A Tennessee bishop ordered parishes to stop praying the St. Michael prayer around Mass, igniting pushback over whether devotion is being policed instead of protected.
Story Snapshot
- Bishop Mark Beckman told Knoxville priests to end group prayers “immediately before, during, and immediately after” Mass.
- The bishop said the St. Michael prayer is valuable but should be used outside the liturgy.
- Critics say the prayer after dismissal is a free devotion, not an “addition” to Mass.
- Questions remain because no formal decree or exact canon citation was provided in the column.
What The Bishop Ordered And Why It Matters
Bishop Mark Beckman wrote that some Knoxville parishes added prayers, including the St. Michael prayer, tied to Mass. He told priests he had addressed the practice and asked them to teach people as the diocese moves away from such group prayers before, during, and right after Mass. He said celebrating “with the mind of the Church” means not adding elements pastors choose on their own. He praised the St. Michael prayer but urged it be used beyond the liturgy.
Beckman linked his stance to liturgical history. He said the so‑called Leonine prayers, which included the St. Michael prayer, were removed from the liturgical framework during the twentieth‑century reform. He argued that only the pope can decide regular additions to the liturgy, not individual pastors. Supporters frame this as guarding unity and order in worship. They say devotions should flourish, but not be treated as parts of Mass itself.
Where The Policy Lacks Clarity
The column did not cite a specific paragraph in the Roman Missal, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, or canon law that forbids people from praying together after dismissal. The write‑up also did not include a signed diocesan decree that defines scope or timing. That gap leaves parishioners unsure whether the ban targets only group recitation in church right after Mass, any audible group prayer near Mass, or only labeling the prayer as part of Mass.
The bishop said the practice occurred in “some parishes,” but the column did not identify which ones or explain any harm it caused. Without clear examples, many faithful see a crackdown on a beloved custom rather than a fix to a real problem. That perception grows when public coverage says the prayer was “banned,” while the bishop insists he still encourages it—just not as a liturgical add‑on.
How Catholics Are Responding
Catholic voices argue the Mass ends at the dismissal, so a prayer said afterward is a devotion, not an extra liturgical part. One commentary warns against treating people who pray together as a problem to solve. It challenges the idea that a group prayer after dismissal violates the liturgical books. These critics say a clear separation—final blessing, dismissal, then the St. Michael prayer—keeps devotion healthy and distinct from the rite itself.
“As I have traveled throughout the Diocese of Knoxville, I have noticed that in some of our parishes additional prayers, including the Prayer to St. Michael, the ‘Prayer of St. Francis,’ a Prayer to the Holy Spirit, and others have been added regularly to the liturgy—recited…
— Ryan Ellis (@RyanLEllis) October 17, 2026
Other bishops and Catholic outlets have defended the practice after Mass. They note that suppression of the old “required” placement did not ban Catholics from praying it together. They also stress that public recitation after the dismissal is not a “private” devotion done in secret. Rather, it is a simple prayer for protection in an age of real spiritual and cultural battles. That view supports freedom for parishes to pray together once Mass has ended.
What Conservatives Should Watch For Next
Church leaders can regulate the liturgy. But they should not chill harmless devotional life. In a time of chaos, families want strong spiritual tools, not fewer. People of faith want clarity, not moving lines. The simplest fix is full transparency. The diocese can publish the formal directive, state the effective date, and point to the exact legal texts. Parish bulletins can then explain the distinction between Mass and devotions in plain language, so no one feels silenced.
Local Catholics can also ask for a pastoral compromise. Priests can dismiss the Mass, pause, and invite those who wish to remain to pray St. Michael together. Those who need to leave can go in peace. Those who want to fight evil with prayer can stay. That approach honors the bishop’s call to keep the liturgy intact while guarding a time‑tested devotion many believe our culture needs more than ever, not less.
Bottom Line: Protect Liturgy, Do Not Police Prayer
The Church guards the liturgy for a reason. Order matters. But the Church also thrives on popular devotion that strengthens families and communities. Bishop Beckman’s column affirms the value of the St. Michael prayer while restricting it around Mass. Without a clear decree and citations, the move risks looking like control for its own sake. Conservatives should press for clarity that keeps the rite pure and keeps the doors wide open to pray for protection after the dismissal.
Sources:
etcatholic.org, complicitclergy.com, reddit.com
