Mass at My Home

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TimothyH

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I am a facilitator for a scripture study group which meets weekly in my home. There are several such groups in my parish and I found out that our Pastor intends to celebrate Mass in each home where a study is held.

Quite frankly, the thought of having Mass celebrated in my home is just mind boggling. That Christ would be made present in my dining room or on my kitchen table is really too much to take in. I mean, who am I that this should take place in my home?

So it won’t happen for a while but I’m wondering what to expect. It will be just about six men and probably my two daughters. So I’m just wondering about things like the priest vesting as we have a very open floor plan and I suspect that he will use a bedroom upstairs. Are there any requirments for the altar or will he just use my dining room table? That sort of thing.

Any experiences or guidelines from the Church would be helpful.

-Tim-
 
If the priest does in fact use your dining table, he will bless it first to prepare it for the liturgy of the Eucharist. That’s it!
When the mass is over, your table will be reverted back to its secular usage, and thus won’t be sacred anymore UNLESS the priest intends to hold mass there again in the near future. A sacristy doesn’t necessarily need to be sacred, since no liturgical practices take place there. It is the vestments, rather, that are sacred. Not the room (or suitcase).
I would ask ahead of time about what linens will be needed as a hospitality for the priest (so he doesn’t have to bring linens as well as his vestments, sacramentals, altar vessels, etc)
Also ask if you need to make amends for a ciborium tabernacle. (for good measure)

Can. 1212 Sacred places lose their dedication or blessing if they have been in great measure destroyed, or if they have been permanently made over to secular usage, whether by decree of the competent Ordinary or simply in fact.

Can. 1235 §1 The altar or table on which the eucharistic Sacrifice is celebrated is termed fixed if it is so constructed that it is attached to the floor and therefore cannot be moved; it is termed movable, if it can be removed.

§2 It is proper that in every church there should be a fixed altar. In other places which are intended for the celebration of sacred functions, the altar may be either fixed or movable.

Can. 1236 §1 In accordance with the traditional practice of the Church, the table of a fixed altar is to be of stone, indeed of a single natural stone. However, even some other worthy and solid material may be used, if the Episcopal Conference so judges. The support or the base can be made from any material.

§2 A movable altar can be made of any solid material which is suitable for liturgical use.

Can. 1237 §1 Fixed altars are to be dedicated, movable ones either dedicated or blessed, according to the rites prescribed in the liturgical books.

§2 The ancient tradition of placing relics of Martyrs or of other Saints within a fixed altar is to be retained, in accordance with the rites prescribed in the liturgical books.

Can. 1238 §1 An altar loses its dedication or blessing in accordance with Can. 1212.

§2 Altars, whether fixed or movable, do not lose their dedication or blessing as a result of a church or other sacred place being made over to secular usage.

Can. 1239 §1 An altar, whether fixed or movable, is to be reserved for divine worship alone, to the exclusion of any secular usage.

§2 No corpse is to be buried beneath an altar; otherwise, it is not lawful to celebrate Mass at that altar.
 
About 26 years ago our parish priest celebrated Mass in our home. He had come to bless our new house, which he did (I think) before Mass.

Yes, he used the dining table. I had purchased a lovely white lace table cloth, which we used to cover the table for Mass. He had brought with him the necessary corporals, as well as the chalice, Paten, etc. I seem to remember providing two candle sticks and candles.

I don’t remember where he vested - but, since it did not involve undressing, since he would have been putting on the alb over his street clothes, and then the stole and chasuble, he would either have done this in the room (it is a large living/sitting room), or in the downstairs powder room.

After Mass, he removed the sacred vessels and the corporals he had used and packed them in the bag in which he had brought them. I removed the table cloth and replaced it with another one. Then the dishes of food for dinner were brought in and laid out on the table, and we all enjoyed a buffet dinner.
 
TimothyH said:
Quite frankly, the thought of having Mass celebrated in my home is just mind boggling. That Christ would be made present in my dining room or on my kitchen table is really too much to take in. I mean, who am I that this should take place in my home?
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Sounds like a wonderful honor - Sharing an experience of the earliest Christians - A Eucharistic celebration in your home!
 
However, I believe that Redemptionis Sacramentum should be consulted regarding the location of the Mass in question:
  1. The Place for the Celebration of Holy Mass
    [108.] “The celebration of the Eucharist is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise. In this case the celebration must be in a decent place”.197 The diocesan Bishop shall be the judge for his diocese concerning this necessity, on a case-by-case basis.
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I can understand if something, God forbid, happened to the parish building; however, RS does set parameters.
 
benedictgal said:
However, I believe that Redemptionis Sacramentum should be consulted regarding the location of the Mass in question:

I can understand if something, God forbid, happened to the parish building; however, RS does set parameters.
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I knew this was coming…
 
novusCatholic said:
Sounds like a wonderful honor - Sharing an experience of the earliest Christians - A Eucharistic celebration in your home!
Click to expand...
However, the earliest Christians did this out of necessity. The persecutions were running rampant. Even as late as the 1920s-30s, Mexican Catholics were celebrating Mass in private homes because the churches were closed and public liturgies were forbidden. Blessed Miguel Pro celebrated Mass in homes.

However, that being said, we don’t face that situation here in the United States or in most of the Western world. If there was an emergency situation (like a natural disaster) or persecution, I can understand using private homes; however, no such thing exists here.
 
TimothyH said:
I knew this was coming…
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Please do not think that I am saying that your home is not a decent place. However, the proper place for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a church. Now, if your pastor has your bishop’s approval for this, per RS, then, there would be no cause for concern. However, if your pastor does not, then, he needs to secure such permission.
 
TheMc said:
You seem rather negative about BG’s post. Do you have a problem with someone stating what the church says about the Mass?
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No, I’m very sorry about my confrontational comment. I’m sorry if I have offended. I hope BG can forgive me.

I will discuss both what to expect and the appropriateness of the proposed Mass directly with the priest.

-Tim-
 
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