Congregation for Divine Worship

The Latest

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, in Rome on Nov. 25, 2014.

Vatican permits priests to say up to four Masses on Christmas Day

Dec 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s liturgy congregation will permit priests to say up to four Masses on Christmas Day, the Solemnity of Mary,... Read more

Vatican upholds bishop over reception of Communion on tongue

Dec 11, 2020

The secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship wrote to a petitioner last month rejecting their appeal against the Bishop... Read more

Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark says Mass at St. George's Cathedral, Southwark.

English bishops adjust liturgical translation, following concern of CDW

Nov 19, 2020

By Carl Bunderson

The English and Welsh bishops' conference has decreed that in the translation of the conclusion of collects in the Roman... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, at the Vatican, Feb. 10, 2015.

Cardinal Sarah: ‘We must return to the Eucharist’

Sep 12, 2020

In a letter to the leaders of the world’s episcopal conferences, the head of the Vatican’s office for worship and... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, at the Vatican, Feb. 10, 2015.

Cardinal Sarah remains head of Vatican liturgy department after 75th birthday

Jun 19, 2020

Cardinal Robert Sarah said Wednesday he would continue to serve as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship beyond his... Read more

'Quomodo sedet sola civitas' - a stripped altar on Holy Thursday 2015 at Mater Dei parish in Irving, Texas.

Vatican updates guidelines for Holy Week liturgies during coronavirus

Mar 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After dioceses throughout the world suspended public Masses amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Congregation for Divine Worship has updated its... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Vatican: Easter date can not be changed, despite coronavirus

Mar 20, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican department for liturgy published guidelines Friday for bishops and priests on the celebration of Holy Week, the Triduum,... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in the plenary assembly of the Congregation for Divine Worship in the auletta of the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Feb. 14, 2019.

Liturgy is not 'styles, recipes, trends,' pope tells Divine Worship congregation

Feb 14, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The liturgy, Pope Francis said Thursday, cannot be reduced to a matter of taste, becoming the subject of ideological polarization,... Read more

Pope St. Paul VI. Public Domain.

St. Paul VI’s feast to be celebrated May 29

Feb 6, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced Wednesday that Pope St. Paul VI’s feast day will be celebrated annually on May 29 as an... Read more

Gluten and Communion: What's a celiac to do?

Sep 13, 2018

By Mary Farrow

On a Saturday morning in July last year, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued... Read more

Pope Francis incenses the altar during Mass in Gyumri Armenia June 25, 2016.

Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church added to liturgical calendar

Mar 3, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Saturday, the Vatican announced Pope Francis’ decision that the Church celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as... Read more

Vatican calls on bishops to prevent Eucharistic abuse in their dioceses

Jul 8, 2017

In a new letter to bishops, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments denounced abuses against... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, presents the German edition of The Power of Silence, May 25, 2017.

To meet God we need silence, Cardinal Sarah says

May 25, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

At a presentation for his new book on Wednesday, Cardinal Robert Sarah said that not only does the Church need... Read more

Benedict XVI celebrates the Easter Vigil, April 7, 2012.

Benedict XVI praises Cardinal Sarah as great 'spiritual teacher'

May 18, 2017

By Elise Harris

In an afterword to a book on silence and prayer recently authored by Cardinal Robert Sarah, Benedict XVI praised the... Read more

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, speaks at the Vatican Feb. 10, 2015.

True liturgy is a reflection of heaven, Cardinal Sarah says

Mar 31, 2017

Despite the controversies and abuses following the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic liturgy is ultimately a source of unity that... Read more

Cardinal Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, says Mass in the London Oratory for the Sacra Liturgia conference, July 6, 2016.

Cardinal Sarah encourages priests to celebrate Mass facing east

Jul 6, 2016

Cardinal Robert Sarah on Tuesday appealed to priests throughout the world to begin saying Mass facing the same direcation as... Read more

Pope Francis performing the rite of the washing of feet at a Holy Thursday Mass said at Rebibbia prison, Rome, April 2, 2015.

Women may now have their feet washed at Holy Thursday Mass, Pope says

Jan 21, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis has changed the rules for the Church’s traditional foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday, issuing a decree allowing women... Read more

Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square prior to a beatification ceremony, Oct. 23, 2011.

Pope Francis wants Vatican liturgy chief to continue the work of Benedict XVI

Jun 3, 2015

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, revealed in a letter sent to a liturgical conference this... Read more