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imo
Guest
Is there any obligation or recommendation in this sense. In my parish we have regular masses only on weekends, sometimes there are other masses in weekdays, but it is not the norm.
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Divine3
Guest
I heard, but you would need to check this out , that it is recommended to celebrate mass daily but not mandatory. I can understand if a priest is sick, or other issues come up or he belongs to a different rite (Eastern Catholic) where he can not celebrate mass daily. Hoping all priests desire to celebrate daily mass in the Latin rite if possible.
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CilladeRoma
Guest
A priest is allowed to say one Mass per day and 3 on Sundays, if necessary in my diocese.
He can say 2 Masses on a weekday if one of them is a funeral or if he has a scheduled off-site Mass (like a nursing home Mass).
Many parishes do not have daily Mass because the have one or more funerals a day, and we don’t have enough priests.
Instead of condemning a priest for “lame duck” reasons, maybe pray for more priests.
He can say 2 Masses on a weekday if one of them is a funeral or if he has a scheduled off-site Mass (like a nursing home Mass).
Many parishes do not have daily Mass because the have one or more funerals a day, and we don’t have enough priests.
Instead of condemning a priest for “lame duck” reasons, maybe pray for more priests.
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OldCAFMember
Guest
Priests have always been encouraged to celebrate Mass daily, but have never been obligated to do so.
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jack63
Guest
I’ve heard of one priest being spread out of 4 smaller parishes for mass on the weekends and holding a day job at a Catholic School during the weekdays. I really think you need to look at the specific situation and obligations of the priest before answering this question.
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HeDa
Guest
One of the priests in the diocese told me that he has celebrated Mass every single day minus two days during the 50 years he has been a priest. The two days he was in hospital so it wasn’t possible. He showed me his little suitcase which contain the Mass kit he uses when travelling and on sick calls.
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Divine3
Guest
Yes, will pray for more priestly vocations.
This is correct. Priests may celebrate Mass every day, either with a congregation or sine populo. They may, they should, but they do not have to. The priest does not sin by choosing not to celebrate Mass. If he does not celebrate Sunday Mass, though, he has the same obligation as everyone else to attend Mass somewhere.
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JohnLilburne
Guest
The 1967 Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, at Eucharisticum Mysterium - Instruction on Eucharistic Worship has:
“37. Frequent and Daily Communion
Since “it is clear that the frequent or daily reception of the Blessed Eucharist increases union with Christ, nourishes the spiritual life more abundantly, strengthens the soul in virtue and gives the communicant a stronger pledge of eternal happiness, parish priests, confessors and preachers will frequently and zealously exhort the Christian people to this holy and salutary practice.” [footnote 91: S.C. of the Council. Decree on the daily reception of Communion. 20. xii. 1905. n. 6-AAS 38 (1905-1906), pp. 401 Seq; Pius XII, Encyc. Lett., Mediator Dei -AAS 39 (1947), p. 565.]
The 1983 Code of Canon Law has:
“Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic Sacrifice the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate frequently. Indeed, daily celebration is earnestly recommended, because, even if it should not be possible to have the faithful present, it is an action of Christ and of the Church in the carrying out of which priests fulfil their principal role.”
But it also has:
“Can. 906 A priest may not celebrate the eucharistic Sacrifice without the participation of at least one of the faithful, unless there is a good and reasonable cause for doing so.”
Regarding the Liturgy of the Hours, it has in Canon 276 §2, n. 3:
“priests, and deacons aspiring to the priesthood, are obliged to carry out the liturgy of the hours daily, in accordance with their own approved liturgical books;”
So, for example, if a Priest were in a situation where he could celebrate the Eucharist or the Office of Readings, but not both, then the Office of Readings has priority.
[The excerpts from the The Code of Canon Law are from New Revised English Translation, ISBN 000599375X.]
“37. Frequent and Daily Communion
Since “it is clear that the frequent or daily reception of the Blessed Eucharist increases union with Christ, nourishes the spiritual life more abundantly, strengthens the soul in virtue and gives the communicant a stronger pledge of eternal happiness, parish priests, confessors and preachers will frequently and zealously exhort the Christian people to this holy and salutary practice.” [footnote 91: S.C. of the Council. Decree on the daily reception of Communion. 20. xii. 1905. n. 6-AAS 38 (1905-1906), pp. 401 Seq; Pius XII, Encyc. Lett., Mediator Dei -AAS 39 (1947), p. 565.]
The 1983 Code of Canon Law has:
“Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic Sacrifice the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate frequently. Indeed, daily celebration is earnestly recommended, because, even if it should not be possible to have the faithful present, it is an action of Christ and of the Church in the carrying out of which priests fulfil their principal role.”
But it also has:
“Can. 906 A priest may not celebrate the eucharistic Sacrifice without the participation of at least one of the faithful, unless there is a good and reasonable cause for doing so.”
Regarding the Liturgy of the Hours, it has in Canon 276 §2, n. 3:
“priests, and deacons aspiring to the priesthood, are obliged to carry out the liturgy of the hours daily, in accordance with their own approved liturgical books;”
So, for example, if a Priest were in a situation where he could celebrate the Eucharist or the Office of Readings, but not both, then the Office of Readings has priority.
[The excerpts from the The Code of Canon Law are from New Revised English Translation, ISBN 000599375X.]
