Section — Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology
Faculty of Freely Disposing of Masses
Those who have an overflowing number of Masses, concerning which it is lawful for them freely to dispose, can assign them, besides to the Ordinary or to the Holy See, also to Priests well-disposed to themselves, provided these are certainly and personally known to them and above every exception. Paragraph 5. "Those who have an overflowing number of Masses": those namely who are not in delay as regards the celebration of Masses. For these, after the elapsed year, must hand them over only to the Ordinary, according to the preceding article 4. Therefore others, who have free disposition of Masses and who during the year have not been negligent in seeing to their celebration, can hand them over to other Priests also to be celebrated.
Those who have handed over Masses with their alms to the Ordinary or to the Holy See are relieved from every obligation before God and the Church, namely after they have handed over the Masses and alms. Paragraph 6. To the Ordinary, or to the Holy See, or to the Superiors General of Orders or Religious Congregations. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905.
But those who have handed over to others to be celebrated Masses received from the faithful and entrusted in any way to their faith, whether from the commission and handing over of the faithful, or from a testament or legacy, whether from the offerer himself or from his mandatary, executor, or anyone else, are held by the obligation until they have obtained proof of the celebration performed, whether by written document for the external forum, or only by living voice for the internal forum. Paragraph Qui vero.
- Therefore the obligation of obtaining proof affects those who have handed over to others to be celebrated Masses received from the faithful, or in any way entrusted to their faith. Therefore it does not affect others who commit their own Masses to others to be celebrated. The former, if the alms are lost and the Mass is not celebrated from any cause even fortuitous, are bound to supply from their own goods and to satisfy the Masses. Paragraph Qui vero.