Who can read the Gospel and deliver a homily at Mass?
The proclamation of the Gospel and the homily are reserved to the ordained, while a lay person is prohibited from preaching at any time during Mass, even in the cases of a seminarian or pastoral assistant. Instructions or testimonies by a lay person, however, may be given after the Prayer after Communion for a serious reason, but the homily should not be omitted. Such matters are regulated by the Diocesan Bishop. 19. Does the instruction change the Offertory Procession? No. The Roman Missal states, and the instruction reiterates, that the gifts presented by the faithful are received by the priest or deacon and should consist only of bread and wine and actual money and gifts for the poor or the Church. The instruction does clarify the law in noting that “Money…just as other contributions for the poor, should be placed in an appropriate place which should be away from the eucharistic table (altar).” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 70). 20. What abuses are described concerning the Eucharis
