THEthe dicastery for the clergy has updated with A decree approved by Pope Francis on April 13 and in force starting from the next Easter domication, the discipline on the intentions of the masses and offers connected to themwith the aim of providing priests and faithful clearer and transparent rules.
The origins of a custom that the Church approves
Asking that a mass be celebrated for deceased loved ones or even living people is a very ancient customthat the text that introduces the rules of the decree summarizes: “The apostle Paul writes that those who serve the altar also have the right to live on the altar. The rules collected in the first centuries inform about gifts offered voluntarily in the celebration of the Eucharist. A part of them was intended for the poor, an admince part episcopalise to those to whom the bishop offered hospitality, a part of the cult and a part to the chiefs celebrating or assistants, according to a pre -established distribution criterion. Those who made offers were, in this way, involved in a special way in the Eucharistic sacrifice. The gifts offered during the Eucharist, and subsequently also outside, They were considered as a reward to a benefactor, as a gift on the occasion of the service (occasion served) performed by the priest, as an alms and never as a “sale price” for something saint; In fact, this would become a simony act. In this time the mass was already celebrated, at the request of the faithful, for a certain intention, even if not accompanied by a gift. Subsequently, the use of offering an awarding for the celebration of a Mass and to give gifts to the priest or the Church developed. Precisely this practice constitutes the previous one of the offer for the celebration of the mass. “
“Starting from the end of the tenth century – reconstructs the decree -, to ask the celebration of the mass for a certain intention, commemorative gifts were offered. In this same period the foundations of Masses arise, or the obligation to celebrate masses for pre -established intentions. Thus was born the use of giving an offer on the occasion of Mass, a custom that the Church, not only approves, but recommends and promotes “.
maintain the word date, also avoid the appearance of “trade”
The secular custom and the discipline of the Church insist “because each individual offer corresponds to the distinct application, by the priest, of a mass celebrated by him”.
They are rules and practices that: «They clearly inspire two orders of considerations: justice towards the bidders, namely The maintenance of the word given to the bidders, and the duty to prevent there is also the mere appearance of “trade” of sacred things “.
More intentions in a single celebration. Can you?
With reference to these two principles, the decree clarifies aspects relating to the possibility or not to accumulate intentions for different people during a single celebration required by several faithful, requirement that seems to be recognized especially in situations in which a small number of priests makes it difficult to respond to all requests. How to regulate yourself, what is admitted by canon law and what instead betrays the original spirit?
The dicastery led by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik establishes that, if ordered by the provincial council or by the meeting of the bishops of the province, “the priests can accept more offers from distinct bidders, cumulating them with others and satisfying with a single mass, celebrated second a single ‘collective’ intention, if – and only if – all the bidders have been informed and freely have agreed ” And, in the absence of explicit consent, the silence-assent is not worth if anything in silence, the dissent must be assumed.
If on the one hand it is recommended that “each Christian community is careful to offer the possibility of celebrating daily masses of single intention”, The decree admits that the priest can “celebrate different masses also according to ‘collective’ intentions, remaining firm that it is legitimate to him, daily, only one offer for a single intention among those accepted”. Litcious, in case of necessity, cumulating intentions with the consent of the bidders, but not cumulating the offers.
The protection of needy
In this regard, the decree renews the rules already currently in forcefor which: “The minister, in addition to the offers determined by the competent authority, for the administration of the sacraments you do not ask for anythingalways avoiding that the most needy are deprived of the help of the sacraments because of poverty ». And each bishop can have the destination of the offers “to the parishes in a state of necessity of one’s own or other dioceses, especially in the mission countries”.
Bishops and parish priests must supervise and contrast illicit conduct
It is reiterated, in specific rules, that bishops and parish priests have a duty to erupt the respective clergy and people about the content and meaning of these rules, and supervise their correct application, taking care that they carefully write down on the appropriate register the number of masses to be celebrated, the intentions, offers and the celebration that has been a vision of these registers every year, personally or through others “.
And in particular “they must ensure that the distinction between the application for a specific intention of the Mass, (even” collective “) and the simple memory during a celebration of the word or in some moments of the Eucharistic celebration” must be clear to everyone eminently clearly. “It is especially made known to everyone that the solicitation or even just acceptance of offers” in the two cases mentioned above is “seriously illegal; Where similar use is unduly widespread “those who do not exclude,” the use of disciplinary and/or criminal measures to eradicate this regrettable phenomenon “.
Pope Francis: “The Church is not a customs”
A preamble of all these rules the decree inserts a quote from Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Franciswhich with the usual communication attitude writes: «The Eucharist, although it constitutes the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a generous remedy and a food for the weak. These beliefs also have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and audacity. We frequently behave as controllers of grace and not as facilitators. But the Church is not a customsit is the paternal house where there is a place for each with its tiring life ». ùil Dicastero for the clergy announces that, after ten years from the entry into force of these rules, it will promote a study of the practice and legislation in force on the subject, to verify their application and evaluate an update.
