Can a priest consecrate outside Mass?

[Goblin_Taters]

Can a priest consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ outside of the Mass?

If a Catholic is dying, on the verge of death, and there’s a priest around but no pyx with consecrated hosts or any Eucharist within close distance, may the priest in such a case consecrate bread or wine with either the words of institution, or by rapidly saying only a certain part of the Mass, so as to administer to the man Viaticum?

 

[Struggling]

Theologically, theoretically…a priest CAN consecrate outside of Mass by only saying the words of institution.

But this is NEVER allowed.

NOT even in an emergency.

Can. 927 It is absolutely wrong, even in urgent and extreme necessity, to consecrate one element without the other, or even to consecrate both outside the eucharistic celebration.

 

[Scottgun]

Ok. I guess the next question would be what minimally constitutes “eucharistic celebration”?

Scott

 

[Mattapoisett64]

Can a priest consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ outside of the Mass?

If a Catholic is dying, on the verge of death, and there’s a priest around but no pyx with consecrated hosts or any Eucharist within close distance, may the priest in such a case consecrate bread or wine with either the words of institution, or by rapidly saying only a certain part of the Mass, so as to administer to the man Viaticum?

I believe that in the case of imminent death, Reconciliation/Absolution (if conscious), and/or Sacrament of the Sick with Absolution (if unconscious) is much more important and necessary than Viaticum.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Can a priest consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ outside of the Mass?

If a Catholic is dying, on the verge of death, and there’s a priest around but no pyx with consecrated hosts or any Eucharist within close distance, may the priest in such a case consecrate bread or wine with either the words of institution, or by rapidly saying only a certain part of the Mass, so as to administer to the man Viaticum?

I would ask whether the Priest should worry about consecrating bread and wine or about hearing the person’s last confession and offering general absolution.

If I’m dying, and I have just enough time for one or the other, I’m thinking I take the forgiveness of sins just before meeting my maker.

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong…quick!

 

[mommyof4]

Randy, I agree with you.

Can a priest give absolution to a person who is unable to speak, or who is unconscious?

 

[StCsDavid]

Can a priest consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ outside of the Mass?

If a Catholic is dying, on the verge of death, and there’s a priest around but no pyx with consecrated hosts or any Eucharist within close distance, may the priest in such a case consecrate bread or wine with either the words of institution, or by rapidly saying only a certain part of the Mass, so as to administer to the man Viaticum?

Could he? Yes. Would he?..not very danged likely.

The priest would be more concerned about administering the sacraments of reconciliation or last rites versus eucharist at this point. He also likely would not have in his back pocket the proper unleavend bread and the proper wine to consecrate.

 

[Walking_Home]

I would ask whether the Priest should worry about consecrating bread and wine or about hearing the person’s last confession and offering general absolution.

If I’m dying, and I have just enough time for one or the other, I’m thinking I take the forgiveness of sins just before meeting my maker.

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong…quick!

---

I agree.

 

[Jennifer_G]

I would ask whether the Priest should worry about consecrating bread and wine or about hearing the person’s last confession and offering general absolution.

If I’m dying, and I have just enough time for one or the other, I’m thinking I take the forgiveness of sins just before meeting my maker.

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong…quick!

Wouldn’t you need to confess before taking Communion anyway?

 

[dumspirospero]

Well…Last Rites does include reception of the Eucharist if I am not mistaken…

Could he? Yes. Would he?..not very danged likely.

The priest would be more concerned about administering the sacraments of reconciliation or last rites versus eucharist at this point. He also likely would not have in his back pocket the proper unleavend bread and the proper wine to consecrate.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Ok. I guess the next question would be what minimally constitutes “eucharistic celebration”?

Scott

A “eucharistic celebration” is the Mass, unabridged.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Randy, I agree with you.

Can a priest give absolution to a person who is unable to speak, or who is unconscious?

I believe a priest can absolve an individual unable to speak or unconscious so long as there is a reasonable expectation that the person desired confession and absolution. In the case of a conscious person who simply cannot speak the priest might ask for a different sort of sign such as “Would you like absolution? If so, squeeze my hand.”

 

[Scottgun]

A “eucharistic celebration” is the Mass, unabridged.

Ok. So that means both liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist? The reason I ask is because I have read a few accounts of priests celebrating Mass in prison camps in secret and was wondering how they did it with limited time and resources.

Scott

 

[mommyof4]

I believe a priest can absolve an individual unable to speak or unconscious so long as there is a reasonable expectation that the person desired confession and absolution. In the case of a conscious person who simply cannot speak the priest might ask for a different sort of sign such as “Would you like absolution? If so, squeeze my hand.”

Thank you for your answer. I have worked with many stroke and head injured patients in the past, and many of them are unable to speak, or speak very clearly. I’ve often wondered how they are able to make a confession when they are unable to talk.

I also worry about my patients who are unable to swallow due to a head trauma, CVA, etc. They are unable to take the eurachist because of their injury.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Ok. So that means both liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist? The reason I ask is because I have read a few accounts of priests celebrating Mass in prison camps in secret and was wondering how they did it with limited time and resources.

Scott

I think in that case the powers that be would defer to the individual priest’s judgment as to how much the circumstances would warrant departing from the laws and rubrics. So, perhaps do one’s best every so often to make sure of access to the Eucharist, but don’t use the situation as an excuse to offer otherwise illicit Masses every day.

 

[fcbv]

Generally, the priest can’t consecrate the bread and the wine outside the Mass. But if there is a case of emergency… I don’t know.

 

[msproule]

On Christmas morning, our priest was terribly ill and was physically unable to celebrate Mass. Instead, the Deacon presided over a Communion Service on very short notice. He made this announcement just before Mass would have begun, but mentioned that the service would not commence until additional Consecrated Hosts arrived from a nearby parish, where that priest was consecrating them (presumably, outside of the Mass at that neighboring parish).

I was curious to know what form this priest would have followed in order to do this. I have not yet searched for the answer but coincidentally found this thread.

 

[tee_eff_em]

On Christmas morning, our priest was terribly ill and was physically unable to celebrate Mass. Instead, the Deacon presided over a Communion Service on very short notice. He made this announcement just before Mass would have begun, but mentioned that the service would not commence until additional Consecrated Hosts arrived from a nearby parish, where that priest was consecrating them (presumably, outside of the Mass at that neighboring parish).

Without knowing the schedules and timing, I know no reason to presume that? Being Christmas morning, I presume there would be Masses scheduled in the neighboring parish, and with sufficient notice they could consecrate a surplus of hosts.

Even outside of a *scheduled *Mass, a priest may celebrate with the participation of but a single member of the faithful (or even alone for a “good and reasonable” cause, Can. 906).

tee

 

[msproule]

Without knowing the schedules and timing, I know no reason to presume that? Being Christmas morning, I presume there would be Masses scheduled in the neighboring parish, and with sufficient notice they could consecrate a surplus of hosts.

Tee,

As it turns out, the neighboring parish celebrated Mass starting at 10:00 am. The parish I was at celebrated starting at 11:00 am (actually about 11:15, based upon the situation). The drive time is about 10-15 minutes, so you must be correct; The hosts were consecrated during the 10:00 am Mass and were immediately transported from that parish to ours.

Michael

 

[Jerome42]

Ok. So that means both liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist? The reason I ask is because I have read a few accounts of priests celebrating Mass in prison camps in secret and was wondering how they did it with limited time and resources.

Scott

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