Chapter — Slater, Cases II
Case 13. Mass in a Private Room
Caius, a recently ordained priest, greatly desires to celebrate Mass in the presence of his father. His father, however, is very old and never rises from bed; hence it will be necessary for Caius to celebrate privately in his father’s room if what he desires is to attain its effect. He therefore wishes to know what must be done in order that the desire may be fulfilled. Hence it is asked:
- In what place must Mass be celebrated?
- Can the Bishop give permission to celebrate privately in a room?
- What is to be said of the case?
By ecclesiastical law Mass may regularly be said only in churches and in oratories dedicated solely to the service of God and therein on duly consecrated altars. The Council of Trent forbade bishops to allow priests to say Mass in private houses, though bishops have the personal privilege of saying Mass on a portable altar in private houses in which they may be staying. In the United States bishops commonly have a privilege granted by the Holy See of allowing priests to say Mass in any decent place, but they are told to do this only once in a way, and on account of special circumstances. The superiors of some regular Orders have a similar privilege.1
1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, 130.
- Can a bishop give leave to celebrate Mass in a private room?
As has just been said he can not by his ordinary powers. If he has the special privilege granted by the Holy See of which mention has just been made, he may grant permission once in a way on account of special reasons.
- The case. It is clear from what has been said that Caius can not say Mass in his father’s room without special leave from the Holy See, or from the bishop, or regular superior in case Caius is a Religious, if they have the special privilege of allowing such an act. The occasion and the circumstances would seem to justify the exercise of such a special privilege, if the bishop or regular superior think proper to indulge the very filial desire of Caius.