Mass Kits
Date: June 25, 2023
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.
Question: I have noticed that certain parish or diocesan ministries or committees own a Mass kit for use when a session, retreat or seminar is organized by that ministry or committee. The reason given by that ministry/committee on why it owns a Mass kit is that the priest invited to celebrate Mass for the session, retreat or seminar might not have his own kit, or he might have come from overseas and wasn’t able to bring a kit with him. Can a parish or diocesan ministry/committee own a Mass kit for such reasons, or should Mass kits be obtained only from a parish, or from the priests of a parish? Is it permissible for a parish or diocesan ministry/committee to own a Mass kit? -- A.K., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Answer: The short answer is yes. There is no law that prevents any group or ministry from possessing a Mass kit.
This expression usually refers to a compact case which contains the essential objects required to celebrate Mass. This usually consists of a very small chalice, paten, a pyx or ciborium, candle holders and candles, crucifix, cruets for water and wine, corporal and purificators. Some add a container for holy oils and an aspergillum or little sprinkler for holy water. Larger Mass kits might also have space for the vestments, but these are usually separate.
Many priests use these cases while traveling to places that would not have a suitable and fully equipped chapel or for outdoor Masses.
Based on this logic, there would also be no prohibition for the aforementioned groups, or even an individual, regarding the possession and keeping, not just of a Mass kit, but of any element required for the celebration of Mass.
Hence, for example, a lay ministry that has its own center where it regularly organizes retreats and seminars could even equip a room that would be indistinguishable from a chapel with all the necessary liturgical accoutrements for Mass.
However, one thing is to possess the liturgical objects and denote a space, another is to have the possibility of celebrating Mass in any particular location. This latter situation will always depend on the authorization of the local bishop. Hence, regarding the place for the celebration canon law states:
“Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.
“§2. The eucharistic sacrifice must be carried out on a dedicated or blessed altar; outside a sacred place a suitable table can be used, always with a cloth and a corporal.”
In interpreting this norm, the 2004 instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum clarifies:
“108. ‘The celebration of the Eucharist is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise. In this case the celebration must be in a decent place.’ The diocesan Bishop shall be the judge for his diocese concerning this necessity, on a case-by-case basis.
“109. It is never lawful for a Priest to celebrate in a temple or sacred place of any non-Christian religion.”
There might be some exceptions to the need for the bishop’s permission. An example would be a priest on a long journey who needs to celebrate outside of a sacred place before catching an early bus, train or plane.
It also falls to the bishop to authorize the designation of any place set up in a stable manner for the celebration of Mass as a chapel or oratory. The norms for this can be found in Canons 1223-1229.
“Can. 1223 By the term oratory is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the ordinary for the benefit of some community or group of the faithful who gather in it and to which other members of the faithful can also come with the consent of the competent superior.
“Can. 1224 §1. The ordinary is not to grant the permission required to establish an oratory unless he has first visited the place destined for the oratory personally or through another and has found it properly prepared.
Ҥ2. After permission has been given, however, an oratory cannot be converted to profane use without the authority of the same ordinary.
“Can. 1225 All sacred celebrations can be performed in legitimately established oratories except those which the law or a prescript of the local ordinary excludes or the liturgical norms prohibit.
“Can. 1226 By the term private chapel is understood a place for divine worship designated by permission of the local ordinary for the benefit of one or more physical persons. […]
“Can. 1228 […], The permission of the local ordinary is required for Mass or other sacred celebrations to take place in any private chapel.
“Can. 1229 It is fitting for oratories and private chapels to be blessed according to the rite prescribed in the liturgical books. They must, however, be reserved for divine worship alone and free from all domestic uses.”
Therefore, even though a group may own the necessary liturgical wares, and even set up a room as an oratory, only the bishop can duly authorize the possibility of Mass being celebrated outside of a parish or other sacred space.
Finally, only a priest may duly bless any liturgical object or vestments. This blessing is not strictly required before use but is highly recommended. It should also be remembered that any liturgical object that has been previously blessed, loses the blessing on being purchased. It does not lose the blessing if received as a gift or legacy.
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