Catholic Answers Live – Episode #12451

Topic: What Can Lay People Do at Mass?
Guest: Tom Nash (Theologian, Catholic Author)
Date: November 10, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Catholic Answers Live host Cy Kellett welcomes theologian Tom Nash to answer listener questions about the Catholic Mass, focusing on the proper roles and responsibilities of lay people. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics from specific liturgical norms to broader questions about reverence, unity, and contemporary concerns about Catholic worship. The tone is friendly, engaging, and occasionally humorous, but always deeply respectful of the Church’s teachings and traditions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Roles of Lay People at Mass

• Permitted Roles:

  • Lay people can serve as ushers, altar servers, readers, sacristans, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion—“serving in different ways while not in the Mass per se, but serving at the Mass.” (Tom Nash, 03:52)

• Restricted Roles:

  • Only a priest or deacon may read the Gospel or perform certain blessings during Mass.
  • Tom cites an unusual exception: a snowstorm and an ill priest who allowed a layperson to read the Gospel, but this was not standard practice.

  Notable Quote:

  “The gospel would be restricted... The Gospel is to be read by either a priest or a deacon.”
  — Tom Nash (04:15)

2. Blessings in the Communion Line

• Priestly Blessings: Traditionally reserved to priests during Mass.

• Lay Ministers and Blessings:

  • The custom of lay extraordinary ministers offering blessings in the communion line has grown, especially in the U.S.
  • Tom underscores the importance of following liturgical norms, suggesting that blessings should come from clergy—but recognizes the pastoral value of acknowledging those who come forward for a blessing.

  Notable Quotes:

  “Blessings especially are restricted to a priest during Mass and especially in making the gestures that a priest can make and extending his right hand, those are restricted to a priest.”
  — Tom Nash (05:23)

  “I would say go to a priest or a deacon and I would encourage... my brothers in Christ who are bishops, my brother priests... that they should do that. I think that's the way because it's respect for the norms.”
  — Tom Nash (07:35)

  Pastoral Approach:

  • Lay ministers may not give formal blessings, but charitable words such as, “God bless you,” or “Christ’s grace be with you,” as described by caller Richard, are acceptable. (47:24)
  • Parents and godparents may ‘bless’ children outside liturgical settings, but within Mass, clergy should perform liturgical blessings.

3. Changes in Mass Readings After Vatican II

• Old Testament Readings:
  • Prior to Vatican II, Mass typically did not include a formal Old Testament reading, except in certain cases (e.g., Introit, Easter Vigil).
  • The post-Vatican II lectionary expanded the Scriptural readings: “That’s one of the positive things of the reform... we do have both a Psalm and a New Testament and Old Testament [reading]....” (12:05)
• Scripture Exposure:
  • There is now broader exposure to a greater variety of Scripture passages at Mass, a change Tom and Cy both celebrate.

4. Real Presence & Timing of Consecration

• Epiclesis vs. Consecration:
  • Real Presence begins at the words of consecration (“This is my body...”). The epiclesis (calling down of the Holy Spirit) does not itself effect the change.
  • “The real presence only occurs with the consecration. The epiclesis is prior to that... we do not have a consecration thus transubstantiation until the words, ‘This is my body, this is my blood’.” — Tom Nash (15:03)
• Fullness of Presence:
  • Even a small piece of a consecrated host contains the whole Christ—body, blood, soul, and divinity. (16:33)

5. Liturgical Translations: "And with your spirit"

• Translation Update:
  • The response to “The Lord be with you” is now “And with your spirit,” not “And also with you.”
  • Tom emphasizes fidelity to the current, precise translation which reflects the Latin “et cum spiritu tuo.”
  • “It should be ‘with your spirit’ is the correct response to a priest.” (21:18)
  • The change was part of a worldwide effort to restore accurate translations in the Missal (~2011 in the U.S.).

6. Communion Under Both Species

• Receiving Just One Species:
  • Receiving either the host or the precious blood alone is receiving Jesus fully; both are not required ("Jan Hus... had the heresy that you had to [receive] both under both elements... that's not what the church has ever taught.”) (49:17)
  • It’s permitted to offer both species (body and blood) for greater sign value, but not liturgically essential.

7. Words of Institution – “For many” vs. “For all”

• Validity of the Eucharist:

  • The essential words are “This is my body” and “This is my blood.”
  • The translation “for all” (as in “shed for you and for all”) was never in the Latin (“pro multis”) and has since been corrected. Changing to “for all” in English did not invalidate the sacrament.

