Article V. On The Manner And Rite Of Conferring The Sacraments

70. Since the sacraments are most holy things, the Church has given several precepts in the Ritual for their worthy administration. Therefore, outside a case of grave necessity it is not lawful to administer the sacraments with the rubrics prescribed by the Ritual omitted. Hence the Council of Trent²⁷⁸ defined: "If anyone says that the received and approved rites of the Catholic Church customarily employed in the solemn administration of the sacraments can either be contemned, or omitted at will and without sin by ministers, or changed into other new rites by any pastor of the Church whatsoever, let him be anathema." The Roman Ritual is generally to be employed; nevertheless, there are still several Churches which by Apostolic privilege use their own Ritual.

The rubrics of the Ritual do not all oblige in the same manner; and the same must be said of the other liturgical books. For essential rubrics are customarily distinguished, which concern the very essence of the sacrament, namely, the application of the form to the matter, and accidental rubrics, which regard a becoming rather than a valid administration. Preceptive rubrics are also customarily distinguished, which directly oblige in conscience, and directive rubrics, which rather contain counsels or directions. Although this latter distinction is most commonly adduced by authors, nevertheless it is often very difficult, and indeed impossible, to discern which rubrics are preceptive and which merely directive. The consensus of authors and the decisions of the Sacred Congregation of Rites can be held as criteria. In general it can be said that all rubrics have the character of positive law and consequently oblige gravely or lightly in conscience according to the gravity of their matter. But just as any positive law does not oblige with great inconvenience, so neither do the accidental rubrics prescribed in the administration of the sacraments oblige if a great inconvenience arises therefrom. Let priests, however, diligently strive to observe the rubrics faithfully and worthily in the administration of the sacraments; for this contributes greatly to the edification of the faithful, just as neglect of these rubrics can also easily cause grave scandal.

²⁷⁸ Sess. 7, can. 13 on the sacraments in general (Denz., n. 856); cf. also Code of Canon Law, c. 733.

71. Note. Priests who by privilege use a special Ritual, as occurs in some dioceses and religious orders, can nevertheless for a reasonable cause follow the Roman Ritual, unless this is most specially prohibited. The reason is that the Church in some measure desires that the Roman Rite be observed everywhere on earth; hence there is the adage: It is always good to imitate the Roman Church. If a special Ritual has been legitimately approved for some diocese or region, priests from outside can also use this Ritual in administering the sacraments; for travelers can use a local privilege.