Case 10. Stipends for Mass

Caius, a missionary priest in England, while occupied with spiritual exercises, is troubled by scruples about the obligation to celebrate Mass by reason of a stipend. He therefore goes to a confessor, to whom he relates that he is accustomed to accept more Masses to be celebrated for stipends than he can satisfy. He is unwilling, however, to hand the stipends to another priest; hence sometimes he retains the stipend but does not celebrate the Mass, which he hopes is not mortal because of the small amount, for it does not exceed two shillings and sixpence. Sometimes also he defers for four or six months the celebration of a Mass due by reason of a stipend. Indeed, if it concerns stipends handed over by a certain pious association established to promote devotion toward the souls in purgatory for the souls of the departed in general, without scruple he defers the due celebration of the Mass beyond six months. Hence it is asked:

1. Whence arises the obligation to celebrate Mass by reason of an accepted stipend, and is it a grave obligation?

2. Within what time must a Mass be celebrated by reason of a stipend?

3. What is to be said of the case?

1. Whence arises the obligation of saying Mass by reason of accepting a stipend, and is the obligation a grave one?

The obligation of saying Mass for the intention of the person who has given a stipend arises from a contract which the priest enters into with the giver, and from ecclesiastical law. It is not a contract of buying and selling, but an innominate contract — Do ut facias. The stipend is given for the support of the priest, and the priest undertakes to apply Mass for the intention of the giver. The obligation is a grave one of justice, as the nature of the obligation, the intention of the parties, and the law of the Church make manifest. Innocent XII commanded that “ absolutely let as many Masses be celebrated as shall have been prescribed by those offering alms.”

2. Within what time is Mass to be said for which a stipend has been given?

The decree S. C. C. Ut debita, 11th May 1904, answers this question:

“ A reasonable period for fulfilling obligations of manual Masses is one month for one Mass, six months for one hundred Masses, and another longer or shorter span of time, more or less according to the greater or smaller number of Masses.”

3. The case. In accepting more stipends for Masses than he can satisfy Caius transgressed the decree S. C. C., Ut debita, which prescribes:

“ It is lawful for no one to undertake so many Masses that he probably cannot himself satisfy them within a year from the day the obligation was undertaken.” In neglecting to celebrate Mass although bound to do so on account of having received a stipend for it Caius committed grave sin, and he is bound to restore the stipend to the giver if the occasion on account of which the Mass was asked for has now passed by, or otherwise to say the Mass as soon as possible. If he can not do this, he should hand over the stipends to his Ordinary, or to some reliable priest of the diocese. In deferring the celebration of Mass for which he has accepted a stipend much beyond a month he has committed so many grievous sins.