It is a time of waiting, of expectation and of hope. Obviously this is untenable—which is why the code refrains from imposing the absolute obligation of saying daily Mass on every priest across the board. Canon 906 notes that a priest should not celebrate Mass without the participation of at least one other person; but it also makes an exception if the priest has a good and reasonable cause for offering the Mass alone. By the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB Archbishop of Perth. and when priests get too old to keep saying mass and stuff, they are moved somewhere where they will be more comfortable. If a parish priest is not scheduled to say a particular Mass at his parish at a publicized time, he may very well end up saying his Mass with no one else present, if he says it at an hour when nobody else happens to be in the church. Illness, or the need to rush to the bedside of a dying parishioner, may leave Father without enough time to finish his Breviary on a given day. But apart from these truly unplanned, unforeseen events, the obligation to pray the daily Office still holds for every Catholic priest. Aren’t priests required to say Mass every day? There are usually two reasons why a priest will celebrate Mass ad orientem, Father Dave explains: “One: If that particular Mass at that particular parish has been designated [ad orientem] by the bishop. But unless it is absolutely necessary for the good of the souls entrusted to his care, a priest offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily without previously confessing all serious sins is quite another matter. Canon 904 states that since, in the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate it frequently. Mass for Retired Priests. In the past Cathy has published articles both in scholarly journals and on various popular Catholic websites, including Real Presence Communications and Catholic Exchange. The 2020 Retired Priests Collection for the Archdiocese of Washington will be taken up at parishes on the weekend of Nov. 7-8, and Msgr. If the code required every priest to say Mass daily, a priest in such a situation would find himself in a moral dilemma. For further information, contact LSRP at www.lsrpinc.org. At a lesser weight but much more common are rulings on discipline. some continue to say mass occasionally. This avoidance would thus stem not from a lack of devotion, but on the contrary, from a consciousness of personal guilt and a respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. Why Would a Bishop Refuse to Ordain a Seminarian? However, I would take issue with the notion that in this option the priest is saying Mass “with his back to the people.” Does a bus driver drive the bus “with his back to the people”? Q1: My husband and I watched a movie about medieval knights recently, and in it there were some monks who all went to their chapel in the middle of the night to pray and sing together. I feel very honored to have the opportunity to continue to say Mass for the different parishes. Everyone, including somebody in a state of grave sin, is welcome to pray, and in fact should do so. It is bad enough to be furloughed but to not have a Mass to attend, is a real downer,” “Just one example, a couple is getting married tomorrow at a large Air Force Base that is staffed by a Contract priest. Wilson said that he has always supported that collection, long before he himself retired. As we gather together this morning to celebrate the Eucharist, we do so right at the beginning of Advent. So it’s clear that our priests are required by law to pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily-but are they obliged to say Mass every day as well? It’s … Let’s now look at the canon law pertaining to Julie’s question. The primary reason for this is not legal, but theological. If the information on this website has helped you, please consider making a contribution so that it can continue to help others. What is going on here? Fr. Perhaps he’s also saying Mass sometimes at the local Catholic elementary school, the hospital, or even at another parish that is short-staffed. over the years, elderly priests come to live there. Comments. Design by Perceptions Studio. The Liturgy of the Hours is considered the public prayer of the Church (cf. What is going on here? Pastoral Centre, Highgate Tuesday, 29 November 2016. Retired priest: ‘Hell’ was invented by the church to control people with fear. Yet they both refer to duties and obligations incumbent upon Catholic clergy, and so it is appropriate to look at them together. Obviously this is untenable — which is why the code refrains from imposing the absolute obligation of saying daily Mass on every priest across the board. Repost: Is Confession Still an Easter Duty? Recent comments by a high-ranking Vatican official have sparked questions about the direction priests should face while celebrating Mass, but … In fact, the canon adds that daily celebration of the Mass is earnestly recommended — but it specifically avoids requiring priests to say Mass every day. Canon 906 notes that a priest should not celebrate Mass without the participation of at least one other person; but it also makes an exception if the priest has a good and reasonable cause for offering the Mass alone. That priest did all of their marriage prep, and has gotten to know the couple very well over the past few months. March 1, 2021. There are several hundreds of other people who bring friends and family to Mass. While they do not have to rise in the middle of the night, so as to pray each Hour at exactly the right time, they are expected to pray the entire Liturgy of the Hours during the course of each day (with some exceptions that allow for the fulfillment of their regular parish duties). Canon 904 states that since, in the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate it frequently. There are times I would like to offer a Saturday evening Mass for Sunday. The highlights