Home Masses

[Tarpeian_Rock]

What are the regulations / procedures governing whether or not a priest can offer a Mass in the home of a seriously ill and house-confined person - in this case, someone terminally ill?

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I think it is permissible, but very rare in our modern culture. Might be wrong, but waiting for others to chime in. Peace. Just to clarify-I am speaking of the modern, free world where you don’t need to have masses in your house. We know that in other countries the Church has had to go “underground” to survive. Correct me if I am wrong. ME

 

[pianistclare]

It would be much easier to have a priest make a home visit.
IN Ireland where home Masses were very common, they’ve pretty much stopped them. It became a competition, with women losing their minds over what to serve, how clean the house needed to be, etc.
Same in our are of the American SE. People ask fro Masses, but the priest will only visit or bless homes and may stay fro dinner. But it’s one of those can of worms things…Sadly, when a priest does a kindness for someone, it quickly gets discussed and suddenly everyone needs one too.
It would be nice to arrange a private meeting of the priest and the patient, and I’m sure their pastor would readily comply. I remember when I needed this for my mother, the priest was happy to see that I greeted him and Our Lord in the Eucharist with a lit candle at the door. That was the only thing out of the ordinary that we did though.

 

[buc_fan33]

It would be much easier to have a priest make a home visit.
IN Ireland where home Masses were very common, they’ve pretty much stopped them. It became a competition, with women losing their minds over what to serve, how clean the house needed to be, etc.
Same in our are of the American SE. People ask fro Masses, but the priest will only visit or bless homes and may stay fro dinner. But it’s one of those can of worms things…Sadly, when a priest does a kindness for someone, it quickly gets discussed and suddenly everyone needs one too.
It would be nice to arrange a private meeting of the priest and the patient, and I’m sure their pastor would readily comply. I remember when I needed this for my mother, the priest was happy to see that I greeted him and Our Lord in the Eucharist with a lit candle at the door. That was the only thing out of the ordinary that we did though.

This is the real issue at hand. Priests routinely celebrate Mass in their own home, on their day off, for instance. But to have a Mass in the home of parishioner, causes some practical problems. Among them are:

1. The perception among parishioners that “so and so” is favored by Father. This is especially problematic if the person/family for whom the Mass was celebrated in their home are generous donors to the parish. It gives the appearance of buying Father’s time, buying special favors/privileges, and/or buying the sacraments.
2. Canon Law permits priests to celebrate one Mass per day, two if there is a pastoral need. (Sundays, Christmas, and All Souls’ Day are exceptions to this rule.) So, for example, he might have a regular daily Mass in the parish, and a second funeral Mass on the same day (a pastoral need). Now, practically speaking, this rule is broken by just about every priest everywhere. Personally, I’ve on occasion had days where I’ve had three Masses, sometimes even four, and once, five. But, those were extenuating circumstances. The reality of the priest shortage facing most of the world today is that aren’t enough Masses to “go around,” so to speak. Even if a priest wanted to, Canon Law doesn’t permit him to celebrate Mass all the time.

So, the answer…pray for priests.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I have, a number of times, celebrated Mass in the homes of parishioners who were at end of life. Normally, it only happened once per dying parishioner and was a moment when I also gave them the anointing for the sick. Obviously, it necessitated bination…but such an occasion could certainly be deemed pastoral necessity.

I remember when Pope Saint John Paul II was arriving to his final moments, the Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated in his bedroom by his secretary and the Communion he received at that Mass was his viaticum.

I am truly sorry for my American confreres who would confront criticism from American parishioners for saying Mass in the home of a dying parishioner. Such critics should be roundly condemned in the strongest possible terms for the temerity to even voice such a criticism.

For that matter, I have to say that there are comments I encounter on this “Catholic Answers Forums” that paint a very dark and ugly picture of certain strains of Catholics in the United States relative to those of us who live in the rest of the world.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

What are the regulations / procedures governing whether or not a priest can offer a Mass in the home of a seriously ill and house-confined person - in this case, someone terminally ill?

I would consult your bishop (or chancery office) and see what they say.

And I will pray for this person. I hope he or she will be able to have the priest come.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The liturgical book Pastoral Care of the Sick has in Chapter V “Celebration of Viaticum”:

“177. Whenever it is possible, the dying Christian should be able to receive viaticum within Mass. In this way he or she shares fully, during the final moments of this life, in the eucharistic sacrifice, which proclaims the Lord’s own passing through death to life. However, circumstances, such as confinement to a hospital ward or the very emergency which makes death imminent, may frequently make the complete eucharistic celebration impossible. In this case, the rite for viaticum outside Mass is appropriate. The minster should wear attire appropriate to this ministry.

1. Because the celebration of viaticum ordinarily takes place in the limited circumstances of the home, a hospital, or other institution, the simplifications of the rite for Masses in small gatherings may be appropriate. Depending on the condition of the dying person, every effort should be made to involve him or her, the family, friends, and other members of the local community in the planning and celebration. ….”

