Just the priest and me at Divine Liturgy this morning

[AnthonyJ]

I went to Divine Liturgy this morning at a Ukrainian Catholic parish for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. There were also special petitions for peace in Syria. I ended up being the only one there besides the priest. I was a little nervous because I had to say all the congregational responses alone and read the Epistle. I am Roman Catholic, so not completely used to the responses for the Divine Liturgy, although I attend every now and then. Father did help me out by starting the response if I got stuck, so I got through it without much fumbling. I do have one question. If no one had shown, would the Divine Liturgy be cancelled? I have heard that is in the canons for the Eastern Churches. Thank you.

 

[malphono]

Technically, there is always to be a “congregation” even if it amounts to one person (who could also be a server). The concept of “private Mass” is alien to the East and Orient, although there are priests who will do it alone for one or another reason, just as in the Latin Church. IIRC correctly, the Orthodox (OO & EO) do not do this.

As a side note, the norm is traditionally the same in the Latin Church as well: a so-called “private Mass” normally requires at least one server. And that is not something specific to the Novus Ordo; it was (and is) the case in Usus Antiquior as well. Think of it this way: saying “Dominus vobiscum” with no one there would be kind of strange, wouldn’t it?

 

[Giuseppe_Gavino]

Technically, there is always to be a “congregation” even if it amounts to one person (who could also be a server). The concept of “private Mass” is alien to the East and Orient, although there are priests who will do it alone for one or another reason, just as in the Latin Church. IIRC correctly, the Orthodox (OO & EO) do not do this.

As a side note, the norm is traditionally the same in the Latin Church as well: a so-called “private Mass” normally requires at least one server. And that is not something specific to the Novus Ordo; it was (and is) the case in Usus Antiquior as well. Think of it this way: saying “Dominus vobiscum” with no one there would be kind of strange, wouldn’t it?

I believe for the Latin Rite a server is highly recommended but not required. Plus a priest is never really alone since he says Mass in the company of the Church Triumphant.

 

[twf]

Technically, there is always to be a “congregation” even if it amounts to one person (who could also be a server). The concept of “private Mass” is alien to the East and Orient, although there are priests who will do it alone for one or another reason, just as in the Latin Church. IIRC correctly, the Orthodox (OO & EO) do not do this.

As a side note, the norm is traditionally the same in the Latin Church as well: a so-called “private Mass” normally requires at least one server. And that is not something specific to the Novus Ordo; it was (and is) the case in Usus Antiquior as well. Think of it this way: saying “Dominus vobiscum” with no one there would be kind of strange, wouldn’t it?

I believe that there is a precedent in E Orthodoxy for certain monastics to offer “private” liturgies - but this is not the norm.

 

[malphono]

I believe that there is a precedent in E Orthodoxy for certain monastics to offer “private” liturgies - but this is not the norm.

I know there’s a precedent for daily DLby monastics, but by “private” I **think **there should still be at least one other (usually another monk) to function as deacon/congregation.

I realize that it’s not EO, but the customs are (or at least, were) similar, and the case of Mor Charbel comes to mind here: had he been alone when stricken at the altar, he would most likely have expired on the spot. As it was, another monk, (Ab Makarios, I think it was), was with him and called for help.

 

[theistgal]

I’m a cantor and at our weekday liturgies I’m almost always the only one there besides the priest.

 

[adawgj]

While you might have been the only lay faithful there. The Church Triumphant was there celebrating with you.

 

[yaycatholic]

This kinda happened to me on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, in a Belarusian Catholic Chapel, but luckily, there were 2 priests present there phew LOL!