Dispensation from attending Mass?

[DavidJoseph]

To those of you who frequently attend Masses said by FSSP or ICRSS priests (or those from any other approved EF Mass priestly society), have you guys ever known priests from such groups to give dispensations from Sunday or holy day Mass attendance to parishioners who, on a given Sunday or holy day of obligation, are unable to make it to an EF Mass? I knew an FSSP priest who would occasionally do that for people because, as he explained it to me, properly said OF Masses are often hard to find, and for many folks, Masses with liturgical abuses are a source of frustration and anger. As a result, he said, the anger that people might feel would serve as a block to the graces and blessings that naturally come from the Mass – even the most badly said ones. But would my fellow CA-ers consider that a sufficient reason to give a dispensation for Mass? Would the FSSP, ICRSS, etc. priests you know consider it a sufficient reason? Thoughts?

 

[corsair]

I may be wrong on this issue but I don’t believe that a priest can dispense anyone from anything. Only a Bishop can issue a dispensation.

Anyone one else have better knowledge?

 

[MarkThompson]

I may be wrong on this issue but I don’t believe that a priest can dispense anyone from anything. Only a Bishop can issue a dispensation.

Anyone one else have better knowledge?

I believe a priest can issue such a dispensation. This generally happens on an ad hoc basis: for instance, on a weekend of deep snow or other severe weather, a priest can dispense his parish from the obligation of attending Mass.

That said, I have heard – read in a blog comment somewhere, actually – of FSSP priests issuing a dispensation such as the OP asks for. This strikes me as highly illegitimate, however, and it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite. You have an obligation to attend Mass, and the ordinary form is the ordinary, and entirely valid, expression of the Mass in the Roman Church.

 

[DavidJoseph]

That said, I have heard – read in a blog comment somewhere, actually – of FSSP priests issuing a dispensation such as the OP asks for. This strikes me as highly illegitimate, however, and it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite.

Yeah, that’s how it seems to me too. But at any rate, I’d like to know how common this practice is.

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

To those of you who frequently attend Masses said by FSSP or ICRSS priests (or those from any other approved EF Mass priestly society), have you guys ever known priests from such groups to give dispensations from Sunday or holy day Mass attendance to parishioners who, on a given Sunday or holy day of obligation, are unable to make it to an EF Mass? I knew an FSSP priest who would occasionally do that for people because, as he explained it to me, properly said OF Masses are often hard to find, and for many folks, Masses with liturgical abuses are a source of frustration and anger. As a result, he said, the anger that people might feel would serve as a block to the graces and blessings that naturally come from the Mass – even the most badly said ones. But would my fellow CA-ers consider that a sufficient reason to give a dispensation for Mass? Would the FSSP, ICRSS, etc. priests you know consider it a sufficient reason? Thoughts?

Maybe.

It seems to me like this has to taken in the proper context. It doesn’t sound like the priest is advertising a willingness to dispense people from their obligation. But the priest is approached by someone who is unable to assist at a Traditional Mass next Sunday. “If I go to the Novus Ordo”, he says, “it can be an occasion of sin because I go crazy with rage”. What’s a good shepherd of souls going to do with that person? I suppose he can oblige him and let him know that he is unwelcome at Communion unless he goes to the Novus Ordo. Or the priest can understand that the person, while not adequately controlling his passions, is experiencing some righteous indignation, and that for the good of his soul at this time, he can be dispensed as he would if travelling or other inconveniences. A good priest can take this into consideration while making a point of discussing this from the pulpit in the future so as to help his parishioners control their outrage and channel their indignation more properly.

For those who are concerned about priestly authority, I don’t think we should presume the priest is offering a “dispensation” based on his authority as a parish priest. More likely, he is acting in his role as spiritual father, instructing a particular member of his flock as to whether he would consider such an omission to require sacramental confession. It seems to be within a confessor’s parameters to judge whether such an one as is described, would be committing mortal sin…and this could possibly be spoken of as a dispensation.

Rory

 

[bkovacs]

I believe a priest can issue such a dispensation. This generally happens on an ad hoc basis: for instance, on a weekend of deep snow or other severe weather, a priest can dispense his parish from the obligation of attending Mass.

