Can a priest say a private Mass in, say, his family’s home without the permission of the local Ordinary? I don’t know how/if Can. 903 applies to this.
Can. 903 A priest is to be permitted to celebrate the Eucharist, even if he is not known to the rector of the church, provided either that he presents commendatory letters, not more than a year old, from his own Ordinary or Superior, or that it can be prudently judged that he is not debarred from celebrating.
Japhy, then, this is entirely consistent with what Redemptionis Sacramentum notes:
The Place for the Celebration of Holy Mass
[108.] “The celebration of the Eucharist is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise. In this case the celebration must be in a decent place”.197 The diocesan Bishop shall be the judge for his diocese concerning this necessity, on a case-by-case basis.
Then, a liturgical gentlemen’s agreement wouldn’t necessarily cover that, right? There has to be something official. I remember when my beloved grandmother died. My PV had to submit a letter from the bishop to the bishop of Austin indicating that he was in good standing so that he could celebrate the funeral Mass. Inasmuch as this wasn’t a home Mass, per your OP, permission was still needed.
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