Can a priest leave the church during the offering?

[Sir_Knight]

As the gifts were being brought up, our priest decided to leave the altar and turn off & on some lights in the back of the church. Never saw a priest leave the altar area before during a mass.

Is this allowed?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Yes, of course. It happens. Sometimes the person setting up Mass has forgotten a necessary piece of equipment (altar linens, etc.), and the priest goes into the sacristy to get them.

If the altar servers are well trained, they can be sent to take care of these unforeseen details. Sometimes the priest has to do it himself.

 

[Digitonomy]

Taking the question a step further, in a remote area can the priest head over to the next village to pick up the wine he forgot and come back an hour later to finish up, or is it necessary to begin the mass anew?

 

[ralphinal]

Taking the question a step further, in a remote area can the priest head over to the next village to pick up the wine he forgot and come back an hour later to finish up, or is it necessary to begin the mass anew?

My guess on this is that he would have to start over. That is a guess.

 

[japhy]

Taking the question a step further, in a remote area can the priest head over to the next village to pick up the wine he forgot and come back an hour later to finish up, or is it necessary to begin the mass anew?

Wow; that is a sticky situation. I assume you’re referring to him realizing there is no wine at the Offertory. I don’t think Mass is permitted to be divided by such a break, so I expect he would have re-celebrate the whole of Mass.

P.S. It is a grave mortal sin to consecrate the Eucharist outside the context of Mass, or to consecrate one species without the other (except in a very particular circumstance described in GIRM n. 324; see See Canon 927; Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela Art. 2, n. 2.), so he would not be able to just consecrate the hosts.

 

[Digitonomy]

I don’t think Mass is permitted to be divided by such a break

This of course begs the question, what is meant by “such a break”? If the priest only left for 30 minutes would it be OK? How about 10?

 

[ralphinal]

This of course begs the question, what is meant by “such a break”? If the priest only left for 30 minutes would it be OK? How about 10?

I would say that if he left the grounds that is enough no matter how long the break was.

I am sure there are rules for if he gets sick and has to leave the altar for a few minutes, but once he leaves the Church, I would think it is time to hit the reset button.

 

[Digitonomy]

I would say that if he left the grounds that is enough no matter how long the break was.

So if sprinted across the street to the rectory, grabbed the bottle, and was back in 2 minutes while the collection was underway, he’d have to restart?

 

[ralphinal]

So if sprinted across the street to the rectory, grabbed the bottle, and was back in 2 minutes while the collection was underway, he’d have to restart?

Ok, now we have limited the discussion.

IN this case, I would say no because it was before the offeratory. Again, I am speculating on a limited case situation

 

[bpbasilphx]

Taking the question a step further, in a remote area can the priest head over to the next village to pick up the wine he forgot and come back an hour later to finish up, or is it necessary to begin the mass anew?

**A mass once started must be finished, even if necessary by another priest.

It may be abandoned only if the building catches on fire, or no valid matter can be procured.**

 

[Digitonomy]

A mass once started must be finished, even if necessary by another priest.

It may be abandoned only if the building catches on fire, or no valid matter can be procured.

Or if the celebrant falls ill, etc.

So what guidelines would you use to determine whether a delay to procure valid matter is so long that the mass must be abandoned, or is short enough to allow the mass to be finished? And would you guess the Latin church would approach this issue in an identical manner?

 

[ralphinal]

I’ll ask our priest tomorrow.

 

[ralphinal]

According to my priest, if the break comes before any of the Consecration and is not of a length to interrupt the flow of the Mass, it can be restarted. If it is long enough to alter the flow, it should be re-started. Once the Consecration starts, the mass is to be finished without break.

Now, he said that he was not aware of any hard and fast rules about how long is too long, just general guidlines.