  Notable Quote:

  “The essential words are, ‘This is my body, this is my blood.’ The words about pro multis are additional and shouldn’t be tampered with... whether you say for many or for all, both are true... the actual official one was pro multis.”
  — Tom Nash (30:55)

8. Concerns About the Mass Becoming “Protestant”

• Lay Involvement, Reception Practices:
  • Some listeners express concern that reverence or traditional practices (kneeling, use of altar rails, etc.) are being lost, making Mass feel less “Catholic.”
  • Tom affirms the importance of interior disposition over external form, but acknowledges that returning to more reverent postures could help deepen awareness of the Eucharist.
    Notable Moments:

  “There's nothing in the actual Mass that downplays that [real presence]... you mentioned some peripheral things about who's giving Communion or how they're receiving... but the Mass is still the Mass, even if it's in a different rite.”
  — Tom Nash (39:26)

  • Callers also worried about local bans on kneeling; Tom notes that regardless of local custom, the Vatican has affirmed the right to kneel for Communion. (43:22)
• Unity and Diversity in Worship:
  • Despite regional differences, the essential structure and meaning of the Mass remain unified.

9. “Falling Asleep” – Prayers for the Dead

• Phrase Explained:
  • “Fallen asleep” is a scriptural metaphor for death, emphasizing Christian hope in the resurrection. (19:00)

10. Controversial Masses (e.g., LGBTQ “Rainbow” Masses)

• Church’s Teaching:
  • While all are welcome in Church, affirming lifestyles at odds with Catholic teaching is problematic.
  • The “rainbow flag” as a symbol is viewed as representing the modern sexual liberation movement, inconsistent with Catholic self-giving and repentance.
  • “The Church remains the Church. Sometimes you can have actions that are not helpful or not clear... but to keep our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ.” (51:38)
  • Tom recommends apostolates like Courage, which support those seeking to live chaste lives in the context of same-sex attraction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Clergy and Lay Roles:

  “It’s not to clericalize the laity. It’s to recognize that the priests have a specific role.”
  — Tom Nash (07:41)

• On Blessings by Lay Ministers:

  “God bless you for the sneeze, but not for that.”
  — Tom Nash (08:56)

• On the Essential Unity of the Mass Despite Changes:

  “Even if one might prefer the traditional Latin Mass over the newer rite... either they’re both valid Masses, and those who say otherwise... are protesting, taking upon themselves magisterial prerogatives.”
  — Tom Nash (34:06)

• On Eucharistic Reverence:

  “The outward informs the interior... kneeling, having altar rails... would be a worthwhile thing to heighten Eucharistic reverence.”
  — Tom Nash (43:22)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Caller | Topic | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 03:52 | Host & Tom Nash discussion | What can lay people do at Mass? | | 05:23 | Host & Tom Nash discussion | Blessings during Communion line | | 12:05 | Nick (Portland, ME) | Old Testament readings pre- & post-Vatican II | | 14:11 | Tom (Cranberry, NJ) | Real presence & timing: Epiclesis vs. Consecration | | 18:29 | Andy (Palm Bay, FL) | "Fallen asleep"—prayers for the dead | | 20:26 | Joseph (Florida) | "And also with you" vs. "And with your spirit" | | 30:05 | Alex (British Columbia) | Words of institution (“for many” vs. “for all”) | | 35:44 | Seth (Illinois) | Concerns: Mass “becoming Protestant,” postures, etc. | | 47:24 | Richard (Charleston, SC) | Lay ministers & blessings; Communion under both kinds | | 50:41 | Michael (Buffalo, NY) | LGBTQ “rainbow” Masses, Church’s response |

Tone and Language

The exchanges are direct, clear, pastoral, and sometimes peppered with gentle humor (“God bless you for the sneeze, but not for that.” — Tom, 08:56). Both host and guest are attentive to listeners’ feelings of confusion, frustration, and longing for reverence, offering reassurance while upholding Church authority.

Conclusion

This episode delivers clear, authoritative answers on what lay people can do at Mass and how norms and reverence are preserved amidst liturgical changes. Tom Nash stresses obedience to Church norms, the unity of the Mass despite diversity in practice, and the importance of interior devotion. The episode also models respectful, charitable dialogue about sensitive and sometimes contentious issues in Catholic liturgy and culture.

For Further Reading/Listening

• Tom Nash, The Biblical Roots of the Mass
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, especially paragraphs 1377, 1137, 1139
• Referenced apostolate: Courage International
• USCCB liturgical norms
• Catholic Answers Live archives at catholic.com