Odd Mass today

[CJsmommy]

I just came back from Mass, and it just seemed off today. The priest came in by himself, no one holding the crucifix or book. I chalked that up that no one signed up for this Mass for whatever reason. But then no one around me was saying the responses, which threw me off as I usually follow others for timing. I completely missed the Kyrie as I couldn’t hear either the priest or responses. I thought it might have been me as I’m getting over a sinus infection that plugged up my ears, but I heard the psalmody and Gospel just fine. Also, no intersessions. I know I didn’t miss them as it went right from the Nicene Creed into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The priest was out so fast after the dismissal that I didn’t realize it until people started to leave. There wasn’t an emergency or anything as he was standing right outside. Was there something different about this week?

 

[z_0101]

Nothing unusual in our Parish.
You should ask the Priest about this directly. There may have been event before Mass that resulted in this format.

From what I remember GIRM-69 states that as a rule the Prayer of the Faithful is to be proclaimed. That doesn’t mean that without just cause that these couldn’t be omitted.

I’m not sure if GIRM 252 thru 272 (III. MASS AT WHICH ONLY ONE MINISTER PARTICIPATES) would apply here which would give some leeway for such alterations to the Mass allowing for the omission of normal procession and, in one interpretation, the omission of The Prayer of the Faithful; however, even then GIRM-264 seems to encourage The Prayer of the Faithful being said even in this form of the Mass.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I’m not sure if GIRM 252 thru 272 (III. MASS AT WHICH ONLY ONE MINISTER PARTICIPATES) would apply here which would give some leeway for such alterations to the Mass allowing for the omission of normal procession and, in one interpretation, the omission of The Prayer of the Faithful; however, even then GIRM-264 seems to encourage The Prayer of the Faithful being said even in this form of the Mass.

This form of Mass, which you have linked to the GIRM for, is what we used to call a private Mass. It is a Mass, with no congregation in attendance, which is offered by a priest with only person present and who serves as the lector, the acolyte, as well as making all the responses normally proper to a congregation. (This latter person is the one minister who participates…not the priest.) These directives would not apply at all when there is actually a congregation participating.

 

[z_0101]

This form of Mass, which you have linked to the GIRM for, is what we used to call a private Mass. It is a Mass, with no congregation in attendance, which is offered by a priest with only person present and who serves as the lector, the acolyte, as well as making all the responses normally proper to a congregation. (This latter person is the one minister who participates…not the priest.) These directives would not apply at all when there is actually a congregation participating.

Let me be upfront here, I am still learning some of these rubrics, with that said, I can see where you are going with this and that Section I et. al. (Mass with a Congregation) would be the normative under the GIRM; however, read section 115 - it explicitly states that the Mass can be said with only one minister, in which case, it may very well be that in such circumstances Section III would then apply, even with the congregation present
115. By “Mass with a congregation” is meant a Mass celebrated with the participation of the faithful. It is moreover appropriate, whenever possible, and especially on Sundays and holy days of obligation, that the celebration of this Mass take place with singing and with a suitable number of ministers.[95] It may, however, also be celebrated without singing and with only one minister.

Would be nice to have one or more of the Deacon or Priest forum members chime in here

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Let me be upfront here, I am still learning some of these rubrics, with that said, I can see where you are going with this and that Section I et. al. (Mass with a Congregation) would be the normative under the GIRM; however, read section 115 - it explicitly states that the Mass can be said with only one minister, in which case, it may very well be that in such circumstances Section III would then apply, even with the congregation present
115. By “Mass with a congregation” is meant a Mass celebrated with the participation of the faithful. It is moreover appropriate, whenever possible, and especially on Sundays and holy days of obligation, that the celebration of this Mass take place with singing and with a suitable number of ministers.[95] It may, however, also be celebrated without singing and with only one minister.

Would be nice to have one or more of the Deacon or Priest forum members chime in here

I am a priest.

The paragraph you cite is saying that the priest may choose between either the form “Mass with a Congregation” or the form “Mass at which only one minister participates” when the priest is completely alone as he offers his Mass, with the exception of one person being present in the church or chapel with him, and this person is at the altar with the priest, serving the Mass as altar server/reader. The rubrics are written the way they are in this latter form precisely because the church is otherwise empty and the Mass is devoid of a congregation.

