On the Third Precept of the Decalogue

“52. The precept of observing feast days does not oblige under mortal sin, scandal being set aside, if contempt is absent.” Proposition condemned by Innocent XI.

“Is it necessary to oblige under sin the faithful of the Vicariate of Chan-si, who cannot hear Mass because of a lack of priests, to assist on feast days, in place of Mass, at pious gatherings of the faithful? — Resp. The faithful who in the proposed case cannot hear Mass on feast days are not thereby freed from the obligation of sanctifying the feast through prayers or other pious works. They are therefore greatly to be exhorted, but not bound under guilt of sin—as though disobedient to a precept of the Church—to endeavor to be present at those pious gatherings in which they can be instructed and nourished by the food of the word of God and by other exercises of religion, and, united in prayer in the spirit of charity, can more efficaciously implore divine assistance.” Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 4 Jan. 1798; C. 2199.

“The doubt was proposed concerning the sense to be given to the formula relating to the faculty of dispensing poor Catholics, enabling them to work on feast days…. The formula is to be revised so that it reads: after, however, hearing Holy Mass, if it can be heard; but if it cannot, after supplementary prayers have been recited. Meanwhile, this Sacred Congregation can write to that Apostolic Vicar, making him understand that the supplementary prayers, naturally to be determined according to his prudent judgment, must be recited by the dispensed faithful under grave obligation, since they are substituted for the precept of Mass and, moreover, it is of divine law that the feast must in some manner be sanctified by prayers and pious works.” Holy Office, 12 March 1875; C. 2042.

“89. The fourteenth degree of the conversion of a sinner is that, when he has now been reconciled, he has the right of assisting at the sacrifice of the Church.” Proposition of Paschasius Quesnel condemned by Clement XI.

“53. He satisfies the precept of the Church concerning hearing Mass who hears two parts of it, indeed four, simultaneously from different celebrants.” Proposition condemned by Innocent XI.

“We cannot approve the plan of compelling the faithful to attend the Mass and instruction of the pastor on feast days, other churches or oratories being interdicted under reservation. For although We are persuaded what and how great assistance toward eternal life Christ’s flock would receive from frequenting that same salutary food of the word of God, it is nevertheless known to Your Amplitude that it was never the intention of the Apostolic See that this be commanded under precept and the bond of sin. Hence We judge that the faithful are instead to be persuaded by paternal and repeated admonitions to provide more advantageously for their souls by these means.” Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 30 June 1845.

“Whether, in order to satisfy the precept of the Church concerning hearing Mass on Sundays and feast days, it is necessary that each person hear Mass in his own rite, or whether it suffices to hear Mass. — Resp. In the negative to the first part; in the affirmative to the second.” Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 11 Dec. 1838.

“Since a fixed chapel on ships has recently been declared public for voyagers, and since it not rarely happens that, while ships are found in port, the families of voyagers and officers and other persons approach them for various reasons, the present chief chaplain of the Transatlantic Society of Barcelona set forth a doubt to the Sacred Congregation of Rites: Whether all who are present at the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the said chapel can hear it in fulfillment of the precept concerning hearing Mass on feast days. — Resp. In the affirmative according to the Decree Vicen. of 4 March 1901, without a special indult.” Sacred Congregation of Rites, 10 May 1901. Cf. On Laws, n. 262; On the Eucharist, n. 640.

“Which truly are the more solemn days on which, for all who do not have a particular Indult, Masses are forbidden in private oratories? — Resp. Those are of themselves the more solemn days in the case which are described in the Ceremonial of Bishops, bk. II, c. XXXIV, n. 2, and are observed by precept.” Sacred Congregation of Rites, 10 April 1896.

The Ceremonial of Bishops, loc. cit., has the following: “Therefore, unless he shall have been lawfully impeded, the Bishop can celebrate on the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ; on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord; on Thursday in the Lord’s Supper; on the Sunday of the Resurrection; on the day of the Ascension; on Pentecost Sunday; on the festivities of the Immaculate Conception, Annunciation, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; on the feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary; on the feast of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul; on the feast of All Saints; on the feast day of the Titular of the church and of the Patron; on the anniversary day of the dedication of the cathedral church; or even, according to his judgment, on other festivities throughout the year, whenever it shall please him, with the ceremonies and solemnities which were explained above in chapter VIII of this book II, On Solemn Mass When the Bishop Celebrates.”

“That at the elevation of the Body of Jesus Christ they ought not to rise, nor to exhibit reverence to It, asserting that it would be an imperfection for them if they descended so far from the purity and sublimity of their contemplation that they should think anything concerning the ministry or Sacrament of the Eucharist, or concerning the Passion of the Humanity of Christ.” Error of the Beguards and Beguines condemned by Clement, Ad nostrum, 3, On Heretics.

“The law by which servile works are prohibited on certain days for the sake of divine worship is to be abolished.” Proposition condemned by Pius IX in the Encyclical Quanta cura.