Mass with the Bishop...concelebrating?

[acadian]

Today the Bishop celebrated Mass at our parish. Our pastor, was also present in the sanctuary, and I’m curious about a few things…

Our pastor (a monsignor) was dressed in a cassock and surplice. He assisted the bishop with his hat and staff at various points during Mass. Our pastor proclaimed the Gospel. Before he did this, he put on a stole, and when he was finished he removed it.

During the Eucharistic Prayer, during the consecration, our pastor knelt in the sanctuary. I’ve never seen that before. Usually, when a priest is con-celebrating he will read part of the Eucharistic Prayer, but the Bishop said the entire prayer today.

Before distributing Communion (possibly before the Eucharistic prayer, I don’t remember), our pastor donned the stole again, and took it off when he was done.

Can someone explain some of these actions to me - the on and off of the stole and the kneeling during the consecration. It just didn’t seem like the typical con-celebrated Mass.

Thanks.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Perhaps he didn’t concelebrate but functioned as a Deacon

 

[GwenL]

Your pastor was not concelebrating. He was assisting as MC or cantor or some such.

Our rector does this often when our bishop is celebrant at our Cathedral parish. Usually, one or both of the other friars will concelebrate with the bishop. The rector wears a surplice over his habit and functions as MC and cantor. He has much more freedom to move around (out of the sanctuary if he must) to solve glitches and make things happen. For example, I’ve seen him get a hand microphone and hold it for the bishop when the bishop’s lapel/remote mic wasn’t working. Much better to do that as the cantor than as a concelebrant.

He kneels when it is appropriate for the cantor to kneel and I’ve even seen him receive communion from the bishop like that. Since we have the other friars, one of them will normally proclaim the Gospel and the bishop will preach the homily. We always have lay people (in cassock and surplice and veil and white gloves) to hold the mitre and crosier.

I think the stole goes off and on if he is performing a clerical function (proclaiming the Gospel or distributing communion). I don’t believe he would have been functioning as a deacon unless he elevated the chalice after consecration.

 

[TheMc]

Your pastor was not concelebrating. He was assisting as MC or cantor or some such.

Our rector does this often when our bishop is celebrant at our Cathedral parish. Usually, one or both of the other friars will concelebrate with the bishop. The rector wears a surplice over his habit and functions as MC and cantor. He has much more freedom to move around (out of the sanctuary if he must) to solve glitches and make things happen. For example, I’ve seen him get a hand microphone and hold it for the bishop when the bishop’s lapel/remote mic wasn’t working. Much better to do that as the cantor than as a concelebrant.

He kneels when it is appropriate for the cantor to kneel and I’ve even seen him receive communion from the bishop like that. Since we have the other friars, one of them will normally proclaim the Gospel and the bishop will preach the homily. We always have lay people (in cassock and surplice and veil and white gloves) to hold the mitre and crosier.

I think the stole goes off and on if he is performing a clerical function (proclaiming the Gospel or distributing communion). I don’t believe he would have been functioning as a deacon unless he elevated the chalice after consecration.

Yes, he was acting as MC. My vicar general is almost always seen at Mass with cassock/surplice/stole, as he is the MC for my bishop. It’s always a treat when he actually celebrates Mass! There’s nothing wrong with what he did. What really gives it away is that he assisted with the mitre (hat) and crosier (staff). The MC does also kneel, since he isn’t concelebrating.

 

[acadian]

Thank you for the information.

I guess my next question now would be - why? How do they decide if someone is going to MC or concelebrate? Personal preference?

 

[newyorkcatholic]

Thank you for the information.

I guess my next question now would be - why? How do they decide if someone is going to MC or concelebrate? Personal preference?

In the past (and today though it’s less well understood), clery wore choir dress if they attended a liturgical celebration but were not one of the ministers (priest, deacon, etc).

Choir dress is usually cassock and surplice. Or for a religious, their habit. If someone is serving as MC (or thurifer, or acolyte, etc) then he would dress in choir dress.

How did this priest decide to be MC? Well you need an MC for certain celebrations, so he was probably assigned/chosen for that role. But if not needed for that purpose, a priest can still just attend in choir. He does not have to concelebrate.

Some priests share the view (that I agree with) that massive gatherings of priests all concelebrating, even from the pews!, is silly/undignified and foreign to Catholic tradition. I have heard one well-known priest say concelebration should be “safe, legal and rare.” No priest should be forced to concelebrate.

If a priest did choose to concelebrate, he would wear alb/amice/stole/chasuble (and maniple, optionally) just as any other priest would vest for Mass.

 

[acadian]

So maybe he just likes MC’ing? I have seen him also serve in that capacity at a school Mass celebrated by the Bishop, but con-celebrated by a couple of other priests.

This particular Mass on Sunday had only 3 priests present - the Bishop who celebrated, the Pastor who MC’d, and a previous pastor, who in his 90’s sat in the front row in his clerics (although there was an extra chair placed in the sanctuary).

In any case, it was a beautiful celebration.

 

[Mark1970]

Perhaps your pastor was acting as MC because he had already celebrated another Mass that day. I often go to a church with several priests. When they celebrate Mass with more solemnity, instead of concelebrating, one of them acts as deacon. When I asked about this, one of the priests told me that it was because that priest may have already celebrated Mass that day. Under normal circumstances (weekdays that aren’t important feasts) a priest should ideally only celebrate one Mass, if he assists at a second Mass he can do so by acting as a server, MC or deacon rather than as a concelebrating priest.