| ROME, 13 JAN. 2009 (ZENIT) Answered by Legionary of Christ Father
Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum
university.
Q: Priests are allowed to binate or even trinate in cases of pastoral
necessity. What should happen if a priest has to give the homily at
several Masses on a Sunday, perhaps in connection with an appeal? When
he has already said one Mass and another priest is the celebrant, should
he also concelebrate?
—
S.P., Stourport-on-Severn, England
A: I would say that the most relevant norm regarding this topic is
found in the instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum," No. 64:
"The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy
Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself, 'should ordinarily be given by
the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating
Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but
never to a layperson. In particular cases and for a just cause, the
homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the
celebration but cannot concelebrate.'"
The final phrase of this number would cover the case of our
correspondent. An appeal, such as when a missionary priest preaches on
Mission Sunday or when the pastor makes an annual diocesan appeal, would
constitute a just cause.
It is important, however, that the priest should attempt to weave the
themes of the appeal into the homily itself as relating to the readings
and the Christian life. Otherwise, appeals are best left until after the
post-Communion prayer and before the final blessing.
The priest who preaches in these circumstances should vest in an alb
or a cassock and surplice, as well as a stole of the corresponding
liturgical color.
The norm foresees the case of a priest who "cannot concelebrate." The
general rule is that a priest celebrates or concelebrates no more than
one Mass a day (Canon 905 of the Code of Canon Law). The permission to
binate or trinate is a pastoral concession for the benefit of the
faithful and only for a just cause. Since it is usually not necessary to
concelebrate at a second Mass, then it would not generally fulfill the
requirement of a just pastoral need.
Therefore, in the case at hand it is enough that the priest has
already celebrated Mass, or is scheduled to celebrate a later Mass, in
order to justify being able to both preach the homily and refrain from
concelebrating.
Religious priests have a habitual exception to the one-Mass rule as
they may always concelebrate at their community Mass even though they
have another Mass scheduled for the faithful. All priests may likewise
concelebrate at a second Mass in any justifiable situation such as the
bishop's Mass, funerals, anniversaries of ordination, and similar
circumstances. * * * Follow-up: Concelebrating at
Additional Masses [1-27-2009]
Pursuant to our comments on concelebrated Masses (see Jan. 13), a priest
from Honduras wrote the following: "Quid agerem? I have a large parish
in Honduras and I celebrate three parish Masses on Sunday, and should I
have to go to one in an aldea [village], four. On weekdays, I
celebrate one Mass, and at times I have a funeral, and also have to
visit an aldea,' and hence would celebrate three Masses. Am I in
violation? On one day, I have to go to the cathedral to concelebrate the
bishop's ordination anniversary, plus the morning Mass in the parish,
plus the patron feast of an aldea which celebrates Cristo de
Esquipulas, with baptisms and first Communions. I fear that should
someone die, I would have to celebrate the funeral Mass, too. Here in
Honduras, only the wealthy can afford embalming, and hence the rank and
file have to be buried within 24 hours. Some advice, please, so that my
soul is not in jeopardy!"
Our correspondent is evidently a hardworking zealous priest who is at
the same time striving to celebrate the liturgy according to Church
norms.
This is an important quality, as not all priests clearly perceive that
we are administrators and not the owners of the sacred gifts received at
ordination. In other words, we may not dispose of them according to our
will, or according to our criteria of what is "pastorally suitable," but
must perform our service according to the mind of the Church.
In limiting the number of Masses that a priest may celebrate, the Church
does not desire to limit the possibility of grace. Rather, it widens its
consideration beyond immediate pastoral concerns to take into account
deeper values such as the sacred nature of the Mass itself
—
which could easily be obscured by an exhausted priest going through the
motions for the sixth time in one day.
In this sense the Church's restrictions are themselves pastoral, as she
cares for the spiritual and physical well-being of the shepherd himself
as well as safeguarding the faithful's right to a reverent celebration
of the sacred mysteries.
What should be done by our correspondent? First of all, he should
consult the bishop regarding the specific canonical norms applicable in
the diocese. Not a few countries and dioceses with grave pastoral
situations such as those described have been granted permission to go
beyond the canonical restrictions and allow for the celebration of four
Masses on Sunday and three daily.
Second, although the Mass is the high point of Catholic worship, the
Church has liturgical possibilities other than the Mass. I have many
priest friends from Latin American dioceses and am aware of the great
pastoral needs. (For example, I have a Brazilian friend with a parish of
90,000 souls and another in Mexico with 25 small towns under his care.)
These priests try to rotate as best they can the number of Masses
allowed them and then use the other possibilities such as the
Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion.
In the case of funerals, which by their very nature cannot be
programmed, the Church has the possibility of a funeral liturgy without
Mass. Thus, if one has already celebrated all possible Masses and a
funeral turns up, one can celebrate the funeral and burial rites while
offering to celebrate a Mass for the family at the nearest possible
date.
God does not depend on our schedules to distribute his mercy as all time
is in his hands. Certainly it is necessary to educate the faithful in
this and explain that the priest is also subject to obedience and that
the scarcity of clergy precludes the satisfaction of all possible
desires.
|