Can a priest stop in the middle of Mass?

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The way you cited those four sounds like it may be almost verbatim from some authoritative source. Is this the case, and if so why is the hospital mentioned - are there situations where that might occur without any of the other three?

If taken ill he may still be in the sacristy or rectory. I mention “taken to the hospital” to indicate he is no longer physically on the premises due to the illness.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Ok, how about this very real possibility. What happens in the event of a tornado warning being issued during a Mass? Obviously this would require an evacuation. Could the congregation be moved to a safe location and the Mass continued? What if the particular parish wasn’t large enough to allow everyone to shelter in the same location?

Yes, Mass could be suspended for the duration of the warning. Everyone would need to return to finish Mass, weather and road condition permitting. However the main celebrant would need to complete the Mass no matter what, after it was safe to do so, even by himself if necessary.

 

[Sir_Knight]

For crying out loud, that happened after he was named pastor, not before.

Thus illustrating that the situation described COULD happen.

 

[drforjc]

In RE: hypotheticals:

The old (pre Novus Ordo) liturgical books often had extensive rubrics on what to do in various situations, such as

-The priest discovers poison in the chalice
-The priest discovers that water instead of wine was used and the consecration formula was already spoken
-The priest dies while celebrating Mass

etc.

 

[ltbpoe43]

If your book/novel is fiction - does it matter if it is permissable or not? If it makes for good writing and enhances the story - go for it. Fiction can do anything.

 

[Sir_Knight]

But it reads better if it’s closer to the truth.

Can you picture Scotty telling Capt. Kirk … *“I can’t give you any more power because the elves that peddle the engines are taking a break right now?”


*

 

[az_4_faith]

Thus illustrating that the situation described COULD happen.

If you go back and read your response, you were responding to a post that said that a disabled priest probably wouldn’t be appointed pastor - his disability preceded the pastoral assignment. The situation you stated occurred AFTER the priest had been named pastor, not beforehand. The diocese would most likely assign another priest to cover the disabled priest’s duties that required him to travel while he recovered.

 

[Meggie]

I’ve seen this happen, in a round about way. The pastor of the church had been struck with an non contagous disease of his kidneys. During one Mass after the homily he turned ghostly pale and was unable to continue. The retired priest was called for, finished the Mass and the Decon took the pastor to the hospital. Its the opposite of what you’re saying but I’ve seen atleast one Mass licitally change hands so to speak.

 

[pprimeau1976]

See, this is why hypotheticals do not work.

If a priest is that disabled he will not be named pastor. At best he would be administrator.

Hospitals have Chaplains on call for these kind of emergencies as in most life and death emergency cases in the ER there is no time to fine out who the persons pastor is and to take the time to call them. I speak from experience here as I worked full time for 5 years and volunteer for 17 years in the Emergency services.

But nice try.

This would be true if there were no shortage of priests. Because there is such a shortage and there is now in many parishes only one priest per parish, or some times one priest for every two parishes, these hypotheticals DO work.

But nice try.

 

[Digitonomy]

In RE: hypotheticals:
The old (pre Novus Ordo) liturgical books often had extensive rubrics on what to do in various situations, such as
-The priest discovers poison in the chalice
-The priest discovers that water instead of wine was used and the consecration formula was already spoken
-The priest dies while celebrating Mass etc.

Show a little compassion. You can’t just throw those out there, and then leave us suffering without knowing the proper course of action.

 

[AJV]

In response to Digitonomy:

It’s called De Defectibus in old missals. This is form the last part, no. X, Defects in Ministry.

2 If, with the Priest celebrating, the Church be violated before the Canon, Mass is discontinued: if after the Canon, it is not discontinued. If an attack of enemies is feared, or flood, or destruction of the place where it is celebrated, before the Consecration Mass is discontinued; but after the Consecration the Priest can hurry to the reception of the Sacrament, omitting everything else.

3  If the Priest before the consecration be gravely ill, or falls into fainting or dies, Mass is stopped. If after the Consecration of the Body only, before the consecration of the Blood, or with both having been consecrated, it happens, Mass is completed by another Priest from that place where he left off, and in case of necessity even by one not fasting. But if he does not die, but is sick, to such a point, however, that he can communicate, and other consecrated Hosts be not present, the Priest who supplies the Mass, divides the Host, and offers one part to the sick, the other he receives himself. But if with the form of the Body having been half-pronounced the Priest dies, for then the consecration is not made, it is not necessary that the Mass be supplied by another. But if he dies with the form of the Blood having been half-pronounced, then another continues the Mass, and over the same Chalice he repeats the entire form from this place: Simili modo, postquam cœnatum est: or he can pronounce the entire form over another prepared Chalice, and receive the Host of the first Priest, and the Blood consecrated by himself, and then the Chalice remaining semi-consecrated.

