Is it licit for the priest to wear a mask when celebrating mass?

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Is it licit for the priest to wear a mask when celebrating mass?
 
I too have wondered, because in many parishes the priest removes his mask at specific times.
 
I would say that it is fine, especially given the circumstances. Most priests I know only wear it when distributing communion when they’ll be in close contact with people.

I made a joke a while back to a couple of priest friends of mine that maybe in a few generations, the face mask will become a standard item of liturgical dress. It was not taken well… 😅
 
Many bishops are prohibiting the wearing of masks by the celebrant and other ministers.

Soon we’ll have rubrics for wearing and doffing the mask like we have rubrics for the biretta and mitre. I am still waiting for standardized “vesting prayers” for lavalier microphones.
 
It’s probably fine, but isn’t a part of the consecration have the priest breathe across the elements? A mask would prohibit that
 
While this question may seem out of the blue, there is somewhat of a basis for this question. There is a point at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist where all celebrants and con celebrants must remove all head coverings. It is at this point where bishops remove their zucchetto and religious lower their cowls. Even if the mask were not considered a head covering, the priest must have an unimpeded mouth at the words of the consecration of the Perscious Blood because part of the consecration includes the priest breathing onto/over the Blood with the words “this is the chalice of my blood”. If this breathing over the chalice is impeded it is a grey area. I would think that having the mask on at the moment of the consecration of the blood would be illicit unless specific dispensation has been given by the bishop.

In the end, we, as laity, would not know whether the priest received the dispensation or not. Thus, it would be better to take everything in good faith and assume that he has so as to not fall into judgement.
 
CRM_Brother said:
because part of the consecration includes the priest breathing onto/over the Blood with the words “this is the chalice of my blood”. If this breathing over the chalice is impeded it is a grey area. I would think that having the mask on at the moment of the consecration of the blood would be illicit unless specific dispensation has been given by the bishop
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There isn’t actually a rubric that says the priest must breathe on the bread and wine during the consecration. Even in the old rite this wasn’t the case; I’ve actually seen books on how to offer the old Mass that discourage breathing or speaking into the bread and wine. I am open to correction if you can show me some documentation.

That said, there isn’t much reason for the priest to wear a mask at that point in the Mass. He should while he distributes communion and will be in close contact with the people, but other than that it doesn’t make sense.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Would you have a list? I’ve been searching for such a reference.
 
It’s my understanding that the bishops have given instructions in many dioceses that priests, deacons and lectors cannot wear masks while carrying out funcions of the Mass.

Having said that, I have seen priests putting on masks when they are interacting with people at close range, such as distributing communion or receiving the gifts. The priest then takes the mask back off to proceed wih the Mass.
 
Is there not a rubric that instructs the priest to bow low over the elements during the words of consecration? The way most priests do it, it seems tantamount to breathing on them anyway.

@TheLittleLady, I haven’t seen a list; nobody seems to be keeping score. There is just a mountain of anecdotal evidence spread among blog comments, forums, etc.
 
Anesti33 said:
Is there not a rubric that instructs the priest to bow low over the elements during the words of consecration?
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Your Bishop, my Bishop, has given priests specific instructions for this time. By Bishop has specifically told priest to avoid breathing on the accidents.
 
I don’t see why not. Our priest wears it only when he distributes communion. The seminarian here wears it all the time - I have yet to see his face. Personally, I hate masks.
 
Anesti33 said:
Is there not a rubric that instructs the priest to bow low over the elements during the words of consecration?
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Yes, it says to bow slightly. It doesn’t say to breathe on them. I get the symbolism and I think it’s actually beautiful. And I myself actually do it, I speak directly into the host and the chalice. But it isn’t required by the rubrics, and it certainly isn’t illicit not to do that.
 
Also, we have to consider sound epidemiology here. If a priest should accidentally contaminate his host and chalice with the virus, well, first of all, hopefully nobody but the priest and deacon is partaking from the chalice anyway, and then nobody but the priest and deacon partakes of the celebrant’s host.

Even so, if some of the faithful should receive contaminated elements, the risk of contagion is low. You need to breathe in the virus to be infected. I saw an analysis of food preparation techniques that asserted that infection doesn’t really happen through the digestive system. So while it may seem gross, there really isn’t any issue to be concerned about.
 
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edward_george1 said:
There isn’t actually a rubric that says the priest must breathe on the bread and wine during the consecration.
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Thanks, Father. I was talking to a friend a few months ago where he mentioned how “cool” he thought it was that priests “breathed out the Holy Spirit” onto the elements at consecration. I gave him a puzzled look and told him that never came up in sacramental or liturgical theology classes and I’d never seen it in the rubrics.

I always wondered if there was a “secret priest’s manual” they didn’t share with deacon candidates that included this “breathing out the holy spirit” thing, so I’m glad to know that if it exists that they didn’t share it with you either. 🤣
 
Licit is not really the word I would use as there is no mention one way or another on the wearing of face coverings.

There have been some discussions around the question if it is liturgically sound to cover one’s face during the celebration of the Mass. The majority that I have read said it is preferable to not wear masks while celebrating the liturgy.

Locally, our instructions are to not wear masks while functioning within the sanctuary, but to follow any mandates imposed by the local health department that would not invalidate the Mass. In that regard we have separated the chairs by 6 feet in the sanctuary and are instructed to step away from each other when not directly interacting. When distributing the Eucharist the clergy and acolytes at my parish move to new stations for each section of pews and therefore are not staying in the same place for an extended period so are not required to wear masks according to health department guidelines. Some priests and deacons do, others don’t.
 
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