Stipends for Pro Populo Masses, and Clarifications on Feasts
Date: September 22, 2024
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question 1: Having the canonical obligation to apply the pro populo mass for the souls entrusted to his care, is the pastor or parish priest entitled to a Mass stipend or offering for this liturgical celebration? What would be the reason since it is an obligation for him? – F.X.N.K., Ndola, Zambia
Question 2: You recently discussed the transference of feasts to Sundays in Ordinary Time. This reminded me of a situation at a cathedral I was visiting. The anniversary of its dedication fell on a Friday, and the local authorities decided to celebrate the anniversary on the following Sunday, all within Ordinary Time. However, they also decided to celebrate the anniversary day itself, on Friday. Thus, the anniversary was observed twice: on Friday and on the following Sunday. Was it permissible to duplicate the celebration? – D.J., Buffalo, New York
Question 3: I read your answer concerning Marian feast days falling on Sunday, such as this year with the Nativity of Mary. But my question is different: because the feast cannot be celebrated on Sunday, would it be possible to celebrate it on another day (Saturday or Monday)? – J.L., Taiwan
Answer: Canon law describes in some detail the canonical obligation of bishops and pastors to celebrate a Mass for the people, frequently called the “Pro Populo” Mass. To wit:
“Can. 388 §1. After the diocesan bishop has taken possession of the diocese, he must apply a Mass for the people entrusted to him each Sunday and on the other holy days of obligation in his region.
“§2. The bishop himself must personally celebrate and apply a Mass for the people on the days mentioned in §1. If he is legitimately impeded from this celebration, however, he is to apply the Masses either on the same days through another or on other days himself.
Ҥ3. A bishop to whom other dioceses besides his own have been entrusted, even under title of administration, satisfies the obligation by applying one Mass for all the people entrusted to him.
“§4. A bishop who has not satisfied the obligation mentioned in §§1-3 is to apply as soon as possible as many Masses for the people as he has omitted.”
The norms for pastors and parochial administrators are very similar to those for bishops.
“Can. 534 §1. After a pastor has taken possession of his parish, he is obliged to apply a Mass for the people entrusted to him on each Sunday and holy day of obligation in his diocese. If he is legitimately impeded from this celebration, however, he is to apply it on the same days through another or on other days himself.
“§2. A pastor who has the care of several parishes is bound to apply only one Mass for the entire people entrusted to him on the days mentioned in §1.
“§3. A pastor who has not satisfied the obligation mentioned in §§1 and 2 is to apply as soon as possible as many Masses for the people as he has omitted.”
It must be noted that this Mass carries no stipend and may not be joined to other intentions.
If the priest or bishop is legitimately impeded, he can get another priest to celebrate the Mass for him, preferably on the Sunday or holy day of obligation but possibly during the week.
The ideal situation is that the pastor should celebrate the Pro Popolo Mass himself, and the people should know which Mass it is and understand why there are no other intentions at this Mass.
Pastoral necessity does not always allow for this for, as the canon above implies, priests today frequently have more than one parish to attend to and often celebrate several Masses each Sunday, only one of which would be the Mass for the people.
It falls on each pastor to find the most practical solution to this special and solemn obligation of his ministry as intercessor for his flock.
With respect to the question of transferring a patronal feast to a Sunday, our reader mentioned the anniversary of dedication, which is a solemnity in the church building.
This rule is found in the Roman Missal in the introduction to the General Calendar:
“58. For the pastoral good of the faithful, it is permitted to observe on Sundays in Ordinary Time those celebrations that fall during the week and that are agreeable to the devotion of the faithful, provided the celebrations rank above that Sunday in the Table of Liturgical Days. The Mass of such celebrations may be used at all the celebrations of Mass at which the people are present.”
Since both the anniversary and the patronal feast are higher in the liturgical calendar than a Sunday of Ordinary Time, then in both cases it is possible to transfer the solemn celebration to the Sunday. However, this would leave a certain gap in the calendar, and I think it would be possible to celebrate the patron saint as an optional memorial or the anniversary of dedication as a votive Mass on the actual day. It would not be correct to celebrate the solemnity twice.
Likewise, since the faculty to transfer the patron saint’s feast day is to foster the participation of the faithful, this principle could be logically applied to another day if transfer to the Sunday is impeded. However, unlike the case of a transfer to a Sunday in Ordinary Time, which requires no special permission as it is covered by the general law, this transfer would require authorization from the bishop.
Let us take, for example, a parish dedicated to St. John of the Cross, whose feast day on December 14 always falls in Advent and hence cannot be transferred to a Sunday.
If the parish priest believed that transferring the patronal solemnity to a Saturday or Monday would be “agreeable to the devotion of the faithful,” and therefore spiritually fruitful, he could solicit the authorization from the bishop to do so.
Finally, in response to our reader from Taiwan, when a feast, Marian or otherwise, falls on a Sunday, its celebration is omitted that year except when there are special local reasons to transfer it. Such exceptions would usually need to be immemorial customs or specifically approved by the Holy See.
The only feasts that are higher in rank than a Sunday in Ordinary Time are the feasts of the Lord (the Presentation, the Transfiguration, and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) as well as the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica insofar as it is dedicated to the Holy Savior as well as to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. This is why the lectionary offers two readings on these feasts, to be used when the feasts fall on a Sunday.
Otherwise, the general rule is that feasts are omitted if they fall on a Sunday.
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