Section — Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology
Obligation of Ordinaries
- Diocesan Ordinaries will immediately enter in order into a book the Masses which, from the disposition of the preceding articles, they will gather, with the respective alms, and will take care, according to their strength, that they be celebrated as soon as possible, in such a way nevertheless that manual Masses be satisfied first, then those which are after the likeness of manual Masses.
But in distribution they will observe the rule of the Decree Vigilanti, namely: "they will first distribute the intentions of Masses among priests subject to themselves whom they know to need them; then the others they will commit either to the Holy See, or to other Ordinaries, or also, if they wish, to priests outside the diocese, provided they are known to themselves and above every exception," the rule of article 6 always remaining firm concerning the obligation until they have required from the priests proof of the celebration performed. Paragraph 7. Cf. n. 6.
"Diocesan Ordinaries": it is a question of Ordinaries of places; but evidently, by proportionate reason, the same is to be understood concerning Ordinaries of Regulars. Therefore in the present article 7, under the name of Ordinaries come also Regular Prelates for their respective subjects. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905.
Manual Masses are first to be satisfied: those namely which the faithful request to be celebrated, with a manual stipend offered, to whomever or in whatever way they hand over this stipend, whether by short hand or in testaments, provided they do not constitute a perpetual foundation, or one such and so long-lasting that it must be held as perpetual. Paragraph Declarat. Moreover, by the present Decree there are counted among manual Masses those which indeed burden the patrimony of some private family in perpetuity, but are constituted in no church, which Masses can be satisfied anywhere by any priests at the judgment of the father of the family. Paragraph Pariter.
After manual Masses, those which are after the likeness of manual Masses are to be satisfied. These, from the present Decree, are those which, constituted in some church or annexed to benefices, cannot be applied by the proper beneficiary or in the proper church, from this or that cause; and therefore either by law or with an indult of the Holy See must be handed over to other Priests so that they may be satisfied. Paragraph Ad instar.
"They will first distribute among Priests subject to themselves, then the others... or also, if they wish, to priests outside the diocese." As regards those first Priests, an obligation indeed is imposed on Bishops; but no strict right arises from this for Priests, as the matter is evident of itself; for otherwise Bishops would be obliged from strict justice to prefer those priests in the distribution, and consequently to make them indemnified if they passed them over. Certainly from the Decree a certain simple mandate made to Ordinaries is drawn out: "they will distribute," and nothing else.
The Ordinary must take care that, insofar as can be done, stipends accepted from various benefactors be handed over to various priests, so that the Masses may be celebrated within the due time. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905; namely within the time established by this Decree Ut debita, just as Masses entrusted by particular offerers. It then suffices that the Priests celebrate according to the mind of the Ordinary, who nevertheless must form the intention for the individual offerers, according to the rules handed down by approved authors of moral theology. Nevertheless it would be better if the prescribed intentions are made known to the priests. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905. But when stipends are received from the hand of the Ordinary, the useful time by concession of the Holy See begins from the day on which the Priest receives them from the Ordinary, not from the day on which the faithful first handed them over. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905.
Bishops also are bound to hand over Masses to Priests known to themselves and above every exception. And besides, they themselves also remain obligated concerning the celebration of the Masses until they have required from the Priests proof of the celebration performed.
- But if diocesan Bishops and Regular Prelates hand over Masses to be celebrated to other Bishops or Regular Prelates, they remain free from any other obligation, even if they hand them over to Superiors General of Religious Congregations. Sacred Congregation of the Council, February 27, 1905.