Mass without servers?

[sancte_joseph]

Can a Tridentine mass be celebrated without altar servers?

Like a priest offering a mass by himself in the church?

 

[AJV]

Can a Tridentine mass be celebrated without altar servers?

Like a priest offering a mass by himself in the church?

Yes. Current canon law only requires a “just and reasonable” cause for this. Earlier, the rules were much stricter and required “grave” cause - usually the situations enumerated was when it was necessary for the priest to fulfil an obligation to say Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation, or to give Viaticum to someone. Another case might be in the unlikely event that on a Sunday or holiday of obligation, he has a congregation or other people assisting, but no one knows how to serve or at least make the responses. There might also be indults and faculties e.g. earlier when the U.S.A. was classified as “mission territory” this faculty was given to many of the bishops.

 

[AJV]

Can a Tridentine mass be celebrated without altar servers?

Like a priest offering a mass by himself in the church?

Yes. Current canon law only requires a “just and reasonable” cause for this.

Earlier, the rules were much stricter and required “grave” cause. Usually the situations enumerated by moral theologians, most of which are found in a decree of the Congregation of Sacraments in 1949, were:

(a) when it was necessary for the priest to fulfil an obligation to say Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation
(b) to give Viaticum to someone.
(c) the unlikely event that on a Sunday or holiday of obligation, he has a congregation or other people assisting, but no one knows how to serve or at least make the responses. The 1949 document makes reference to an epidemic that usually has these conditions.
(d) the server goes away during the Mass

The were also varying other lists put forward e.g. fulfilling a Gregorian Mass, allowing a sick person to attend Mass and so on. Indults and faculties could also be granted (though since 1949, usually they had to have some of the above conditions fulfilled) e.g. in the 19th century, when the U.S.A. was classified as “mission territory” this faculty was given to many of the bishops.

 

[sancte_joseph]

well…can a priest offer a mass with no servers…and no congregation…because the mass wasn’t announced

Basicly I’m trying to say…can a priest offer a mass by himself in the church…

I mean he could get servers but the point of the mass is to be alone not with a congregation

 

[bpbasilphx]

Basicly I’m trying to say…can a priest offer a mass by himself in the church…

I should think only if he’s a hermit and had permission from his bishop to do so.

 

[palmas85]

Can a Tridentine mass be celebrated without altar servers?

Like a priest offering a mass by himself in the church?

Yes. It was rarely done that way but yes it could be done under the right circumstances. It would not be permitted if the Priest for whatever reason wanted to celebrate the Mass alone. If it is possible to have a server you are supposed to have one.

 

[catharina]

Can a Tridentine mass be celebrated without altar servers?

Like a priest offering a mass by himself in the church?

Yes. If necessary.