Some times, it is more conducive to do Mass in that latter form, especially if one is offering the Mass at a side altar, for example. Some times, and especially if the one other person wishes to attend the Mass and not serve the Mass, it is better to use the form “Mass with a Congregation” even if it is a congregation of only one. Or, if the person serving the Mass is not familiar or comfortable with the rubrical changes, it can be less hassle to use “Mass with a Congregation”.

Therefore, “Mass at which only one minister participates” is not to be used when there actually is a congregation present – and least of all at a scheduled parish Mass.

The one minister being discussed in the title is not the priest himself. The scenario is not describing a circumstance in which the priest is the only sacred minister, that is without concelebrant and/or deacon and/or acolyte. The one minister is, again, referring to the one other person who is present in the church who is not the priest celebrant but who will serve at the altar as the acolyte and lector. That is the only circumstance in which “Mass at which only one minister participates” should be used. It is, as I said in a previous post, the circumstance I would have called offering a private Mass in an earlier era.

I hope this helps to clarify.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Let me be upfront here, I am still learning some of these rubrics, with that said, I can see where you are going with this and that Section I et. al. (Mass with a Congregation) would be the normative under the GIRM; however, read section 115 - it explicitly states that the Mass can be said with only one minister, in which case, it may very well be that in such circumstances Section III would then apply, even with the congregation present
115. By “Mass with a congregation” is meant a Mass celebrated with the participation of the faithful. It is moreover appropriate, whenever possible, and especially on Sundays and holy days of obligation, that the celebration of this Mass take place with singing and with a suitable number of ministers.[95] It may, however, also be celebrated without singing and with only one minister.

Would be nice to have one or more of the Deacon or Priest forum members chime in here

I am a priest.

Going to what I said before and clarifying: The priest may choose between either the form “Mass with a Congregation” or the form “Mass at which only one minister participates” when the priest is completely alone as he offers his Mass, with the exception of one person being present in the church or chapel with him, and this person is at the altar with the priest, serving the Mass as altar server/reader. The rubrics are written the way they are in “Mass at which only one minister participates” precisely because the church is otherwise empty and the Mass is devoid of a congregation.

Some times, when I am offering a private Mass and I have only one person there as the altar server, it is more conducive to use “Mass at which only one minister participates”, especially if I am offering Mass at a side altar, for example. Some times, and especially if the one other person wishes to attend the Mass but not serve the Mass, it is better to use the form “Mass with a Congregation” even if it is a congregation of only one. Or, if the person serving the Mass is not familiar or comfortable with the rubrical changes in “Mass at which only one minister participates”, it can be less hassle to use “Mass with a Congregation”.

Therefore, the form “Mass at which only one minister participates” is not to be used when there actually is a congregation present – and least of all at a scheduled parish Mass.

(The one minister being discussed in the title is not the priest himself. The scenario is not describing a circumstance in which the priest is the only sacred minister, that is without concelebrant and/or deacon and/or acolyte. The one minister is, again, referring to the one other person who is present in the church who is not the priest celebrant but who will serve at the altar as the acolyte and lector – and that is the circumstance in which “Mass at which only one minister participates” should be used. It is, as I said, the circumstance I would have called offering a private Mass in an earlier era.)

This matter is distinct from what is cited in paragraph 115. Paragraph 115 is saying that when we have a Mass with a congregation, especially on Sunday or a Holy Day, it is preferable for there to be singing and for there to be several who are exercising a ministry…readers, servers, and a deacon. This lends a greater solemnity to the celebration. It is also preferable, on weekdays, to have different ministers fulfilling the different ministries…a reader to read and a server to serve. If a deacon is present, it is preferable for him to vest and to carry out what in the liturgy is proper to the deacon.

It is permissible, nevertheless, to have only one minister assisting the priest and for there to be no singing, even on Sundays and Holy Days.

What would be an anomaly, and not desired, is for the celebrant to come into the sanctuary by himself, with no server and no reader, and supply all the various liturgical functions himself at a Mass with a congregation present. (I have found myself in that very situation, though, when I have had to fill in somewhere with a small congregation and no one showed up in the sacristy before Mass and no one would volunteer from the congregation to come forward.) At least one person, though, should be helping the priest in the sanctuary. (This situation, however, can happen when a priest lives alone and offers his private Mass with absolutely no one else present although, as Canon Law says, this is not at all a desirable situation.)

I hope what I have written helps to clarify and does not further confuse.