Q: I read that a priest in Louisiana was being ordered to break the seal of confession. Are there ever grounds for a priest to reveal a confession? Is there some provision in which he may do it if a penitent gives permission? — Taylor, via email A. A priest may never reveal what he heard in confession, even if the penitent gives permission. In fact, the priest should not even reveal the name of individuals who went to confession to him. The reason for not doing it is not to make the confession hateful to anyone. If a priest were to break the seal of confession, he would be automatically excommunicated, and only the pope could forgive him and allow him to return to the sacraments. The Code of Canon Law specifies: “The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason” (Canon 983). In addition, “A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; one who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the delict” (Canon 1388). Q: Sorry if this has been asked before, but I need an answer to settle a disagreement. What are the validly accepted reasons to miss Mass? I hear all these different things about when you can skip going. I think you can only miss it for a grave reason. — Name withheld by request, via email A. I agree with you. You can only miss Sunday Mass or Mass on holy days of obligation for a grave reason. The Third Commandment, “Remember to keep the Lord’s Day holy,” obliges us as Catholics to refrain from servile work and to attend Mass on Sundays. If it is morally or physically impossible to attend Mass, then the obligation does not apply. Valid excuses could be illness, distance, grave necessity to care for others on that day, or certain professional obligations on Sunday that no one else can fulfill, such as EMS, etc. When in doubt, ask your pastor, who has the faculty for dispensing from the Sunday obligation: “Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in Canon 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night” (Canon 1245). Q: What is the proper posture to assume when the priest elevates the host during Mass? Should the worshiper gaze upon the host with upraised head or should he bow his head? Should the head be bowed when the priest kneels immediately after the elevation? My pastor says it is a matter of personal choice. — Fulton Plauche, Houston, Texas A: Your pastor is correct. It is a matter of personal choice. All that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states about posture at the moment of the elevation of the Host after consecration is this: “In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the dioce-san bishop determines otherwise” (No. 43).