Case XLVII: The Celebration of Holy Mass and the Natural Fast

Case.—Father Titus, suffering from illness for many months, has secured the privilege of a private oratory. Twice every week a priest friend celebrates Mass in this oratory, and Father Titus, by privilege of the decree of December 7, 1906, receives Holy Communion without fasting. One morning, feeling stronger than usual, and having partaken of nourishment by “drinking” the raw contents of two eggs, he feels the desire to celebrate Mass himself, instead of only receiving Holy Communion. His friend arrives and, finding Father Titus in the preparation to say Mass himself, he dissuades with some difficulty Father Titus from his intention.

Question: 1. Was Father Titus allowed to say Mass?

2. Could he at least receive Holy Communion?

Solution.—The decree of December 7, 1906, permits a sick person under certain conditions to receive Holy Communion even after he has partaken of some food per modum potus; this permission, however, must not be extended to the celebration of Holy Mass. Noldin sets forth: “Priests may indeed use this privilege, granted to those who are bedridden but not dangerously ill, under the required conditions, for receiving Communion in the manner of laymen, but not for celebrating Mass.” (Summa Th. Mor. III¹⁰, 157, e.)

Such permission is hardly ever given. Ojetti states: “The Sacred Universal Inquisition is accustomed almost never to grant the favor of celebrating Mass to those who are not fasting.” (Synopsis, II*, n. 2344, p. 2159.)

Cardinal Gennari asks the question, Can a priest obtain from the Holy See the privilege to partake before Holy Mass of some food per modum potus? and he positively answers, “He can not. Such a privilege is never conceded to priests. It is sometimes given to a bishop, in order that he may not have to omit pontifical functions. The priest may, however, obtain from the Holy See permission to celebrate immediately after midnight.” (Questions de Morale, etc. n. 255.)

2. Father Titus, after “drinking” two eggs, cannot even receive Holy Communion. If he cannot fast he may take some food per modum potus but “It is not lawful to sip an egg, because it is not liquid food,” as we find it stated by Ballerini Palmieri, who, however, adds “But an egg diluted with coffee, since it truly becomes liquid, seems able to be taken.” (Opus theologicum morale, IV, p. 730.) This is also the view of Cardinal Gennari, whom modern authors like to quote as an authority on such questions.