Private Mass

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mrterryc

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I just returned from the Corpus Christi Mass during which our pastor said that a Mass said by a priest alone, without an “assembly,” is not a valid Mass. Can this be so? I know that certainly wasn’t true for more than a few centuries. Has this really changed? I also know that a “full Eucharist” presumes the “assembly,” but isn’t a priest a priest, able to offer sacrifice, without anyone else present?

I suppose I could read the whole GIRM, but I really hate the role of “liturgy cop” and am hoping that someone knowledgable can answer my question and give me the authoritative reference.

Thank you.
 
mrterryc said:
I just returned from the Corpus Christi Mass during which our pastor said that a Mass said by a priest alone, without an “assembly,” is not a valid Mass. Can this be so? I know that certainly wasn’t true for more than a few centuries. Has this really changed? I also know that a “full Eucharist” presumes the “assembly,” but isn’t a priest a priest, able to offer sacrifice, without anyone else present?

I suppose I could read the whole GIRM, but I really hate the role of “liturgy cop” and am hoping that someone knowledgable can answer my question and give me the authoritative reference.

Thank you.
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Good question. Suppose I were the only one in attendance and had to go to the bathroom or leave early on a weekday?
 
The GIRM says:

“211. Mass should not be celebrated without a server or the participation of at least one of the faithful, except for some legitimate and reasonable cause. In this case the greetings and the blessing at the end of Mass are omitted.”

So clearly, the Mass would still be valid. The instruction would not tell the priest how to adapt the Mass if it were not to be valid.
 
mrterryc said:
I just returned from the Corpus Christi Mass during which our pastor said that a Mass said by a priest alone, without an “assembly,” is not a valid Mass.
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If the priest used the word “valid,” then he is wrong. Such a Mass would be valid. However, the GIRM does call for the Mass not to be celebrated without at least someone in attendance. But that does not affect validity.
 
The GIRM says without reasonable cause.

A Reasonable cause is that the Priest wishes to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Yes one server is ideal, but when this cannot be achieved, there is nothing stopping a Priest offering the Holy Sacrifice.
 
This seems very weird to me …the Mass must be offered daily by a priest…if there is a congregation that is a trimming so to speak, the obligation is that the priest says his daily Mass, there is no obligation it is attended by the faithful…
 
…Priests are encouraged not required to celebrate very day, but not all do.

And the presence of the people is important just as saying the mass inside a church is required. It can be done otherwise if there is a reason but it is not the ideal situation.
 
Hmmm…thats odd because I was certian that atleast pre V2 a preist had to say Mass or assist at it as a daily part of his prayers.
 
mrterryc said:
I just returned from the Corpus Christi Mass during which our pastor said that a Mass said by a priest alone, without an “assembly,” is not a valid Mass. Can this be so? I know that certainly wasn’t true for more than a few centuries. Has this really changed? I also know that a “full Eucharist” presumes the “assembly,” but isn’t a priest a priest, able to offer sacrifice, without anyone else present?

I suppose I could read the whole GIRM, but I really hate the role of “liturgy cop” and am hoping that someone knowledgable can answer my question and give me the authoritative reference.

Thank you.
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This leaves to ponder----is he one of those priests —who believe he is only a form of “elder”—who leads the “assembly” in performing the consecration.

Was this a Neocatechumenal Way priest.
 
Melanie01 said:
This seems very weird to me …the Mass must be offered daily by a priest…if there is a congregation that is a trimming so to speak, the obligation is that the priest says his daily Mass, there is no obligation it is attended by the faithful…
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Melanie,

There is no longer a requirement for a priest to celebrate Mass daily. In fact, the only “required” Mass is that of the bishop or the pastor of a local Church who must say (or have said) as Mass “pro populo” – for the people.

The ideal is for the people to be present for the Mass. This is to get away from an abuse that still exists in some places where stipends for Mass are the primary support for a priest or group of priests and they, therefore, will say multiple private Masses per day (there was once a type of priest called a “simplex priest” who only said Mass for this very purposes). A priest may, indeed, say Mass privately – but not just “because he wants to.”

Deacon Ed
 
I think we all hit on the right topic- a priest isn’t required to say Mass daily, but is very much encouraged. A good, Holy priest will never see Mass as a burden, but as a delight. This is why so many say Mass daily, even if they do not have a congregation to assist at it. Is it valid? obviously that quote from the GIRM says that yes, it is. If it were not, it would say something like “Mass without any faithful present would affect is validity…” or something like that.

Pray for your priest. Sounds like he wants to be a good Holy priest and needs prayers. In fact, pray for all priests! they all need our prayers!!
 
Code of Canon Law

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P38.HTM

Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic sacrifice the work of redemption is exercised continually, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed, daily celebration is recommended earnestly since, even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.
 
Even before Vatican II there was never any requirement that a priest celebrate Mass each day. It was certainly encouraged, but not required.
 
Chatter163 said:
Even before Vatican II there was never any requirement that a priest celebrate Mass each day. It was certainly encouraged, but not required.
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I will check that out…what is the purpose of a priest if it is not offering the Sacrifice of the Mass to the Lord God…
 
Deacon_Ed said:
The ideal is for the people to be present for the Mass. This is to get away from an abuse that still exists in some places where stipends for Mass are the primary support for a priest or group of priests and they, therefore, will say multiple private Masses per day. A priest may, indeed, say Mass privately – but not just “because he wants to.”
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I have heard that a “good reason” for celebrating Mass privately is not “because he wants to”, but “for his own spiritual benefit”. I suppose that could be considered a subset of the want, but it does exclude the scenario you painted above.
I don’t see how the presence of the people would prevent a priest from offering more than one Mass per day, and collecting the stipend from each…
 
Melanie01 said:
I will check that out…what is the purpose of a priest if it is not offering the Sacrifice of the Mass to the Lord God…
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Spirithound said:
I also believe that to be accurate, however I believe that requirement has been lifted.
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Chatter163 is (as always 😛 ) right. There was no requirement…you can see the 1917 Code :
Can. 805. Sacerdotes omnes obligatione tenentur Sacrum litandi pluries per annum; curet autem Episcopus vel Superior religiosus ut iidem saltem singulis diebus dominicis aliisque festis de praecepto divinis operentur.
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Only Sundays and feasts of precept (Holy Days of Obligation).
 
Melanie01 said:
I will check that out…what is the purpose of a priest if it is not offering the Sacrifice of the Mass to the Lord God…
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There ARE five other sacraments a priest can offer even if for some reason they cannot or choose not to offer Mass.

And even if celebrating Mass is essential for them why would it be essential that EACH priest celebrate Mass EACH day, as long as Mass IS offered daily in each place by some priest?
 
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