Article V. On the Safeguards of the Law

I. Supervision. The right and duty of watching so that Mass burdens are fulfilled belongs, in churches of seculars, to the local Ordinary; in churches of religious, to their superiors (canon 842).

II. Notation of Masses. 1. Rectors of churches and of other pious places, whether secular or religious, in which alms for Masses are customarily received, should have a special book in which they accurately note the number, intention, alms, and celebration of the Masses received (canon 843, § 1). Ordinaries are held by the obligation of examining books of this kind, either personally or through others, at least once each year (canon 843, § 2). Ordinaries, that is, local Ordinaries or major superiors in exempt clerical religious institutes (canon 198, § 1).

2. Likewise local Ordinaries and religious superiors who entrust Masses to be celebrated to their own subjects or to others should quickly enter in order into a book the Masses which they have received with their alms, and should take care according to their powers that they be celebrated as soon as possible. Indeed, all priests, whether secular or religious, must accurately note which Mass intentions each one has received and which he has satisfied (canon 844). It suffices, however, that one note the Masses through another.

III. Penalties. Those who have offended against the prescription of canon 827, 828, or 840, § 1 are to be punished by the Ordinary according to the gravity of the fault, not excluding, if the matter bears it, suspension or privation of an ecclesiastical benefice or office, or, if there is question of laypersons, excommunication (canon 2324). The penalties of latae sententiae previously established have been abrogated.