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JohnLilburne
Guest
In the Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, in n. 31 by John Paul II it has:
“We can understand, then, how important it is for the spiritual life of the priest, as well as for the good of the Church and the world, that priests follow the Council’s recommendation to celebrate the Eucharist daily: “for even if the faithful are unable to be present, it is an act of Christ and the Church”.65 In this way priests will be able to counteract the daily tensions which lead to a lack of focus and they will find in the Eucharistic Sacrifice – the true centre of their lives and ministry – the spiritual strength needed to deal with their different pastoral responsibilities. Their daily activity will thus become truly Eucharistic.”
Footnote 65 is: “Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis , 13; cf. Code of Canon Law , Canon 904; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches , Canon 378."
The full document is at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/s...-ii_enc_20030417_ecclesia_eucharistia_en.html
Presbyterorum Ordinis , 13 includes: “In the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, in which priests fulfill their greatest task, the work of our redemption is being constantly carried on;(14) and hence the daily celebration of Mass is strongly urged, since even if there cannot be present a number of the faithful, it is still an act of Christ and of the Church.(15)”
The footnotes:
"14. Cf. Roman Missal, Prayer over the Offerings of the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost .
“We can understand, then, how important it is for the spiritual life of the priest, as well as for the good of the Church and the world, that priests follow the Council’s recommendation to celebrate the Eucharist daily: “for even if the faithful are unable to be present, it is an act of Christ and the Church”.65 In this way priests will be able to counteract the daily tensions which lead to a lack of focus and they will find in the Eucharistic Sacrifice – the true centre of their lives and ministry – the spiritual strength needed to deal with their different pastoral responsibilities. Their daily activity will thus become truly Eucharistic.”
Footnote 65 is: “Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis , 13; cf. Code of Canon Law , Canon 904; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches , Canon 378."
The full document is at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/s...-ii_enc_20030417_ecclesia_eucharistia_en.html
Presbyterorum Ordinis , 13 includes: “In the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, in which priests fulfill their greatest task, the work of our redemption is being constantly carried on;(14) and hence the daily celebration of Mass is strongly urged, since even if there cannot be present a number of the faithful, it is still an act of Christ and of the Church.(15)”
The footnotes:
"14. Cf. Roman Missal, Prayer over the Offerings of the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost .
- Paul VI, encyclical letter Mysterium Fidei, Sept. 3, 1965: AAS 57 (1965), pp 761-762. Cf. Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Dec. 4, 1963, nn 26 and 27; AAS 56 (1964), p 107."
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dochawk
Guest
Note that in all cases, East and West, being the celebrant at multiple Masses requires a dispensation (which is pretty much universally issued at this time in the RCC).
In theory, both East and West, a church and a priest each have only one on a given day. In practice, this just isn’t possible, particularly in the wst.
Note that for some of the Eastern Churches, a Holy Table (altar) may only be used once per day! This has led to a couple of innovative designes with multiple tables . . . also, I think it’s in Orientale Lumen that a pope laments about the abusive behavior in which some RC clergy would sneak in to use the Holy Table for a Mass specifically to stop it rom being used for the Divine Liturgy!
(yes, that was quire a shock when I read it!)
In theory, both East and West, a church and a priest each have only one on a given day. In practice, this just isn’t possible, particularly in the wst.
Note that for some of the Eastern Churches, a Holy Table (altar) may only be used once per day! This has led to a couple of innovative designes with multiple tables . . . also, I think it’s in Orientale Lumen that a pope laments about the abusive behavior in which some RC clergy would sneak in to use the Holy Table for a Mass specifically to stop it rom being used for the Divine Liturgy!
(yes, that was quire a shock when I read it!)
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InThePew
Guest
What this means is that, rather than celebrating mass by himself, a priest should preferably find another mass to concelebrate if he can’t find a member of the faithful to join him. Of course, this isn’t always possible - some days the nearest mass to me is about an hour away! The point remains though that mass isn’t intended to be a private affair so a priest shouldn’t celebrate by himself simply for his convenience.
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lilypadrees
Guest
Mass daily whether anyone is present or not.
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Divine3
Guest
Thank you . This says it all and again thanks for finding this.
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dochawk
Guest
As a child, I was driven mad by Fr. Spika’s answer when I asked whether or not alone else had to be present: “On is nice.”
That was before came across byzantine thinking and indefinite answers to yes or no questions
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InThePew
Guest
Generally, no. While joining another mass as a concelebrant is preferable, in reality it isn’t always practical for a whole raft of reasons. This is especially true when away from home.
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TomH1
Guest
No a priest does not have to celebrate Mass daily. He is, however, recommended to do so.
I believe that a priest is not obliged to celebrate Mass on Sundays or other holy days of obligation. At least, I have never seen anything that says he must. Of course, some priests must. For example, the parish priest of a parish is required by canon law to offer a Mass pro populo, i.e. applied for the faithful under his care, on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
I would assume that if a priest is not one who must celebrate a Mass on a Sunday that he must, like all Catholics must, go to Mass as a member of the congregation. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to imagine many priests would not celebrate on Sunday.
I believe that a priest is not obliged to celebrate Mass on Sundays or other holy days of obligation. At least, I have never seen anything that says he must. Of course, some priests must. For example, the parish priest of a parish is required by canon law to offer a Mass pro populo, i.e. applied for the faithful under his care, on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
I would assume that if a priest is not one who must celebrate a Mass on a Sunday that he must, like all Catholics must, go to Mass as a member of the congregation. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to imagine many priests would not celebrate on Sunday.
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