Case XVII: Requiem Masses with the Blessed Sacrament Exposed

It has been a certain fact heretofore that with the Blessed Sacrament exposed ex causa privata Requiem Masses have been permissible at the altars of a church with the exception of the altar of exposition. Stipend Masses, Rorate Masses, Sodality Masses, coram Sanctissimo, are classed amongst the category of expositiones ex causa privata. Recent theological opinions have, however, interpreted the decree of the R. C., of June 13, 1900, in the sense that Requiem Masses even at side altars are not permissible if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a church. To this interpretation the following objection has been raised. The decree has reference to a certain oratorium publicum, a public chapel, which has two altars, situated in niches opposite each other. The priest standing at the altar on which the Sanctissimum is not exposed, turns his back to the ostensorium, a thing in itself objectionable. Something forbidden for a chapel, furthermore, may not be necessarily forbidden in a church. A decree of the S. R. C. of July 9, 1895, seems also contrary to the above. interpretation, as it directs that whenever the Forty Hours' Devotion is kept on All Souls' Day, all masses with the exception of a single one are to be said pro defunctis, but in purple vestments. It may therefore be concluded that the decision quoted above has reference to one certain instance and that it does not interfere with already existing decisions.

This last argument is a weighty one. It is a frequent error to generalize decisions rendered pro casu. It is possible that a further inquiry would result in a general decision, conforming to the one pro casu, but as long as this has not been decided, the decision pro casu can not be stated as a general law. Take, for instance, the jejunium naturale. Because in Lourdes a fast of four hours has been prescribed before the midnight Mass, many have held this to apply also to the Christmas Mass, but such is not the case.

In large churches, where the case cited at the beginning of this article occurs not infrequently, it will therefore be safe to continue the previous usage, until the R. C. sees fit to pronounce universally on this subject