Masses Annexed to Benefices and Masses Founded in Parishes

36. Finally, as regards Masses annexed to benefices, whenever they are handed over to other Priests to be celebrated, the Eminent Fathers declare and establish that the alms must be no other than the synodal alms of the place in which the benefices are erected.

But for Masses founded in parishes and other churches, the alms which is given must be no other than that which is found to have been taxed in perpetuity in the foundation or in the successive indult of reduction, always nevertheless preserving the rights, if there are any legitimately recognized, either for the fabrics of churches or for their rectors, according to the declarations presented by the Sacred Congregation in the Munich case, July 25, 1874, and in the Hildesheim case, January 21, 1898. Paragraph 15.

Hence priests enjoying founded chaplaincies, whether ecclesiastical or lay, cannot commit to other Priests the Masses of their chaplaincies to be celebrated, with the alms established according to their own judgment, but must observe the preceding dispositions of article 15 of the Decree. Sacred Congregation of the Council, December 19, 1904.

Masses founded in churches are Masses whose obligation is perpetual and which have not been erected as a title by authority of the Bishop, and therefore are distinguished from benefices. Ferraris, v. Beneficium, art. 1, nn. 9-10. But for admitting perpetual burdens of this kind, permission of the Bishop is necessary.

37. As regards Masses annexed to benefices, as for example is the Mass for the people to be celebrated by a pastor, nothing is said concerning time and place; for those things are to be observed which would have to be observed by the beneficiary himself. "Preserving the rights for the fabrics of churches": for in favor of the ministers and those serving the churches that portion of revenues can be retained which at the beginning of the foundation, or in another legitimate way, was assigned to them, independently of the special work to be performed for fulfilling the legacy. "Preserving the rights for the rectors of churches": namely when the alms of Masses of certain legacies in part hold the place of the parochial congrua. Paragraph In Monacen.