of his day are attending Mass at 11 a.m. and Vespers at 4 p.m. each day at Southgate. In fact, the canon adds that daily celebration of the Mass is earnestly recommended—but it specifically avoids requiring priests to say Mass every day. He also required that priests ask permission to say Mass facing the altar, or “ … I like to say Mass daily, also because the Lord wants it. In the same column, however, we also saw that priests can, under certain circumstances, be allowed to leave the clerical state and live in the world as laymen again. Share. Until he has the opportunity to make a sacramental confession, such a priest may very well wish not to say Mass, if possible. This is why the Church has no qualms about requiring all her clergy to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every single day. Q2: I am a retired elderly priest, I offer a private daily Mass in a room of my apartment. Email. What is clear in many is fear of the future. © Copyright 2021 Catholic Exchange. But unless it is absolutely necessary for the good of the souls entrusted to his care, a priest offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily without previously confessing all serious sins is quite another matter. To cover is not a big deal for me; I enjoy it.” When diocesan priests retire, they live independently and can no longer rely upon a parish for support. I was there to attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Dec. 24. They take turns saying it. In monasteries, as far as possible these prayers are indeed said at the specified times — which requires the monks to wake up during the night and enter the church to pray the night Hours in common. A priest should, if he can, avoid celebrating Mass if he is in a state of grave sin. Secular priests have no rule that says that they have to celebrate daily mass. I asked the parish secretary what time the other priest says Mass, if he doesn’t say the scheduled one. Some priests who retire, and are still in reasonably good health, hit the golf courses or pursue similar activities while acting as a "supply" priest (or a "Rent-a-Priest" as they are sometimes called) on the weekends in various local parishes. If the code required every priest to say Mass daily, a priest in such a situation would find himself in a moral dilemma. –Alicia, Q2: We have a retired priest living in our parish rectory with the pastor. 13. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours is still done today, for as canon 1173 notes, the Church in this way praises God without ceasing, in fulfillment of the priestly office of Christ. Cathy Caridi, J.C.L., is an American canon lawyer who practices law and teaches in Rome. Everyone, including somebody in a state of grave sin, is welcome to pray, and in fact should do so. Share . But with the shutdown, he cannot perform their wedding. This is why the Church has no qualms about requiring all her clergy to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every single day. Our pastor said canon law states that no face coverings can be used in administering any sacrament. All of which is not to suggest, of course, that the priests at Julie’s parish must be in a state of grave sin on the days when they do not celebrate Mass! — G.D., Chicago. He lives in the assisted living section and, since he fell twice in July 2018, he uses a wheelchair. Celebrating Mass Without Candles. Do the sacraments he performs still give grace? If a priest is in the state of mortal sin, can he still offer the Mass and perform the other sacraments? This means that all sisters, cloistered nuns, and brothers are also required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, regardless of whether they live enclosed in monasteries like the one in Alicia’s movie, or engage in teaching, nursing, or other apostolates out in the secular world. Burning candles give off a fragrance that causes health problems. cerns as our retired priests. Unsigned/anonymous questions are not read, much less answered (why is it necessary even to mention this?). Because of the unknown future security for priests after retirement or in case of medical challenge, many who have physical challenges do not agree to leave active ministry, because of dependency on being sustained by the parishoners. Busy priests can frequently be seen praying from their Breviary while sitting in the confessional, waiting for penitents; in the parish office, in between appointments; or even while waiting in the doctor’s office or at a bus-stop. As members of the clergy, our parish priests are all bound by this obligation. People asked, ‘What will you do when you retire?’ and I’d say, ‘I’m going to play priest.’ They’d laugh. What may at first appear to be a laxity in the law is actually in complete accord with our Catholic faith. She founded this website to provide clear answers to canonical questions asked by ordinary Catholics, without employing all the mysterious legalese that canon lawyers know and love. Question: At our parish church, priests do not wear face masks at any time during the Mass, including when distributing Communion. As we have seen on so many occasions in this space before, canon law is in complete synch with Catholic theology. None of the content of this website may be reproduced, either in whole or in part, without the advance written permission of the author. All of which is not to suggest, of course, that the priests at Julie’s parish must be in a state of grave sin on the days when they do not celebrate Mass! There’s one Mass scheduled per day during the week. Q: As an elderly retired priest who offers daily Mass in my apartment, I suffer from severe allergies to fragrances. Additionally, members of religious communities, whether they are clerics or not, are likewise obliged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, although their own particular law may allow for some variations (c. 1174.1). 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