The 1983 Code of Canon Law has in Canon 922: “Holy Viaticum for the sick is not to be unduly delayed. Those who have the care of souls are to take assiduous care that the sick are strengthened by it while they are in full possession of their faculties.” (From ISBN 000599375X ).

Canon 911: Ҥ1 The duty and the right to bring the blessed Eucharist to the sick as Viaticum belongs to the parish priest, to assistant priests, to chaplains and, in respect of all who are in the house, to the community Superior in clerical religious institutes or societies of apostolic life.
§2 In a case of necessity, or with the permission at least presumed of the parish priest, chaplain or Superior, who must subsequently be notified, any priest or other minister of holy communion must do this.”

Canon 932 §1 “The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in this case the celebration must be a fitting place.”

John Huels commented on this in “The Pastoral Companion” published by Franscian Press in 1995 (ISBN 0819909688 ) pages 111-112:
“A particular case includes not only a single occasion but also an individual priest who must celebrate outside a sacred place on a regular basis. Cases of necessity include sickness, old age, distance from a church, and pastoral advantage such as Masses for children and other particular groups. The priest himself can judge whether the place is suitable for Mass, unless this is regulated by particular law.”

The 1969 Instruction Actio pastoralist, on Masses with special groups has:

“3. In most cases the eucharistic celebration for special groups is to be held in a place of worship.

1. The faculty of allowing a eucharistic celebration for special groups to take place outside a place of worship is reserved to the local Ordinary or, for his own houses, to the Ordinary of religious. But, especially when it is a question of private homes or institutions, the are to grant this faculty only if the place is suitable and decent. [footnote 3: See GIRM no. 253]. A bedroom is always excluded. [footnote 4: See Paul VI, Motu Proprio Pastorale minus, 30 Nov. 1963, * no. 7. Secretariat of State, Pontifical Rescript Cum admotae, 6 Nov. 1964, no. 4”

In footnote 3, GIRM refers to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

The texts referred to in footnote 4 are:

“7. To permit priests to celebrate Mass outside a place of worship on an altar stone, provided the place is decent and becoming; never, however, in a bedroom. The faculty can be granted in individual cases for a just cause, but it can be granted as a permanent faculty only for a more serious reason.”

“4. To grant to their own priest-subjects the faculty to celebrate Mass within the religious house but outside of a place of worship (not however in a bedroom), upon an altar stone or, in the case of those of an Eastern rite, upon an antimensium. This faculty can be granted only for individual instances and for a good reason; in cases of regular celebration of this kind, a more serious reason is required.
With consent of their council, superiors general are empowered to subdelegate this faculty to other major superiors of the same religious institute.”

References:
The Rites Volume One, 1990, Liturgical Press.
Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, 1982.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Thanks to John & Father for such specific help.

 

[FrDavid96]

I have, a number of times, celebrated Mass in the homes of parishioners who were at end of life. Normally, it only happened once per dying parishioner and was a moment when I also gave them the anointing for the sick. Obviously, it necessitated bination…but such an occasion could certainly be deemed pastoral necessity.

I remember when Pope Saint John Paul II was arriving to his final moments, the Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated in his bedroom by his secretary and the Communion he received at that Mass was his viaticum.

I am truly sorry for my American confreres who would confront criticism from American parishioners for saying Mass in the home of a dying parishioner. Such critics should be roundly condemned in the strongest possible terms for the temerity to even voice such a criticism.

For that matter, I have to say that there are comments I encounter on this “Catholic Answers Forums” that paint a very dark and ugly picture of certain strains of Catholics in the United States relative to those of us who live in the rest of the world.

I recall my first pagella of faculties.

There was a clause in it which gave me permission to celebrate Mass “in any dignified place where a crucifix is visible, always excluding a bedroom.” That permission was given because of canon 932, although it was not strictly speaking necessary. Still, if I had celebrated Mass in a bedroom, I would have been acting illicitly and disobedient to my Ordinary. My current pagella is phrased differently, but that’s mere coincidence.

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.

So, while the Church permits Mass in a private home, it’s clear that this is not the ideal situation. It can only be done if “in a particular case necessity requires” it. Naturally, “necessity” is to be determined by the prudential judgement of the particular priest.

 

[twf]

This is not exactly on topic as it pertains to the Orthodox Church, not the Catholic Church…but I thought it was worth sharing. Three of my cousins and their families recently converted from Protestantism to Orthodoxy. They live in a small town in Northern Alberta where there is no Orthodox parish. As such, a priest drives up from Edmonton several times a year to celebrate Divine Liturgy in the home of one of my cousin’s. A special table has been set aside in the home for this sole purpose. Icons are brought in, of course, for the occasion. On the first occasion there was no subdeacons to chant the epistle, so one of my cousins had to be given a “on the fly” lesson in chant before the liturgy. (A spoken liturgy is beyond the pale in the Eastern tradition- simply won’t happen). For the Orthodox, this is essentially a missionary territory situation. I’m sure similar situations exist in some countries for Catholic converts.

 

[Digitonomy]

A special table has been set aside in the home for this sole purpose.

Out of curiosity, were there any standards this table had to meet?

