Mass with no congregation?

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svid2

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Perhaps this has been asked before…

If nobody shows up for a Mass (except the celebrant), does the priest still say the Mass? Perhaps it’s a weekday Mass and the weather is bad.

If only the priest is present (along with the angels and saints), is the Mass still said?
 
Some priests do, some priests don’t.

I know older priests who get up early at the seniors’ home where they live and go to the chapel to celebrate Mass on their own before going about their day. Then I know parish priests who, if your hypothetical situation arises, opt not to celebrate the scheduled Mass.

It has been said that ‘just and reasonable cause’ is in the eye of the beholder. It’s up to each priest to decide for himself.
 
Follow-up question: If the priest does say the Mass, does he skip the homily?
 
svid2 said:
If nobody shows up for a Mass (except the celebrant), does the priest still say the Mass? Perhaps it’s a weekday Mass and the weather is bad.

If only the priest is present (along with the angels and saints), is the Mass still said?
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For me it depends. On a Sunday (or its vigil) then yes I will say the Mass just in case someone walks in a little late. On a weekday I’ll wait about 5 minutes and if no one shows up then I’ll just head back to the rectory.
svid2 said:
Follow-up question: If the priest does say the Mass, does he skip the homily?
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Yes, I would skip the homily.
 
svid2 said:
Follow-up question: If the priest does say the Mass, does he skip the homily?
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Naturally if he says Mass privately alone the Homily is excluded. And if there’s a very small group less than ten for sake of argument its optional and he could use a reflective prayer in its place.
 
I remember John Paul II asked priests, when they said a private mass (mass with just a priest present) to always add the intention for Vocations to the Priesthood. Fr. Egan (retired) assumed that this meant he should continue to offer a mass each day (as he had done for 40 years) and to add that intention to the prayers of the faithful.
 
I have many priest aquaintences who say Mass alone, with a server, or without.

The Offering of the Sacrifice is not dependant on there being anyone there other than the priest.
The Mass is primarily offered for Adoration, which does not require a congregation.
The Sacrifice still occurs.

Many times I have gone into a Catholic church and see a priest offering Mass on a side altar, with no one there but the server.

Many orders of priests. are required to offer the Sacrifice daily
 
centurionguard said:
Naturally if he says Mass privately alone the Homily is excluded. And if there’s a very small group less than ten for sake of argument its optional and he could use a reflective prayer in its place.
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Well… the homily is always optional on weekdays.
 
When I was a kid I was an alter boy and would show up during the week and many times it was just me and the priest at mass with no congregation.
 
I have seen someplace that he should make a reasonable effort to find someone to attend, but may proceed if no one is available.

I think there are a couple of prayers that have to be modified to remove reference to a congregation, but it is a minor change.
 
Old_Salt said:
I have many priest aquaintences who say Mass alone, with a server, or without.

The Offering of the Sacrifice is not dependant on there being anyone there other than the priest.
The Mass is primarily offered for Adoration, which does not require a congregation.
The Sacrifice still occurs.

Many times I have gone into a Catholic church and see a priest offering Mass on a side altar, with no one there but the server.

Many orders of priests. are required to offer the Sacrifice daily
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Yes, but the GIRM presupposes that someone else is present: “254. Mass should not be celebrated without a minister or at least one of the faithful, except for a just and reasonable cause.”
 
NewEnglandPries said:
Yes, but the GIRM presupposes that someone else is present: “254. Mass should not be celebrated without a minister or at least one of the faithful, except for a just and reasonable cause.”
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Indeed, but the desire to offer Mass is a just cause.
 
superamazingman said:
Indeed, but the desire to offer Mass is a just cause.
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Its kind of a endless debate, but if the mere desire to offer Mass was a just cause then it would be useless to say that a just cause is needed. Afterall, for what other reason is a Mass offered by a priest by himself other than his desire to say Mass? It should be noted that the 1917 code of canon law required a “grave cause” to celebrate Mass alone. While the new GIRM obviously makes it easier to satisfy the requirements for Mass celebrated alone the mere fact that the line is included is evidence that the Church prefers that at least one other person be present. It clearly foresees Mass celebrated alone as an exception.
 
Maybe it could be read as: “While it’s OK for the priest to say Mass alone, he shouldn’t seek to say Mass alone.”
 
I think its important to note that a Mass with no congregation is not the same as a Mass celebrated by the priest with one server. The server would fill the role of “congregation”.

Those religious institutes that encourge (or require) all their priestly members to celebrate daily usually have one of the non-ordained brothers as a server at their Mass.

I find it interesting that in the Byzantine tradition no Divine Liturgy can be celebrated without anyone but the priest present. There must be at least one server or one member of the congregation present for the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated.
 
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