LITURGICAL QUESTIONS.
Our reverend correspondents on liturgical subjects will hold us excused if we are not able to answer the several questions kindly forwarded to us, as we deem it our duty, in compliance with the request of several friends, to treat of some questions in connection with the ceremonies of Holy Week, which may be deemed useful for the guidance of the clergy in carrying on the solemn functions of that week.
The following questions have been proposed:
1. Can a low Mass be said on the three last days of Holy Week?
2. Can a low Mass be said on Holy Thursday or on Holy Saturday?
3. What is to be done in the country parishes where there is not a sufficient number of priests to have high Mass, and where the other ceremonies cannot be observed?
In reply to the first question we beg to say that low Masses are strictly forbidden on the three last days of Holy Week. When there is a sufficient number of priests, the rubrics require that a solemn high Mass be celebrated, and in those churches not having a sufficient number of priests for high Mass the Memoriale Rituum of Benedict XIII. must be used, which prescribes certain solemnities to be observed by one priest, and requires that he be attended by at least three clerics in surplices, in performing the functions of Holy Week. This ceremonial of Benedict XIII. is to be observed only in case there is a deficiency of priests, and hence it presupposes that a solemn Mass is to be said with deacon and sub-deacon when they can be had, as the Memoriale Rituum was published by order of Benedict XIII. solely with the view of enabling the clergy in the smaller churches to carry out the ceremonies of Holy Week, and accordingly, in reply to various questions as to private Masses on those three days, we find that the answer invariably was, that the ceremonies were to be carried out "servata forma parvi Ritualis S. M. Benedicti XIII., ann. 1725, jussu editi".
2. Thus the following answer was given by the Sacred Congregation of Rites (4904):
1. "An in Ecclesiis Parochialibus in quibus nullus extat clerus sed solum Parochus, possit vel debeat iste facere Benedictionem Candelarum, Cinerum, Palmarum, novi ignis, Cerei Paschalis, Fontis Baptismalis et coeterorum hujusmodi, necnon instituere officium Feriae quintae in Coena Domini et Feriae sextae in Parasceve sine cantu et solum privata voce prout celebratur Missa privata?
"Ad 1. Servetur parvum Caeremoniale a sa. me. Benedicto Papa XIII. ad hoc editum. Die 23, Maii, 1846".
This applies to the last three days of Holy Week; but can a low Mass be said on one of these days, such as Holy Thursday? There are innumerable decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on this subject, and it would be impossible to quote all: we shall give one or two. Thus on the 31st August, 1839, the question was proposed:
"An in Ecclesiis ubi Functiones Majoris hebdomadae fieri nequeunt, Feria quinta celebrari possit Missa lecta. Negative".
And again:
1. "An toleranda sit consuetudo vigens in quibusdam par[oe]ciis, praesertim in ruralibus celebrandi per parochum Missam lectam Feria V. in Coena Domini quin peragi valeant eadem Feria, et sequenti coeterae Ecclesiasticae functiones praescriptae ob clericorum defectum, vel potius obolenda.
3. "An ad eliminandos abusus, siqui irrepserint, sit consulendum Sanctissimo pro revocatione cujuscumque Indulti celebrandi privatim eamdem Missam, (idest in Sabbato Sancto) firmo tamem remanente singulari privilegio aliquibus Ecclesiis, peculiaribus attentis circumstantiis, concesso unam vel alteram Missam lectam celebrandi post unicam solemnem de die?
"Ad. 1. Affirmative et ad mentem: mens est ut locorum ordinarii quoad Paroecias in quibus haberi possunt tres, quatuorve saltem Clerici Sacras Functiones Feriis V. et VI. ac Sabbato majoris hebdomadae peragi studeant, servata forma parvi Ritualis S. M. Benedicti XIII. anno 1725, jussu editi; Quoad alias paroecias quae Cleris destituuntur, indulgere valeant ob populi commoditatem, ut Parochi (petita quotannis venia) Feria V. in Coena Domini Missam lectam celebrare possint, priusquam in Cathedrali vel Matrice Conventualis incipiat. Et ad D. Secretarium cum Sanctissimo.
"Ad. 3. Affirmative juxta votum videlicet—Consulendum Sanctissimo pro revocatione cujuscumque Indulti celebrandi privatim in Sabbato Sancto, firmo tamen singulari privilegio aliquibus Ecclesiis, peculiaribus attentis circumstantiis, concesso, unam vel alteram Missam lectam celebrandi post unicam Solemnem de die prout in dubio, Die 28 Julii, 1821".
With reference to the first decision, it is to be remarked, how the observance of the Memoriale Rituum is inculcated, and that even in case the clerics cannot be had, the parish priest cannot celebrate a low Mass unless he gets permission to do so from the bishop each year (petita quotannis venia), and we may here observe that the only reasons which would warrant the bishop to grant permission for a low Mass on Holy Thursday, are two: first, to give an opportunity to the faithful of making their Easter Communion; and second, to give Communion to the sick. In these two circumstances the bishop can give permission for a low Mass, if he thinks it necessary, on Holy Thursday, but the parish priest, or, much less, any other priest, cannot say Mass even in these circumstances, without the permission sought and obtained every year from the bishop (venia quotannis petita).
Gardellini, in a very valuable dissertation on this decree, has the following words: "Rem tamen noluit in Parochorum ruralium arbitrio relinquere, sed demandavit ut iidem quotannis et peterent et ab episcopo celebrandi veniam obtinerent". In another passage he (Gardellini) quotes the authority of Benedict XIV., who, when Archbishop of Bologna, had granted permission to some of the parish priests to say a low Mass under the circumstances above referred to, and then he adds:
"Praeter parochum in sua parochia, si sacerdos aliquis cujuscumque conditionis aut dignitatis Missam privatam Feria quinta, sexta, ac Sabbato majoris hebdomodae celebrare ausus fuerit, ipsum graviter puniemus et a Divinis etiam interdicemus".
