Jeanie Hannaman

By Phil Lawler , Catholic Culture - Today dozens of media outlets are reporting that Pope Francis did not deliver a homily at Palm Sunday Mass. That’s true, but no particularly remarkable. Many priests choose to skip the homily on Palm Sunday, after the lengthy reading of the Passion... What is remarkable is that the Pope did not celebrate the Mass. Still more remarkable, Pope Francis has not been the principal celebrant at a public Mass for several months... Since about this time last year, the Pope has “presided” at the Vatican’s major liturgical celebrations. That is, he sits to the side, while another prelate, at the altar, actually celebrates the Mass.

By John M. Grondelski, Crisis Magazine - Should confessions be scheduled during the Paschal Triduum? Once upon a time, that question would have been a non-question. Youthful memories remind me of confession lines on Holy Saturday. More recent ones, too. I’m proud to have a pastor who demonstrates priestly charity and hears confessions on Holy Saturday morning... But the question remains pertinent because there are some lingering views, which were much more common in the 1980s, against scheduling confessions in that period.