What makes a Mass invalid?

[Nelka]

I went to my first Friday Mass today and it was done by the deacon instead of the priest, everything was the same except there was no Eucharistic prayer or Consecration. After the Our Father and sign of peace the deacon took the already Consecrated Body of Christ out of the tabernacle and this is what we received.

Was this a perfectly good Mass and what would make it invalid?

Thanks.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I went to my first Friday Mass today and it was done by the deacon instead of the priest, everything was the same except there was no Eucharistic prayer or Consecration. After the Our Father and sign of peace the deacon took the already Consecrated Body of Christ out of the tabernacle and this is what we received.

Was this a perfectly good Mass and what would make it invalid?

Thanks.

This is not a situation that should be addressed by asking or answering the question of what makes a Mass invalid.

What you experienced was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service presided by a Deacon. After the Gospel and, if present, the homily and/or prayers of the faithful, the offertory is omitted as is the preface and Eucharistic Prayer and the rite continues with the Our Father and subsequent prayers, with the distribution of Communion from the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, followed by the post communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

These Communion Services are completely legitimate in circumstances when a priest is unavailable; it is a provision made by the bishop of the diocese for the pastoral care of those who would be adversely affected by the inability to provide Mass.

The promises made by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque concern reception of Holy Communion on First Friday…the promise does not specify that the Communion must be received at Mass.

 

[7_Sorrows]

This is not a situation that should be addressed by asking or answering the question of what makes a Mass invalid.

What you experienced was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service presided by a Deacon. After the Gospel and, if present, the homily and/or prayers of the faithful, the offertory is omitted as is the preface and Eucharistic Prayer and the rite continues with the Our Father and subsequent prayers, with the distribution of Communion from the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, followed by the post communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

These Communion Services are completely legitimate in circumstances when a priest is unavailable; it is a provision made by the bishop of the diocese for the pastoral care of those who would be adversely affected by the inability to provide Mass.

The promises made by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque concern reception of Holy Communion on First Friday…the promise does not specify that the Communion must be received at Mass.

interesting. I did not know this.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

One of our two deacons does a Communion Service every week on the pastor’s day off. Interestingly, at his daily Mass the pastor never preaches or offers even a brief reflection. When one of the deacons does a Communion Service, he always does a brief homily or reflection on the Scripture. People notice things like that. In some sense, people leave the Communion service more “fed.”

 

[Casilda]

What you experienced was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service presided by a Deacon. After the Gospel and, if present, the homily and/or prayers of the faithful, the offertory is omitted as is the preface and Eucharistic Prayer and the rite continues with the Our Father and subsequent prayers, with the distribution of Communion from the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, followed by the post communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

These Communion Services are completely legitimate in circumstances when a priest is unavailable; it is a provision made by the bishop of the diocese for the pastoral care of those who would be adversely affected by the inability to provide Mass.

When did these type of services originate? In the last century? Precipitated by a lack of priests?

 

[paduard]

This is not a situation that should be addressed by asking or answering the question of what makes a Mass invalid.

What you experienced was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service presided by a Deacon. After the Gospel and, if present, the homily and/or prayers of the faithful, the offertory is omitted as is the preface and Eucharistic Prayer and the rite continues with the Our Father and subsequent prayers, with the distribution of Communion from the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, followed by the post communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

These Communion Services are completely legitimate in circumstances when a priest is unavailable; it is a provision made by the bishop of the diocese for the pastoral care of those who would be adversely affected by the inability to provide Mass.

The promises made by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque concern reception of Holy Communion on First Friday…the promise does not specify that the Communion must be received at Mass.

I agree; explained well!

 

[Joe_5859]

Don is correct. I recall being equally confused the first time I found myself at such a service.

I’m not sure of the history, though.

 

[Corki]

When did these type of services originate? In the last century? Precipitated by a lack of priests?

The driving idea was to get congregations together for a Sunday liturgy even if no priest was available. In some remote areas, priests only are there for Sunday Mass once a month or even longer. I am not sure of the date but it was definitely a post-Vatican II addition. Prior to then, with no permanent deacons, there would not have been anyone to distribute Communion since there were no EMHCs either.

Originally, this was just permitted on Sundays. The rite is actually called “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”. Some dioceses have extended permission to weekdays but others encourage daily attendees to go to a nearby parish for an actual Mass rather than attend a Communion Service on weekdays.

 

[coachdennis]

The driving idea was to get congregations together for a Sunday liturgy even if no priest was available. In some remote areas, priests only are there for Sunday Mass once a month or even longer. I am not sure of the date but it was definitely a post-Vatican II addition. Prior to then, with no permanent deacons, there would not have been anyone to distribute Communion since there were no EMHCs either.

Originally, this was just permitted on Sundays. The rite is actually called “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”. Some dioceses have extended permission to weekdays but others encourage daily attendees to go to a nearby parish for an actual Mass rather than attend a Communion Service on weekdays.

Wouldn’t the same logic follow that if people could not get to a Sunday Mass because of long distances, they won’t be able to do the same for weekday Masses? Just saying.

We should be thankful that there is a ritual in place to allow people to gather and receive communion. That should be the focus.

 

[ProVobis]

This is not a situation that should be addressed by asking or answering the question of what makes a Mass invalid.

I agree. Maybe a better question would have been did the Communion service fulfill the Sunday obligation.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I agree. Maybe a better question would have been did the Communion service fulfill the Sunday obligation.

Except that the OP indicated it was a Friday.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The driving idea was to get congregations together for a Sunday liturgy even if no priest was available. In some remote areas, priests only are there for Sunday Mass once a month or even longer. I am not sure of the date but it was definitely a post-Vatican II addition. Prior to then, with no permanent deacons, there would not have been anyone to distribute Communion since there were no EMHCs either.