That said, I have heard – read in a blog comment somewhere, actually – of FSSP priests issuing a dispensation such as the OP asks for. This strikes me as highly illegitimate, however, and it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite. You have an obligation to attend Mass, and the ordinary form is the ordinary, and entirely valid, expression of the Mass in the Roman Church.

Really!. “it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite”

Just tell that to your local parish priest when he laughs at you for asking for a EF Mass.

Anyway. I would be all for a dispensation from the OF Mass for those who follow the Extraordinary Form who are unable to attend EF Mass. They are completely different and they both follow two different calendars and rubrics which would confuse allot of people. The closest to the EF Mass would be the Anglican Use. But that Mass is very hard to find. Good question though!. I was thinking about asking the same thing.

 

[MarkThompson]

Really!. “it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite”

Just tell that to your local parish priest when he laughs at you for asking for a EF Mass.

Anyway. I would be all for a dispensation from the OF Mass for those who follow the Extraordinary Form who are unable to attend EF Mass. They are completely different and they both follow two different calendars and rubrics which would confuse allot of people. The closest to the EF Mass would be the Anglican Use. But that Mass is very hard to find.

Yup, really. There’s no dispensation for people who say, “I hate going to Mass,” and no priest ought to consider a dispensation for those who would say, “I hate going to one form of the Mass.”

And I’m shedding real tears here for those who couldn’t stomach a Mass in the ordinary form because the calendar is just too confusing.

 

[bkovacs]

No Comment.

 

[IntegraCatholic]

I believe a priest can issue such a dispensation. This generally happens on an ad hoc basis: for instance, on a weekend of deep snow or other severe weather, a priest can dispense his parish from the obligation of attending Mass.

That said, I have heard – read in a blog comment somewhere, actually – of FSSP priests issuing a dispensation such as the OP asks for. This strikes me as highly illegitimate, however, and it grossly contravenes the sentiments the Holy Father has expressed on the two forms of the Roman Rite. You have an obligation to attend Mass, and the ordinary form is the ordinary, and entirely valid, expression of the Mass in the Roman Church.

The parish priest (pastor) of a church only can offer such a dispensation. He can only make such a dispensation for individual cases. General cases must be submitted to the local Ordinary. Yes, the pastor has a right to dispense for someone going to the Novus Ordo. No, that is not contrary to Summorum Pontificum, canon law, or the sensus Catholicus.

It is nearly impossible to find a Novus Ordo said according even to its own rubrics and dispensations (e.g., those who receive holy Communion in the hand must make sure they do not drop consecrated particles to the ground, something I’ve only seen done by one person in my entire life; this abuse and that of excessive extraordinary ministers–even according to the standards given by the Vatican–are present at 99.999% of Novus Ordo Masses or more). I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Novus Ordo that has been free from abuses, and the faithful, as canon law says, have a right to a Mass according to the laws of the Church. If a parish priest deems this suitable reason for a dispensation, then that is his perogative. It is not an abuse, as there are no restrictions for such other than it be a just case. His prudence (and grace of state) will guide that decision. He has studied philosophy and canon law and can make such a decision better than laymen on an online forum.

Fortunately, I haven’t really been to the Novus Ordo in 6 or 7 years, and I’m sure I’ll never go again, God-willing. Where there is a will, there’s a way, and if someone makes the effort, it is almost always possible to go to the traditional Mass. That may include skipping out on some things, but if someone is convinced of the benefits of the traditional Mass, it’s always worth it in the end, when you consider your last end and the state of your soul.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The problem is how many Churches that offer the EF are parish Churches with the main celebrant the pastor?

As far as I know the FSSP and ICRSS run chapels and are not pastors so they do not have the authority to dispense from Sunday attendance.

IMHO not being able to make it to an EF is not reason enough to give such a dispensation but that would be up to the individuals pastor to decide.

I have been to many OF Masses that are abuse free. Again, IMHO, I think the term “abuse” has been stretched.

 

[DavidJoseph]

The problem is how many Churches that offer the EF are parish Churches with the main celebrant the pastor?

As far as I know the FSSP and ICRSS run chapels and are not pastors so they do not have the authority to dispense from Sunday attendance.

IMHO not being able to make it to an EF is not reason enough to give such a dispensation but that would be up to the individuals pastor to decide.

I have been to many OF Masses that are abuse free. Again, IMHO, I think the term “abuse” has been stretched.

