Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Quebec bishop gets Vatican OK for nun to officiate at wedding
- Aug 2, 2017
A priest shortage led a Canadian bishop to make a request through the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments for permission to have Sister Pierrette Thiffault of the Sisters of Providence perform a wedding ceremony.

By Deborah Gyapong
Why the Catholic Church bans gluten-free communion wafers
- Jul 23, 2017
The letter that was released recently from the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship had some people, especially those suffering from celiac disease, wondering why gluten must remain in the host. Joanne M. Pierce of the College of the Holy Cross explains a bit of the history.

By Joanne M. Pierce
Gluten and Communion: What’s a celiac to do?
- Jul 12, 2017
A layperson affected by celiac disease who is unable to receive even a low-gluten host may receive Communion under the species of wine only. A priest in a similar situation, when taking part in a concelebration, may with permission of the Ordinary receive Communion under the species of wine only.

By Mary Rezac

Vatican asks bishops to ensure validity of matter for Eucharist
- Jul 10, 2017
A circular letter, “On the bread and wine for the Eucharist,” was sent to diocesan bishops “at the request of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.” Dated June 15 — the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ — the letter was made public by the Vatican July 8. The document underlined that every bishop “is bound to remind priests, especially parish priests and rectors of churches, of their responsibility to verify those who provide the bread and wine for the celebration and the worthiness of the material.”

By Carol Glatz
In tapping new liturgy chief, Pope Francis reaches across the aisle
- Nov 24, 2014
ROME — Just when you think you have Pope Francis figured out, he surprises you. In that spirit, Monday’s appointment of Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea as the new head of the Vatican’s department for liturgical policy will certainly surprise some. Sarah becomes the second African to have the Vatican’s

By John L. Allen Jr.