 

[bluerose]

When my father-in-law was dying from a brain aneurysm in 2007, he wasn’t given much time to live, maybe hours. But he lasted three days and my brother-in-law, who is a priest, flew from Italy and was able to give his father his last sacraments, including Mass celebrated in the bedroom where my father-in-law lay on his deathbed. The entire family and close friends also gathered for this Mass and, at the consecration, Dad opened his eyes and fixed them on the Host with such clarity that we knew he was seeing Jesus and not bread. He died almost immediately after the Mass ended. Still the most beautiful Mass I ever attended.

 

[twf]

Out of curiosity, were there any standards this table had to meet?

I’m not sure, but I know they fixed some sort of special object from the bishop to the table. I’m not clear on the details.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m not sure, but I know they fixed some sort of special object from the bishop to the table. I’m not clear on the details.

In the western tradition, it’s an altar stone (which has fallen into disuse).

In the eastern traditions, it’s an antimension*, which is typically cloth, although I recall seeing one (just one) made of wood. There was also an old indult the Latin priests in mission territories to use them, but I have no idea how often they were actually used.

In any case, the point here is that the bishop approved that situation, so the usual requirement that Mass be celebrated in a proper church (oratory, chapel, etc.) doesn’t apply. The bishop determined that there are special circumstances.

---

• sometimes spelled antemension.

 

[Rosebud77]

“Station masses” are being revived here in Ireland and are doing well where I live.

A vital part of the life we live in the community.

ie in a home in a small area of streets.

When I first knew them they were very rural. Part of them being stopped was that some of the families could not afford to cater for the neighbours who came.

That aspect too is being better addressed now. We need to be neighbourly more and more these days and for the priests to be in homes as well as in Church.

Delighted it is going on again.

 

[twf]

In the western tradition, it’s an altar stone (which has fallen into disuse).

In the eastern traditions, it’s an antimension*, which is typically cloth, although I recall seeing one (just one) made of wood. There was also an old indult the Latin priests in mission territories to use them, but I have no idea how often they were actually used.

In any case, the point here is that the bishop approved that situation, so the usual requirement that Mass be celebrated in a proper church (oratory, chapel, etc.) doesn’t apply. The bishop determined that there are special circumstances.

---

• sometimes spelled antemension.

Thanks Father. That must be what it was. The main parish in Edmonton is very much a missionary parish with one priest travelling to the various towns (such as the case I described). While Orthodox, they use the Gregorian calendar (but celebrate Byzantine feasts of course) and English to align with their Western neighbours for major shared feasts such as Christmas or the Annunciation. I was very impressed to find such ecumenical flexibility in an Orthodox community. My cousin mentioned that many of the “ethnic” parishes in the city had grumbled when it was first established, but after the bishop consecrated the new temple, myrrh poured from the icon of the Theotokos for several days.The senior priest is a former Pentecostal pastor. The priest’s son is actually a convert to Catholicism.

 

[PJM]

What are the regulations / procedures governing whether or not a priest can offer a Mass in the home of a seriously ill and house-confined person - in this case, someone terminally ill?

It would require the Bishops approval

BUT Holy Communion and Confession MAY be done it the home by calling the Parish Office to make arrangements. YOU Should ask if your person “eligible” for the Sacrament of Anointing too

God Bless you both!

Patrick

 

[FrDavid96]

It would require the Bishops approval

Not necessarily.

Canon 932 addresses this

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.

The canon is not very specific. It does not say anything like “not more than once a week,” nor does it provide specific criteria beyond the generic “particular case [of] necessity.”

So the priest can make his own judgement on this. Now, once a thing like this moved beyond a “specific case” it would require the bishop’s permission. For example, as a priest I cannot do something like “Mass every Sunday at the Jones farm until further notice” without the bishop’s involvement.

The earlier comment was about a terminally ill person. In a case like that, logic tells us that it isn’t permanent, so the bishop’s permission would only be needed if that situation were to expand beyond that limited ‘once or a few times.’

BUT Holy Communion and Confession MAY be done it the home by calling the Parish Office to make arrangements. YOU Should ask if your person “eligible” for the Sacrament of Anointing too

God Bless you both!

Patrick

You’re right. But I suppose the priest himself would already know to offer Anointing when he goes to visit a terminally ill parishioner.

 

[PJM]

Not necessarily.

Canon 932 addresses this

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.

The canon is not very specific. It does not say anything like “not more than once a week,” nor does it provide specific criteria beyond the generic “particular case [of] necessity.”

So the priest can make his own judgement on this. Now, once a thing like this moved beyond a “specific case” it would require the bishop’s permission. For example, as a priest I cannot do something like “Mass every Sunday at the Jones farm until further notice” without the bishop’s involvement.

The earlier comment was about a terminally ill person. In a case like that, logic tells us that it isn’t permanent, so the bishop’s permission would only be needed if that situation were to expand beyond that limited ‘once or a few times.’

You’re right. But I suppose the priest himself would already know to offer Anointing when he goes to visit a terminally ill parishioner.

THANK YOU!

I missed that

GBY