSPX Mass after the upcoming illicit consecrations is it a mortal sin?
• 50:55 - What should an extraordinary minister of holy communion do when people come up with hands crossed for a blessing?