Case XXXV: The Office of the First Mass

The questions are asked: (1) Is a newly ordained priest allowed to take for his first Mass a votive office (with corresponding color) if his first Mass is celebrated on a Sunday per annum, on which the office is de ea and the green color is prescribed? Or must he take the Mass of the day, with vestments of green color, or, if such are not available for those assisting, vestments of gold cloth? (2) If a votive Mass is allowable, which one should the newly ordained priest choose?

Ad. 1. A first Mass is not privileged as regards the office or the rite. It offers no sufficient reason for the celebration of a Missa votiva solemnis (pro re gravi, vel publica ecclesiae causa), which would even require assignment or permission by the bishop in the individual case. The newly ordained may, therefore, take a votive only on a day which admits of a Missa votiva privata, for which the celebration of a first Mass would be a rationabilis causa. In this case, however, the ritus Missae votivae privatae must be completely employed, whether the Mass be read or sung, and whether celebrated with or without assistance, therefore sine Gloria (unless the votive Mass as such has it, as S. Maria in Sabb., Ss. Angeli), sine Credo, cum tribus saltem Orationibus, and the chant in tono Missae ferialis, which for a solemn first Mass cum magno apparatu et concursu populi would hardly be desirable. The color of the vestments must, of course, correspond to the Mass sive de die sive votivae. It is regarded as permissible to take vestments of gold cloth, in place of white, red or green, ex auro contexta, but on no account ex tela serica aut alia flavi coloris materia confecta (Cf. de Herdt, S. Liturg. Praxis, tom. I., n. 147).

This decides the first question, and under all circumstances the newly ordained has to take the Missa de Dominica occurenti, with all orations prescribed by rubrics and ordinary; if the ordo permits 3. Oratio ad libitum; then the Oratio pro seipso Sacerdote (n. 20, inter Orationes diversas) recommends itself for use. The vestments should be of green color, but may be replaced by such of gold cloth (ex auro contexta).

Ad. 2. This question is therefore dropped in our case. If, however, a newly ordained priest celebrates first Mass on a day that permits of a Missa Votiva privata, and he would say a votive Mass (at all events ritu Missae votivae privatae) rather than the Mass of the day, then he has the choice of any votive Mass. To be recommended in such case are the Missa de Ss. Trinitate, addita Oratione Deus cujus misericordiae, or, de Spiritu St., or, de S. S. Corde Jesus, or, de B. Maria V.

The newly ordained priest will, however, do best to begin with his first holy Mass a strict adherence to the ecclesiastical precepts respecting the office of the day, and avoid everything unusual.

Prof. Joseph Kobler.