Private Mass

[SacredHeartFan]

Let me first explain:

My uncle is a priest. Every year for Thanksgiving we all gather at my grandmother’s house. On Thanksgiving morning he says a mass in the backyard. We now offer it for our decesed relitives. My cousins and I take the old dining room table (very nice made out of oak) that my grandma bought when one of the plantation homes was haveing a “garage sale”.

My question is:

Would the table he celebrates mass on become holy and sacred?

 

[benedictgal]

Let me first explain:

My uncle is a priest. Every year for Thanksgiving we all gather at my grandmother’s house. On Thanksgiving morning he says a mass in the backyard. We now offer it for our decesed relitives. My cousins and I take the old dining room table (very nice made out of oak) that my grandma bought when one of the plantation homes was haveing a “garage sale”.

My question is:

Would the table he celebrates mass on become holy and sacred?

First of all, does your uncle have the necessary permission to celebrate Mass under these circumstances? Such permission would have to come from the diocese where your family gathering is located. Remember what Redemptionis Sacramentum says:

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.

[109.] It is never lawful for a Priest to celebrate in a temple or sacred place of any non-Christian religion.

Furthermore, regarding furnishings, the GIRM states that:

1. The celebration of the Eucharist in a sacred place is to be carried out on an altar; but outside a sacred place, it may be carried out on a suitable table, always with the use of a cloth, a corporal, a cross, and candles.

The document doesn’t speak to what is to be done with the table after Mass, just that it may be used. By the way, ironing boards are not at all suitable.

Now, in wartime, when prests have to celebrate Mass in combat zones, there are certain, obvious allowances. Sometimes, Mass was said using the hood of a Jeep as the altar becasue one never knew when artillery fire would pop up. In other cases, Mass had to be celebrated literally in the trenches. But, this happens in war zones and the chaplain makes due with what he has. However, the situation here is not similar at all. You are neither at a war zone nor are you facing times of persecution (or some catastrophic event).

 

[SacredHeartFan]

First of all, does your uncle have the necessary permission to celebrate Mass under these circumstances?

Yes. He and the bishop went to seminary together.

As for the ironing board, just get over it.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Let me first explain:

My uncle is a priest. Every year for Thanksgiving we all gather at my grandmother’s house. On Thanksgiving morning he says a mass in the backyard. We now offer it for our decesed relitives. My cousins and I take the old dining room table (very nice made out of oak) that my grandma bought when one of the plantation homes was haveing a “garage sale”.

My question is:

Would the table he celebrates mass on become holy and sacred?

1. From my experience (mostly in Ireland) the answer is NO.
2. Why not ask your uncle?

 

[SacredHeartFan]

1. From my experience (mostly in Ireland) the answer is NO.
2. Why not ask your uncle?

Of course! DUH ME!!! That would be alot eaiser! I’ll call him right now.

 

[Marauder]

No, as someone who has dealt with Masses outside of churches on numerous occasions in scouting, the table does not become sacred.

If you remember right the priest is supposed to cover the altar/table with linens. One of the purposes being such that none of the sacred species gets lost.

As with during Mass if the priest doesn’t intend on the wine or hosts on the side of the altar to become the blood of Christ it doesn’t, the altar does not become sacred unless the priest/bishop wants it to become sacred.

I have been to Masses where the “altar” is a picnic table. It remains a picnic table after the Mass is complete.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

No, as someone who has dealt with Masses outside of churches on numerous occasions in scouting, the table does not become sacred.

If you remember right the priest is supposed to cover the altar/table with linens. One of the purposes being such that none of the sacred species gets lost.

As with during Mass if the priest doesn’t intend on the wine or hosts on the side of the altar to become the blood of Christ it doesn’t, the altar does not become sacred unless the priest/bishop wants it to become sacred.

I have been to Masses where the “altar” is a picnic table. It remains a picnic table after the Mass is complete.

Thanks!