§ 1. General Notions

— Principles. As is already clear from the things said above, and is known to all, for the due celebration of Mass several things are required, some consecrated, some blessed, some not blessed, which can be called by the general name of sacred furnishings. Moreover, the principle is that consecrations in themselves pertain to bishops, so that without a faculty of special law or apostolic indult they would be performed invalidly by priests; while any priest imparts all blessings, even reserved ones, in themselves validly, although not always licitly, unless the Apostolic See has expressed something else in the reservation (c. 1147). But the sacred oils which are to be used in consecrations must always be consecrated by a bishop.

Now, by privilege of law, even if they lack episcopal character, Cardinals can perform consecrations of churches, altars, and sacred furnishings (c. 239, §1, 20°); abbots and prelates nullius (c. 323, §2). Vicars and Prefects Apostolic can consecrate chalices, patens, and sacred stones within the boundaries of their territory and while their office endures (c. 294, §1). The same are permitted to impart all blessings reserved to a bishop.

The major Superior of an exempt clerical religion can also bless a church of his religion. But the remaining furnishings can besides be blessed by local Ordinaries, even if not bishops, for the churches and oratories of their own territory; by a pastor, for churches and oratories situated in his territory; by the rector of a church for his church; by a priest whom the local Ordinary has delegated, within the limits of the delegation and jurisdiction of the delegating one; by religious Superiors and by priests of the same religion whom he has delegated, for both their own churches and oratories and those of nuns subject to them (c. 1304). Moreover the words "for the territory," "for the church," etc., express a condition of liceity, but not of validity; and once blessed they remain such although they have been transferred to other churches.

— Execration. Besides altars, concerning which we have already spoken, sacred furnishings lose their consecration or blessing: 1. because of injuries or changes which take away the former form and render them unsuitable for their proper uses; 2. because of profanation, if they have been used for unbecoming uses or exposed for public sale. And we are admonished that the chalice and paten are not execrated because of the consumption or renewal of the gilding, with the grave obligation preserved of gilding again a chalice and paten whose gilding has been consumed (c. 1305).

— Repair of a Sacred Vessel, Washing of Corporals, etc. 1. The Sacred Congregation of Rites itself warns that sacred vessels which must be handed over to an artisan to be gilded or repaired are not to be execrated (cf. response of April 20, 1822, Decr. auth., n. 2620).

2. "Purificators, palls, and corporals used in the sacrifice of Mass are not to be handed over to be washed by laypersons, even religious, unless they have first been washed by a cleric constituted in major orders; but the water of the first washing is to be sent into the sacrarium, or, if this is lacking, into the fire" (c. 1306, §2). These things are to be observed under venial sin, so that an excuse of necessity can be admitted. By force of formulae II and III of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Vicars and Prefects Apostolic can permit religious sisters assigned to the service of the sacrarium to wash corporals and purificators.

— Touching of Sacred Vessels, Corporals, etc. 1. Sacred vessels, whatever they are, while they contain the sacred species, to handle them, not merely to touch them, without necessity, will be mortal irreverence. 2. No prohibition of touch affects merely blessed vessels while they are empty and purified; nor purificators, palls, and corporals after they have been washed. But, even before use, the chalice with paten, and, after they have been used in the sacrifice of Mass, purificators, palls, and corporals, are prohibited from being touched with the bare hand by persons other than clerics or those who have custody of them, that is, sacristans, even lay ones (c. 1306, §1). A just cause excuses the fault of that contact, which is venial.

The greater reverence by which, in certain regions, even lay custodians abstain from touching the chalice is laudable and therefore to be preserved.

To what extent certain things can be used for a profane use is said in tome II.