4  If anyone outside cases of necessity of this manner does not receive the entire Sacrament, he sins gravely.

5  If a fly, or spider, or anything else fall into the Chalice before the consecration, he should throw out the wine in a decent place, and other is placed in the Chalice, mix a little water, offer it, as above, and continue the Mass: if after the consecration a fly or another of this sort fall in, and causes nausea for the Priest, he should extract it, and wash it with wine, with Mass having been finished burn it, and the burning and washing in this manner should be thrown into the sacrarium. But if it will not be nauseous to him and he does not fear any danger, it is consumed with the Blood.

6  If something poisonous fall into the Chalice, or which would provoke vomiting, the consecrated wine is replaced in another Chalice, and other wine with water placed to be consecrated anew; and, Mass having been finished, the Blood replaced in a linen cloth, or coarse flax should be kept for such a time, until the species of wine be dried up, and then the flax is burned, and the burning is thrown into the sacrarium.

7  If something poisonous touch the consecrated Host, then he should consecrate another, and receive in the same manner which was said, and the former is kept in the Tabernacle, in a separate place, until the species is corrupted, and corrupted finally thrown in the sacrarium.

8  If by receiving the Blood, the particle remain in the Chalice, with his finger he should bring it to the lip of the Chalice, and receive it before the purification, or pour in wine, and receive it.

9  If the Host before the consecration is found broken, unless it appear evident to the people, such a Host should be consecrated: but if it could be a scandal to the people, another is taken and offered: but if the offering of the former Host was already made, it is received after the ablutions. But if before the offering it appear broken, another is taken whole, if it can be done without scandal or a long delay.

10  If because of cold, or negligence the consecrated Host falls apart in the Chalice, afterwards nothing is to be redone; but the Priest continues the Mass, by making the ceremonies and customary signs with the residual part of the Host which is not made wet with the Blood, if it can be done. But if the whole be made wet, he does not extract it, but all is said, the signs having been omitted, and he receives together the Body and Blood, signing himself with the Chalice, and saying: Corpus et Sanguis Domini nostri, etc. (The Body and Blood of our Lord, etc.)

 

[AJV]

11 If in winter the Blood congeals in the Chalice, the Chalice should be wrapped with hot cloths: if this accomplishes nothing, it is placed in boiling water near the Altar, as long as it does not enter the Chalice, until it liquefy.

12  If through negligence some of the Blood of Christ fall, whether on the ground or upon the table, it should be licked up with the tongue, and the place itself scraped as much as is sufficient, and the abrasion burned; and the ashes are put away in the sacrarium. But if it should fall on the stone of the Altar, the Priest should absorb the drop, and the place well washed, and the ablution is thrown into the sacrarium. If upon the linen of the Altar, and the drop come to another linen; if all the way to the third: the linen cloth should be washed thrice where the drop well, with the Chalice having been placed underneath, and the water of the ablution is thrown into the sacrarium. But if it should fall only on the Corporal itself, or if on the priestly vestments themselves, it ought to similarly be washed, and the ablution thrown into the sacrarium. If on the cloth having been spread out under the feet, or carpet, it is well washed, as above.

13  And if it happens that the entire Blood after the Consecration is poured out, if indeed any or part remain, it is received, and of the rest of the poured Blood is done, as was said. But if nothing altogether remain, wine and water is placed again, and he should consecrate from that place: Simili modo, postquam cœnatum est, etc., first, however, the offering of the Chalice having been made, as above.

14  If the Priest vomit the Eucharist, if the species appear entire, they are reverently received, unless this causes nausea: for then the consecrated species are carefully separated, and replaced in some sacred place, until they are corrupt, and afterwards thrown into the sacrarium. But if the species are not apparent, the vomit is burned, and the ashes are thrown into the sacrarium.

15  If the consecrated Host, or some particle of it fall apart on the ground, it is reverently taken, and the place where it fell, is cleaned and slightly scraped, and the dust or abrasion thrown into the sacrarium. If it fall outside the Corporal on the cloth, or in any other way on another linen, the cloth or linen of this sort is diligently washed, and the washing itself poured into the sacrarium.