Actually, FSSP and ICRSS priests can indeed be pastors of parishes. Many FSSP and ICRSS chapels have been moved up to parish status.

 

[cameron_lansing]

I may be wrong on this issue but I don’t believe that a priest can dispense anyone from anything. Only a Bishop can issue a dispensation.

Anyone one else have better knowledge?

Not only the diocesan bishop but others can dispense by virtue of the law. The power to dispense can also be delegated to others. I even have the power to dispense from a day of obligation.
See canons 87-89 to your general question then, and canon 1245 to the particular question of dispensation from a pastor regarding a day of obligation. You can view the code in translation at the Vatican website.

 

[pnewton]

The Catechism says:

The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor

Based on this it would seem that an FSSP priest could give such a dispensation. Let us look at this deeper. Who is a pastor?

Can. 107 §1. Through both domicile and quasi-domicile, each person acquires his or her pastor and ordinary.
§2. The proper pastor or ordinary of a transient is the pastor or local ordinary where the transient is actually residing.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_PC.HTM#KG

Then we can look at Canon 1245:

Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in ⇒ can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.

Note that the pastor may only grant such a dispensation within the prescripts of the diocesan bishop.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

That’s all very well, but the bigger question is, should a priest be dispensing someone based soley on their preference for a certain form of the Mass? It is one thing if the priest knows or suspects that the consecration at the other Mass (presumably the only other one this parishioner could attend) is invalid. And if that’s the case, the priest should do more than just dispense one or a handful of the EF attendees–he should work with the bishop to get the situation at the other Mass corrected!

However, if the other Mass (or Masses) are simply ordinary OF Masses, with the only “abuses” being folks holding hands during the Our Father or hugging during the Sign of Peace, than it seems he would be doing more for the parishioner in his care to counsel him to seek humility before God and to learn to tame his emotions. It would be a very powerful sign to have to confess that you missed Mass the previous Sunday because you couldn’t stand the thought of going to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered in English.

 

[pnewton]

That’s all very well, but the bigger question is, should a priest be dispensing someone based soley on their preference for a certain form of the Mass?

If the Church permits a decision to be made at a certain level, we should not question it. The parish priest is allowed to do this because he is the one in the best situation to determine whether a dispensation may be pastorally prudent. He may be wrong, but unless we have been trained in spiritual direction and know the circumstances, we are not really in a position to judge the prudence of such an action.

 

[choy]

you cannot be dispensed from going to a valid mass

you can only be dispensed if something is preventing you from going to a valid mass, like sickness, care for someone sick/child/elderly, etc.

if a priest conscents that you are dispensed from attending when a valid mass is available based on your own personal opinions, then something is wrong with that priest

in fact, we can even attend Divine Liturgy from an Orthodox Church if there is no Catholic Church within reasonable distance. why would a priest dispense you when you have access to a valid Latin Rite Mass?

 

[pnewton]

you can only be dispensed if something is preventing you from going to a valid mass, like sickness, care for someone sick/child/elderly, etc.

I quoted the Canon Law that gave a priest authority to dispense from one’s obligation, in addition to the the reasons you state. Do you have any authority for this statement?

 

[choy]

I quoted the Canon Law that gave a priest authority to dispense from one’s obligation, in addition to the the reasons you state. Do you have any authority for this statement?

i thought i just mentioned the same thing you did
unless you understood my post differently, which was not my intention and i apologize for that

and no, i’m not one to say i have authority within the Church. i know my place in the Church

 

[pnewton]

i thought i just mentioned the same thing you did
unless you understood my post differently, which was not my intention and i apologize for that

I am the one who should apologize. Sometimes when bolding, it comes across gruff, though I really only meant it only for emphasis. If I was a priest, I could not understand a dispensation because of the type of Mass, but then if I was a priest maybe I would see things different.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

If the Church permits a decision to be made at a certain level, we should not question it. The parish priest is allowed to do this because he is the one in the best situation to determine whether a dispensation may be pastorally prudent. He may be wrong, but unless we have been trained in spiritual direction and know the circumstances, we are not really in a position to judge the prudence of such an action.

I understand, but that still doesn’t make sense. There is nothing preventing the person from attending the OF (sickness, travel dangers, etc.). They just don’t *want *to go because it might make them angry (as per the OP). Again, I do not see from the cannons quoted where a priest can dispense someone based on their preference for a form of the Mass.