ARTICLE I: ON THE TIME OF CELEBRATION

1326. Principles. - I. It is lawful to celebrate daily, indeed it is laudable, unless the unworthiness of the celebrant, or a special prohibition of the Church, stands in the way. - But the Church prohibits Mass from being celebrated on the day of Parasceve, or Friday of the greater Week; likewise, that several Sacrifices be made in the same Church on Thursday and Saturday of the same Week. Necessity, however, permits several Sacrifices only on Thursday in the Supper of the Lord, 1° on account of the communion of the sick, who cannot assist at the solemn Mass, and in whose favor it will be lawful to celebrate a private Mass, at the judgment, however, of the Bishop; 2° on account of a feast of precept occurring on the same Thursday in the Supper of the Lord (not on Holy Saturday), in which case not indeed all priests, but some, can and must celebrate a private Mass (not of the feast, but of the Supper of the Lord) before the solemn Mass, so that the faithful may not lack fulfillment of the precept. - But that single Mass, which is celebrated on Thursday in the Supper of the Lord and on Holy Saturday, cannot be celebrated in those Churches in which the Most Holy Sacrament is not reserved. This furthermore must be celebrated in chant (excepting parochial churches, if there is no cantor present, and then with the permission of the Bishop to be sought each year) and solemnly, unless ministers are lacking.¹

II. It is not lawful ordinarily, and with special privilege excluded, to celebrate before dawn, nor after noon, nor before the recitation of Matins and Lauds. For thus it is had in the Rubrics of the Missal: "A private Mass can be said at least after Matins and Lauds, at whatever hour from dawn until noon." - It is lawful, however, to begin Mass before dawn, provided that it is not finished before dawn. Likewise it is lawful to prolong the celebration beyond noon, provided that it be begun at least at noon; for the time of dawn and noon is to be taken not mathematically, but morally.¹ But dawn begins when the first brightness is diffused over the earth, or from the beginning of light, which is various for various places and times of year. Where there is no physical dawn, one should attend to when labor is accustomed to begin.² - By special privilege, which is conceded to our Bishops and through them can be communicated to priests and is customarily so communicated, it is permitted that Mass be celebrated for one hour before dawn and another after noon. See p. LXXI. n. 23.

III. In like manner, the privilege of celebrating one hour before dawn or after noon must be understood of one hour before or after the time assigned for others not privileged; otherwise the privilege would be of little profit.³

1327. Questions. - Query 1° Does he sin gravely who celebrates before dawn or after noon?

Resp. Affirmatively, if he much anticipates or prolongs the time established by the Church; but otherwise, if the change is slight; indeed, if a just cause is present, it will be without any fault. But what change is judged notable is controverted. According to the more common and more probable opinion, it is not held grave unless the celebration is begun a whole hour before or after the established time.⁴

Query 2° When is it lawful to celebrate before dawn or after noon?

Resp. 1° In necessity, e.g. that Viaticum may be administered to one about to die; in which case it would be lawful to celebrate even at midnight. 2° Where there is a reasonable custom, e.g. that workmen and servants may be able to hear Mass very early in the morning. 3° By force of a privilege granted by the Pope, or of a dispensation in a particular case from a reasonable cause by the Bishop, or for exempt religious by their Superior; 4° from the cause of a journey, for an hour after noon or before dawn; 5° likewise because of the funeral of some magnate, or of a sermon, or of a public supplication.⁵

Query 3° What sort of sin is it to celebrate Mass before the recitation of Matins and Lauds?

Resp. See n. 1100. q. 2°.

Query 4° Is it lawful to celebrate more than once in a day?

Resp. No, speaking generally according to the present practice of the Church, although formerly it was not prohibited. This is established from various places of Canon Law and from the Decree of Benedict XIV, 16 March 1746.

Except 1° the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, on which it is lawful to celebrate three Masses; 2° if a Pastor before the ablution is moved concerning communicating the sick, and has already consumed his Host, and no other fasting priest is found.¹

Query 5° When is it lawful to celebrate Mass twice in the day by permission of the Bishop?

Resp. With the Bishop permitting it, Mass can be celebrated twice (but never more than twice) by the same priest on Sundays and feasts of precept not suppressed, if necessity demands it, but not on account of custom alone, nor for the convenience of those who enjoy the privilege of a private oratory, nor on account of the poverty of the priest, nor where another priest is had through whom provision can be made for the necessity. Benedict XIV, Const. Declarasti nobis, and c. consuluisti (3) de celebrat. Miss. (L. III. Decr. T. XLI.). See p. LIV-LVI. n. 1-9.

Query 6° When is necessity judged to be present for celebrating twice in the day?

Resp. See p. LVI. n. 10. 11. See the broader faculty of our Bishops p. LXXI, LXXII. 23, and its declaration p. LVI. n. 11 sq.

Query 7° Can he who celebrates two Masses accept a duplicated stipend?

Resp. No; and Pius IX strictly prohibited this. - Thus S. C. C.² - Nevertheless, sometimes there is given, and to the Ordinaries of Missions there has been given, the faculty, for a just and grave cause, of permitting priests to receive a stipend also for the second Mass. Thus from the Letters of the S. C. de P. F. 15 Oct. 1863, which Rev. Th. T. IV. p. 101 exhibits. (12) p. 418.

Query 8° Would it be lawful in this case to accept a double stipend on this condition, that the other stipend be expended for a pious use?

Resp. No, without an Indult of the Supreme Pontiff, which indeed the Pontiff was unwilling to grant to the Archbishop of Cologne. - Thus S. C. C.³

Query 9° Is it lawful in the night of the Nativity of the Lord to celebrate all three Masses before dawn?

Resp. No, without an indult, or unless one of the causes alleged above in this n. q. 2° is present, some one of which, however, will very rarely be present on this day. It is clear from the Rubric of the Missal: "The first Mass is said in the night; the second at dawn; and the third in the day"; likewise from the decree of the S. C. R.:¹ "A priest who celebrates only one Mass should read the Mass which corresponds approximately to the hour according to the particular Rubrics of the same day." S. R. C. 19 June 1875.

Query 10° Through what space of time ought a low Mass to last?

Resp. The general rule is that Mass ought neither to be longer than half an hour, lest those present be affected by weariness, nor shorter than a third part of an hour, because otherwise it will not be able to be celebrated becomingly. But you will not excuse from mortal sin a priest who, in making the Sacrifice, does not reach a quarter of an hour. St. Alphonsus² gives the reason, because in so brief a space he must necessarily commit two grave defects, one of grave irreverence toward the Sacrament,³ the other of grave scandal toward the people. But it is to be desired, and earnestly commended to all priests, that in making the Sacrifice they complete half an hour.

Query 11° How much time, when the Sacrifice has been completed, ought to be spent in giving thanks to God?

Resp. No entirely certain rule is given. But the more benign require at least a quarter part of an hour. - St. Alphonsus³ earnestly persuades that at least a half-hour be spent on this pious exercise by a priest, who ought to offer an example to the faithful.