Cannon Law and CCC Contradiction?

[Stephan19]

Recently came upon this, do these two contradict each other?

Code of Cannon Law
Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic sacrifice the work of redemption is exercised continually, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed, daily celebration is recommended earnestly since, even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.

CCC 888
"Bishops, with priests as their co-workers, have as their first task “to preach the Gospel of God to all men,” in keeping with the Lord’s command. They are “herals of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers” of the apostolic faith “endowed with the authority of Christ.”

Or, is it the priest’s principle role to celebrate the Eucharist, and the Bishop’s principle role to preach the Gospel of God to all men?

To add to this, this is the original question from my Evangelical friend:

“The Bible teaches that the principal role of church leaders is to preach the Word/Gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Mark 16:15) and make disciples through teaching the words of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Roman Catholic Canon Law says that celebrating the Eucharist is the priests’ “principal role” (Canon 904).”

Thanks,
Stephan

 

[Ad_Orientem]

I think you’re reading too much into it.

To me, “task” and “function” aren’t the same. A function is inherent in the agent; a task is something assumed.

“First” (as in “first task”) could mean first in time, rather than first in priority or in importance. (First you teach catechumens, then you baptize them.)

Finally, it could mean their first task as bishops, i.e. of the duties peculiar to them. The central function and highest duty of offering Mass is not unique to bishops but is shared by simple priests.

If you look at the rest of that section, and in other places in the Catechism, it describes all three of the munera as essential to the priesthood.

 

[bzkoss236]

I think you are misreading/misunderstanding the Cannon Law.

It reads “it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.”

It is not saying that celebrating the Eucharist IS the principal function, but that it is celebrating the Eucharist in which their principal function is FULFILLED. The principal function being to preach the Gospel to the world.

 

[JReducation]

I think you are misreading/misunderstanding the Cannon Law.

It reads “it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.”

It is not saying that celebrating the Eucharist IS the principal function, but that it is celebrating the Eucharist in which their principal function is FULFILLED. The principal function being to preach the Gospel to the world.

You are correct.

Recently came upon this, do these two contradict each other?

Code of Cannon Law
Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic sacrifice the work of redemption is exercised continually, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed, daily celebration is recommended earnestly since, even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.

CCC 888
"Bishops, with priests as their co-workers, have as their first task “to preach the Gospel of God to all men,” in keeping with the Lord’s command. They are “herals of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers” of the apostolic faith “endowed with the authority of Christ.”

Or, is it the priest’s principle role to celebrate the Eucharist, and the Bishop’s principle role to preach the Gospel of God to all men?

To add to this, this is the original question from my Evangelical friend:

“The Bible teaches that the principal role of church leaders is to preach the Word/Gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Mark 16:15) and make disciples through teaching the words of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Roman Catholic Canon Law says that celebrating the Eucharist is the priests’ “principal role” (Canon 904).”

Thanks,
Stephan

Stephan, never read a canon from the code in isolation from the rest of the code. It’s not meant to be read that way. You have to read the canon. Usually, a good book in Canon Law will give you other canons in the code that related to that one. Then you must read those as well. From there you go to a commentary. The best commentaries on Canon Law are published by the Canon Law Society of America and the Canon Law Society of Spain. The best canon lawyers are trained in Spain.

If one reads this canon, it sounds like it’s saying that priests must celebrate daily mass. However, if you jump over to the section on the consecrated life, it says that religious are bound by the statutes of their institutes. Then you jump to the statutes of certain religious institutes and they say that a priest is to celebrate mass only under certain conditions. Therefore, there is not a blanket permission in those institutes for priests to celebrate daily mass.

Everything has to be read in tandem.

You must also remember that Canon Law is the daughter of theology, not the other way around. Therefore, whatever is in the CCC trumps Canon Law.

I have not seen anything in Canon Law that is in conflict with what is in the CCC. I think that people often misunderstand the one or the other.

In any case, the CCC is what the Church believes. Canon Law is what the Church does or does not do in order to remain faithful to what she believes.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Celebration of the Eucharist and preaching the Word of God are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Stephan19]

Thanks for the great replies! I just want to clarify that I am not attempting to read this in isolation, I am merely re-iterating a question a Protestant had. I think JReducation sums it up best:

Everything has to be read in tandem.

You must also remember that Canon Law is the daughter of theology, not the other way around. Therefore, whatever is in the CCC trumps Canon Law.

I have not seen anything in Canon Law that is in conflict with what is in the CCC. I think that people often misunderstand the one or the other.

In any case, the CCC is what the Church believes. Canon Law is what the Church does or does not do in order to remain faithful to what she believes.

 

[dans0622]

Both passages have a source in Vatican II’s decree Presbyterorum ordinis, nos. 4 and 13 (not that “P.O.” is the origin of either but you can trace it back to there, and from there, to other sources). vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651207_presbyterorum-ordinis_en.html

One could say that the document contradicts itself if one wants to take an either/or perspective–instead of a both/and–and not see any nuance in the texts. I agree with “Ad Orientem” and say there are fine points of distinction.

I’d also challenge the question–does Scripture really say preaching is anyone’s principle role? Individuals are directed to preach, certainly, but is there a stated hierarchy of first, do this, then do that or that this is the primary role and that is secondary? Further, Christ gave the apostles the command to “do this in memory of Me” and the basic function of any priest, from the Old Testament to the New, is to offer sacrifice. For priests of the New Covenant, it is to offer the Sacrifice of Christ. So, I’d say that the text really does mean that it is in celebrating the Mass that priests fulfill their principal role–whether they engage in any preaching during the course of the Mass or not.

Dan