You can see another similar set from a Sarum Missal here and a Latin version here

There is a section in the Summa that is very similar to the cautels and De Defectibus. In manuals for the Mass, like Fortescue and O’Connell, or many old Moral Theology manuals, you will also find many other possible situations like what to do if the Host falls down someone’s dress when receiving communion, do I wash my beard if the Host fell on my beard, etc., etc.

 

[drforjc]

AJV,

You are one fast researcher, my friend!!

 

[Sir_Knight]

If you go back and read your response, you were responding to a post that said that a disabled priest probably wouldn’t be appointed pastor - his disability preceded the pastoral assignment. The situation you stated occurred AFTER the priest had been named pastor, not beforehand. The diocese would most likely assign another priest to cover the disabled priest’s duties that required him to travel while he recovered.

We’re talking about “hypothetical situations” – how about looking for ways that it COULD happen so that the question COULD be addressed instead of looking for ways that it CAN’T happen?

 

[MusicMan]

I still think that the priest in question has superpowers.

 

[az_4_faith]

We’re talking about “hypothetical situations” – how about looking for ways that it COULD happen so that the question COULD be addressed instead of looking for ways that it CAN’T happen?

There is no need for “hypothetical situations” to answer the original question.

The question is: “Can a priest stop in the middle of Mass?”

Yes, a priest can stop. Obviously, if he takes ill, passes out or is wounded, he’d have to stop.

Maybe the question should be more correctly stated: “Can a priest suspend the Mass for any reason other than his own illness?”

The question remains: Who finishes the Mass for him? May he leave for any other reason besides those stated above? What, if any, kind of dire emergencies can allow a priest to suspend the Mass and then return to finish, or have another priest finish in his place?

Any clergy should be able to answer this question.

 

[Cat]

Wow, I can’t believe the way this thread has gone! It’s interesting.

I appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut. I’ll ask the priests in my parish, and if I get conflicting answers, besides praying for them (!), I’ll call our diocese and talk to “the expert.”

I agree, it’s fiction, but I like to write fiction that is so close to reality that people write me to ask, “Did this really happen?” or “Does this place really exist?”

If a priest can’t be interrupted in the middle of Mass, then I will simply find a different means of conveying “extreme urgency.”

Thanks again!

 

[az_4_faith]

Wow, I can’t believe the way this thread has gone! It’s interesting.

I appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut. I’ll ask the priests in my parish, and if I get conflicting answers, besides praying for them (!), I’ll call our diocese and talk to “the expert.”

I agree, it’s fiction, but I like to write fiction that is so close to reality that people write me to ask, “Did this really happen?” or “Does this place really exist?”

If a priest can’t be interrupted in the middle of Mass, then I will simply find a different means of conveying “extreme urgency.”

Thanks again!

Personally, I LOVE authenticity in novels (and other media) when it comes to the Catholic faith!

I can’t wait to read your book!

 

[Sir_Knight]

There is no need for “hypothetical situations” to answer the original question.

The question is: “Can a priest stop in the middle of Mass?”

Yes, a priest can stop. Obviously, if he takes ill, passes out or is wounded, he’d have to stop.

Maybe the question should be more correctly stated: “Can a priest suspend the Mass for any reason other than his own illness?”

The question remains: Who finishes the Mass for him? May he leave for any other reason besides those stated above? What, if any, kind of dire emergencies can allow a priest to suspend the Mass and then return to finish, or have another priest finish in his place?

Any clergy should be able to answer this question.

Prior to my post, no clergy chimed in and an example was asked for of under what circumstances this might happen – so I tried to come up with one which might address the question being posed since no one else offered one.

 

[Cat]

Bless you, az 4 faith!

I just hope I can get it published.

It’s my personal opinion that we could use some more Catholic novels, not deep “literary novels” that the average person doesn’t understand, but stories that keep you on the edge of your seat or make you shrivel up in the bathtub because you can’t bear to stop reading!

I’m also trying to write this novel as an “alternative” to Da Vinci Code. Everyone, including me, gripes about it. I say, let’s write our own thrilling page turners and make them as accurate as DVC was inaccurate. That’s why I needed the answer to this question, and I will talk to our priests.

It’s a Rosary mystery, BTW, in case anyone’s wondering.

Thanks again for all the (name removed by moderator)ut, everyone. Interesting stuff.