Case LII: The Quality of the Mass and the Stipend

Case.—I was obliged ex justitia, by reason of a stipend accepted, to offer Mass for the repose of the soul of Anna, on a certain determined day. Repairing to the sacristy on the said day, I found that, according to the rubrics, the Mass to be said on this day was de sancto. After some thought I decided to say the Mass pro defuncta in black, as the relatives were present in the church and would not understand my action in saying Mass in the color of the day.

Question.—Did I do right? What should I have done?

Solution.—According to the teachings of theologians, the quality of the Mass, as one of its adjuncts, is to be observed even ex justitia, provided the person accepting it “has bound himself by the stipend to observe those things” (Noldin, Vol. IV., 184, 2). But this obligation binds only when one has bound oneself to say a certain definite Mass in a special color and when that color is permissible by the rubrics of the day. To break the rubrics on this point is sinful. “One who celebrated a votive Mass or a Requiem Mass on a forbidden day would sin, apart from contempt and scandal” (Genicot II., 256, 3). This infraction is held to be venial, because it involves no notable perversion of the rubrics except when done out of contempt or provoking some scandal. Of course, it is seldom that scandal is given.

The priest in question did not do right in setting aside the rubrics and following his own plan. If he had promised to say a Requiem Mass, a Mass in black, and found that he could not keep his promise on the stipulated day he should have called the relatives from whom he accepted the stipend, and have explained to them that it was impossible for him to fulfil that part of his engagement. Had he explained to them that the fruits of the Mass were inde-

_ pendent of the color of the vestments, no doubt they would have been satisfied. What they were actually looking for was the application of the Mass and not the color of the vestments. If it was impossible to notify them, then he should have observed the rubrics and if deemed necessary he could have explained matters later on. If they were determined to have the Mass on that day, then by saying the Mass de sancto he would satisfy his obligation; for he was excused by a legitimate impediment from saying the Mass in black. If he had not promised to say a Mass in black vestments, but merely had promised to offer Mass on that specified day for the repose of the soul of Anna, then he would have satisfied all his obligations by saying the Mass of the day for the soul of the departed woman. Noldin (Vol. IV. 184, C.) clearly affirms this point. Our people are well enough instructed not to insist on a Missa de Requie when the rubrics do not permit this Mass to be said.