The prayer to St. Michael is not included in the Mass itself. It is said after the Mass has ended, typically right before the priest departs the sanctuary. However, the Mass is officially over and there is no obligation for anyone to remain once the priest or deacon has delivered the dismissal. It is a common practice in many parishes to have certain prayers and devotions following Mass, like the Rosary. In such instances, these prayers commence after the priest exits the sanctuary. Nevertheless, the priest frequently leads the prayer to St. Michael prior to his departure, which is why your question holds considerable importance.

From a technical perspective, the Roman rite does not allow for the recitation of prayers after the dismissal. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: “The concluding rites are made up of: a) Brief announcements, if deemed necessary; b) The greeting and blessing from the priest, which on specific days and occasions may be enhanced and articulated in the prayer over the People or some other more solemn formulation; c) The deacon or the priest dismissing the congregation, allowing everyone to depart for good works, glorifying and blessing God; d) The priest and deacon kissing the altar, followed by a deep bow to the altar from the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers” (No. 90).

While it may be seen as an issue that the prayer to St. Michael is included following the words of dismissal, it should be pointed out that there is also no reference to a hymn that is supposed to be performed as the priest and others exit the sanctuary. However, this is a highly common practice in parishes, particularly on Sundays. No recessional hymn has been mandated in the Roman rite. It is simply a tradition for which the General Instruction offers no comment. It is neither prohibited nor required.

For a liturgical purist, nonetheless, extra elements or enhancements are best avoided. If this is true, then the recessional hymn, performed almost universally, contradicts this principle. Should this tradition be discontinued? Possibly, but pastoral care for evolving customs also holds significance. This is particularly true for a practice that emerges after the Mass has formally ended. Only time will reveal if further additions will arise at the conclusion of Mass. The equilibrium may eventually shift, prompting bishops and pastors to impose limits and provide additional direction to ensure that the rights and time of all congregants are honored. A single brief prayer or hymn might not suffice to alter that balance at this stage, yet your concerns are valid and should be considered alongside the commendable practice of hymns and prayers that take place following the dismissal.

Catholic burial

Question: Is it permissible for a Catholic to be interred in an urn or container in a cemetery or burial site that is not Catholic?

— Margaret Pearson, via email

Answer: Indeed, a Catholic, whether cremated or not, is allowed to be interred in a cemetery that is not Catholic. A deacon or priest ought to bless the grave or columbarium niche containing the human remains. While Catholic cemeteries have consecrated grounds, this is not applicable to other cemeteries. Therefore, the blessing becomes essential if one chooses to be buried in non-Catholic environments. Additionally, it is worth noting that cremated remains should never be dispersed or kept in closets. Appropriate burial protocols must be followed, with the remains either buried whole or placed within a niche in a recognized cemetery. Careless burial in other locations should be avoided and could potentially infringe upon civil regulations. We must regard the cremated remains of an individual with the same respect as the body, as they are not simply ashes but rather the remnants of their physical form.

Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.