The Latin Mass organizers said they wanted to show that, rather than threats to national security, they are instead “liturgy nerds” who are often apolitical.

The way a presider celebrates Mass can illuminate the congregation's experience of liturgy.

This week on “Preach,” the script is flipped: Ricardo da Silva, S.J., the regular host, becomes a guest preacher, and Maggi Van Dorn, a usual producer, takes the mic as the host. Ricardo invites listeners to identify where they have experienced joy, even as he admits that we live in a world where joy is hard to come by.

How we partake in the mystery of Christ—kneeling, receiving the host in our hands, or on our tongue—is secondary to the experience of humility and honor in receiving the Eucharist.

In an essay published on America’s website in September, John F. Baldovin, S.J., examined the theological soundness of making a monetary offering for the sake of “having a Mass said” for an individual.

Catholic preachers should learn from social work and give trauma-informed homilies.