Originally, this was just permitted on Sundays. The rite is actually called “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”. Some dioceses have extended permission to weekdays but others encourage daily attendees to go to a nearby parish for an actual Mass rather than attend a Communion Service on weekdays.

This was NOT the case in my part of the world. What is the rite for “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” was published long after the publication of “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass," chapter one of which was Rite of Distributing Communion Outside Mass.

In my own experience, it has been far more the circumstance that a Deacon doing a communion service would replace for a weekday Mass because of the priest being on retreat or on account of the priest’s day off or for some other circumstance. A priest’s absence on Sunday, without him being replaced by a brother priest, would however be the most dire of situations and not normal.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I agree. Maybe a better question would have been did the Communion service fulfill the Sunday obligation.

It was the First Friday.

No, a communion service cannot fulfill the Sunday obligation since the Sunday obligation is specific: to attend Mass. If Mass is unavailable on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation, then the obligation does not apply since the law cannot oblige the impossible.

If a priest cannot be provided for Sunday, the Church provides for a Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest to occur – or earnestly says that at least some gathering of the faithful should occur, if the community is unable to do the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest.

The most ideal is with a Deacon presiding at the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest since, as an ordained cleric, he properly takes the role of presider at the liturgy, uses the presider’s chair; proper to his ministry, he proclaims the Gospel and delivers a homily. In all of this, he fulfills two of the three ministerial roles of his ordination, both as a minister of the word and of the altar, distributing the Eucharist from the consecrated hosts reserved in the tabernacle as an ordinary minister of Communion, and blessing the assembly before sending them forth.

In such a circumstance where a priest is totally lacking, it is the best that can be done.

 

[7_Sorrows]

back to the question put forth by the OP-What makes a Mass invalid?

 

[Joe_5859]

back to the question put forth by the OP-What makes a Mass invalid?

For a Mass to be invalid rather than simply illicit, you would have to mess with the matter and/or form of the Eucharist. If you used pizza and beer, that would be invalid. If the priest changed the words of consecration to something like “This represents Christ’s body” rather than “This is my body”, then that would be invalid. If the person celebrating was not a priest, that would obviously make Mass invalid, too.

Most of the liturgical abuses you see people complain about are illicit (AKA illegal according to Church laws) but do not invalidate the Mass.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

back to the question put forth by the OP-What makes a Mass invalid?

IThe question of the original poster, however, was mis-articulated since she was asking in view of assessing if what she attended was an invalid Mass. It was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service.

However, in broad terms the answer would be:

1. Defect of matter – if valid matter is not used to confect the Eucharist
2. Defect of form – if the words of consecration are not said over both elements
3. Defect of minister – if the one attempting to offer Mass was not a validly ordained priest or there was a gross defect of intention of a valid priest regarding confecting the Holy Sacrifice.
4. Failure to properly consummate the sacrifice. The celebrant is to consume the Eucharist he has offered, and do so from the elements he consecrated at the Mass he celebrated.

 

[7_Sorrows]

IThe question of the original poster, however, was mis-articulated since she was asking in view of assessing if what she attended was an invalid Mass. It was, in fact, not a Mass at all but a Communion Service.

However, in broad terms the answer would be:

1. Defect of matter – if valid matter is not used to confect the Eucharist
2. Defect of form – if the words of consecration are not said over both elements
3. Defect of minister – if the one attempting to offer Mass was not a validly ordained priest or there was a gross defect of intention of a valid priest regarding confecting the Holy Sacrifice.
4. Failure to properly consummate the sacrifice. The celebrant is to consume the Eucharist he has offered, and do so from the elements he consecrated at the Mass he celebrated.

okay. thanks Joe and Don for your replies.

 

[ProVobis]

Except that the OP indicated it was a Friday.

Okay, but it seems the OP asked the validity question more in line with the fulfillment of the nine consecutive First Friday promise. I think Father answered that (as well).

 

[ProVobis]

back to the question put forth by the OP-What makes a Mass invalid?

That matter is covered by De Defectibus. The standards might have been modified to include approved translations of form, however, among other things I haven’t thought of.

 

[CuriousMike]

The driving idea was to get congregations together for a Sunday liturgy even if no priest was available. In some remote areas, priests only are there for Sunday Mass once a month or even longer. I am not sure of the date but it was definitely a post-Vatican II addition. Prior to then, with no permanent deacons, there would not have been anyone to distribute Communion since there were no EMHCs either.

Originally, this was just permitted on Sundays. The rite is actually called “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”. Some dioceses have extended permission to weekdays but others encourage daily attendees to go to a nearby parish for an actual Mass rather than attend a Communion Service on weekdays.

Our Parish has one of two Priests in the next Parish that Minister to us visit between 1-3 times monthly, depending on the (variable) population (on/off season for tourists) and the liturgical season.

Communion Services are great for at least keeping the doors open for the faithful who want to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and hear the readings. That is the IMPORTANT part.

However, for those whose faith needs the guidance of a Priest loosing Mass can be detrimental. I speak this last part in reference to the fact that my Parish has had no permanent Priest living at the Church for 20 years now.
The community has run down to 5-10 people coming for Communion and maybe 15-20 at Mass in the low time.

OP: What you got was Communion Service. As I state above, its great for the faithful to hear the Word of God, and receive Jesus. This is what really matters.

Now, in areas where the only service IS a Communion Service, like where I’m at, I am not entirely sure what the process would be if one has fallen into sin. Personally, I abstain from Communion. However it could be possible extraordinary circumstance trumps this, and allows just an Act of Contrition (someone correct me on this…).