Can Deacons Celebrate Mass? -Need response

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I am unfortunately all too familiar with this.

Two weeks ago while my Priest was on his way to church for confessions and the Saturday Vigil Mass, he was rear ended by a motorcyclist, who died on the spot. It wasn’t his fault, the motorcyclist was weaving in and out of cars in a rush.

Due to the resultant investigation, he was obviously delayed. He was not injured, but the Deputies recommended that he go to the hospital for a voluntary blood draw so that if there were any allegations at a later time, he could prove he was not impaired in any way.

I did have time to make it to another Mass. However, our Deacon told us that our Priest should be back from the hospital in time to confect the Eucharist. The Deacon anticipated a delay of about 15 minutes, but just in case, began things.

Our Priest was unable to make it, and it ended up being just a Communion service with previously consecrated hosts. He specified that under these conditions, we had met our Sunday obligation.

I think that in an unusual situation such as this, the Deacon was right that a Communion service meets your obligation even when you could have in theory made it to another Mass.
 
AHapka said:
I am unfortunately all too familiar with this.

Two weeks ago while my Priest was on his way to church for confessions and the Saturday Vigil Mass, he was rear ended by a motorcyclist, who died on the spot. It wasn’t his fault, the motorcyclist was weaving in and out of cars in a rush.

Due to the resultant investigation, he was obviously delayed. He was not injured, but the Deputies recommended that he go to the hospital for a voluntary blood draw so that if there were any allegations at a later time, he could prove he was not impaired in any way.

I did have time to make it to another Mass. However, our Deacon told us that our Priest should be back from the hospital in time to confect the Eucharist. The Deacon anticipated a delay of about 15 minutes, but just in case, began things.

Our Priest was unable to make it, and it ended up being just a Communion service with previously consecrated hosts. He specified that under these conditions, we had met our Sunday obligation.

I think that in an unusual situation such as this, the Deacon was right that a Communion service meets your obligation even when you could have in theory made it to another Mass.
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No, a Communion service does not “Meet your obligation” to “assist at Mass”. One of two things happens, either there is no obligation because of the circumstances, simply, Mass is not available or you meet your obligation by assisting at another Mass.

Your Deacon by the way CANNOT begin Mass for the priest who is running late. For Mass to be licit and complete the main celebrant (priest) must begin with the sign of the Cross and celebrate Mass himself to the final blessing and dismissal. If something happens to the main celebrant lets say after the Consecration. Another Priest must c ome in to complete the Mass to the final blessing and dismissal. A deacon CANNOT begin the Mass and CANNOT complete the Mass, for the celebrant.
 
In the early days of the Church, when the priest would be absent for some reason, there were deacons who attempted to celebrate the Mass.

They were reprimanded.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
No, a Communion service does not “Meet your obligation” to “assist at Mass”. One of two things happens, either there is no obligation because of the circumstances, simply, Mass is not available or you meet your obligation by assisting at another Mass.

Your Deacon by the way CANNOT begin Mass for the priest who is running late. For Mass to be licit and complete the main celebrant (priest) must begin with the sign of the Cross and celebrate Mass himself to the final blessing and dismissal. If something happens to the main celebrant lets say after the Consecration. Another Priest must c ome in to complete the Mass to the final blessing and dismissal. A deacon CANNOT begin the Mass and CANNOT complete the Mass, for the celebrant.
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I did have this feeling that I should have went to Mass somewhere else…sigh:ouch: …but I just didn’t know for sure. So hopefully I didn’t commit a mortal sin…otherwise I did another when I received the Eucharist. But I’m gonna think not since I was not sure.

Thanks for the explanation, BTW…I really had no idea. If something like this happens again, I’m going to Mass across town.
 
AHapka said:
I did have this feeling that I should have went to Mass somewhere else…sigh:ouch: …but I just didn’t know for sure. So hopefully I didn’t commit a mortal sin…otherwise I did another when I received the Eucharist. But I’m gonna think not since I was not sure.

Thanks for the explanation, BTW…I really had no idea. If something like this happens again, I’m going to Mass across town.
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I think you missed the point. If Mass is not available, there is no obligation for you to attend. In your case, Mass was not available, so you had no obligation to attend Mass. You did not commit mortal sin or even venial sin.

Also, just to be technically correct, your deacon did a communion service, not a Mass.

Had the priest shown up after he began, the priest would’ve just started the Mass from the beginning.

A communion service is not a mini-Mass.

Jim
 
Eilish_Maura said:
Why wouldn’t you attend the liturgy your deacon could provide?
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No, I would not, especially if there is a Church within reasonable diiving distance. Now, if you’re isolated in some missionary outpost, and this is the only option you have, then, that is certainly allowable. However, what the parish should do is to make arrangements with another priest in the diocese to come and help out. That is what we do when we’re short-handed.
 
AHapka said:
I did have this feeling that I should have went to Mass somewhere else…sigh:ouch: …but I just didn’t know for sure. So hopefully I didn’t commit a mortal sin…otherwise I did another when I received the Eucharist. But I’m gonna think not since I was not sure.

Thanks for the explanation, BTW…I really had no idea. If something like this happens again, I’m going to Mass across town.
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I think your good, now you know what to do. But again it’s if you have the ability to go to another Mass, you should.
 
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