Article I: On the Obligation from Priesthood

S. Th. III, q. 82, a. 10.

363. The principal obligation of celebrating arises from priesthood. - Christ imposed upon priests a grave precept of celebrating the sacrifice, as is most certain, both from His own words: Do this in commemoration of me, which the Council of Trent explains thus, sess. 22, c. 1; and from the nature of the priestly power, which is given by God so that in the name of all He may be honored and for all the graces of salvation may be procured: but such a power certainly was instituted that it might be exercised.

That precept obliges at least the community of priests (ibid., can. 2); but whether that precept, or even another ecclesiastical one, obliges individual priests by reason of priesthood, has been called into doubt by some. Now, however, they generally admit that a grave obligation rests upon individual priests, because each one is bound to use the grace given to him when it is opportune, especially if it yields to the great honor of God and the usefulness of the whole society; but such is the power of the priest, which, unless he exercised it, would be frustrated of its end. Besides, we all must acknowledge God's dominion through sacrifice (II, n. 698); but it seems disordered if a priest, who has received the power of doing this through his own sacrifice (Hebr. V, 1), should never do it except by the sacrifice of others. This is consonant with the Council of Trent, sess. 23, c. 14, and the decree of the S. C. C., Nov. 1696. And in the Code of Law it is now said, can. 805: "All priests are held by the obligation of offering the Holy Sacrifice several times a year."

The obligation is grave because of the gravity of the matter; nevertheless it suffices that someone celebrate on the principal feasts or, as others say, three or four times in the year, due distance being observed; but if he did not do this, it would easily be a grave scandal to the faithful.

364. Observation. - It is altogether fitting that priests celebrate more often, especially on individual Sundays and feasts, whence in the aforesaid can. 805 it is added: "But let the bishop or religious superior take care that they [priests] perform divine things at least on individual Sundays and other feasts of precept"; to omit this could rather easily seem scandalous to the Christian people. Indeed, says St. Alphonsus, Th. M., l. VI, n. 559, that one who can celebrate daily and, where the custom of celebrating daily flourishes, without any just cause, but only from sloth, neglects to celebrate, can scarcely be excused from venial fault. Not so, however, if from a reasonable motive, for example of greater preparation, reverence, humility, or true inconvenience, he sometimes abstains from celebrating.