With regard, however, to Holy Saturday, the case is quite different. For a private Mass cannot now be celebrated on that day without a special indult from the Holy See, as appears from a decree of the 11th March, 1690:
"Firmo in reliquis remanente praedicto decreto edito die 11 Februarii nempe in Sabbato Sancto celebrationes Missarum privatarum omnino prohibentur in quibuscumque Ecclesiis et oratoriis privatis, non obstante quacumque contraria consuetudine, et unica tantum Missa Conventualis una cum officio ejusdem Sabbati sancti celebretur".
Gardellini, in his dissertation already mentioned, speaking of this decree, says:
"Quum autem hoc Decretum Summus Pontifex sua auctoritate firmaverit et ope typorum evulgari jusserit, vim habet legis universalis quae relaxari nequit nisi ab eo a quo lata est".
It is plain, therefore, that there is a great difference between Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, as to the question of low Masses. With regard to Holy Thursday, the bishop may allow it in certain circumstances, but not so on Holy Saturday. This difference is evidenced in the fact, that if a holiday of obligation fall on Holy Thursday, it is to be observed, and some low Masses are permitted, so that the people may fulfil the precept of hearing Mass. But if the holiday fall on Holy Saturday or Good Friday, it is transferred to another day, together with the obligation of hearing Mass, and no private Masses are allowed.
We now come to the last question, which is one of a practical character, and which must be treated as such. The Memoriale Rituum lays down most distinctly all the directions for the due performance of the ceremonies in Holy Week when there is not a sufficient number of priests to carry them on with the solemnity prescribed by the Missal. In the preface it states that it was ordered by Pope Benedict XIII., and published "ut Minorum Ecclesiarum Rectores minime vel perstrictus Parochialium Clericorum numerus detineat, vel insuetorum Rituum anfractus deterreat". Hence in the same preface it charges the parish priest to instruct three or four clerics in the ceremonies, "ut sacrae actiones, si nequeant solemniter, decenter saltem peragantur". This is the first point to be attended to, namely, to appoint three or four youths and train them in the manner of performing the ceremonies. This at first may appear to cause great inconvenience and trouble, but it is well known to those who have tried the experiment how quickly well disposed youths learn such matters, and what taste they even display in arranging the altars, etc., considering the opportunities within their reach.
2. But, as far as we know, the chief difficulty which is usually made is, that they cannot do anything in the country districts in the way of singing the hymns and the psalms. This, no doubt, would be an insurmountable difficulty in many instances; but the Memoriale Rituum of Benedict XIII. does not require music or singing. It requires the priest and the youths to recite, and to do so "aequa vocum concordia" (vide Memoriale Rituum). If the parish priest could have the singing, it would, of course, be most desirable and very edifying, but not at all necessary.
3. The Memoriale Rituum requires for Holy Thursday an altar set apart from the high altar at which the ceremonies are performed, which is called the altar of repose, and which is to be decorated and adorned with the greatest pomp. There is not much difficulty in complying with this particular, which is clearly pointed out by the Rubrics of the Missal; and we may here observe that we have heard with surprise that the altar of repose on Holy Thursday in some Churches is the same as the high altar, and not distinct from it, where the ceremonies could and ought to be carried out with the greatest solemnity and accuracy.
4. The Memoriale Rituum enters into many details about the function of Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and for this latter day many things are to be procured by the parish priest which are clearly laid down in the Missal and the Memoriale so often referred to. We deem it unnecessary to mention all the details, particularly as while we are writing on these subjects we have been favoured with a copy of a letter of his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin to the clergy of his diocese, which we annex here as confirming our views on these points, and also as a summary of what we have been stating in this article.
Paulus,
Dei et Apostolicae sedis gratia, Archiepiscopus Dublinensis, etc., Venerabili Clero Dublinensi Tam Saeculari quam Regulari.
Maximi momenti esse ut leges ecclesiasticae ad sacras caeremonias peragendas spectent, accuratissime observentur, nemo est qui ignoret. Itaque, cum Nobis relatum fuerit in quibusdum hujus dioecesis Ecclesiis quasdam leges rituales praecipue ad hebdomadam sanctam spectantes, diversam et variam interpretationem accipere, adeoque in omnibus eandem disciplinam non vigere, cum que maximopere optandum sit ut non tantum idem spiritus sed et eadem agendi ratio ubique servetur, nostrim uneris esse existimavimus pauca quaedam que ad unitatem promovendam opportuna videntur, in omnium memoriam revocare, non quasi nova aliqua decernentes, sed eo tantum fine ut quam accuratissime Ecclesiae leges jam latae observentur. Haec vero sunt quae ab omnibus servari volumus:—
1mo. In oratoriis domesticis, missa celebranda non est in Feria Quinta in Coena Domini, neque in duobus sequentibus diebus, neque in die Paschatis.
2do. In Feria quinta praedicta, unica tantum celebrandi est Missa in singulis Ecclesiis, quae solemnis aut conventualis esse debet. In ea vero Missa clerus qui ad ecclesiam spectat, Communionem inter Missarum solemnia a manu celebrantis recipere debet, juxta veterem et constantem Ecclesiae usum.
3tio. Altare in quo reponendum est SS. Sacramentum, quod Feria Sexta in Missa Praesanctificatorum sumi debet a celebrante, omni cura ornandum est. Caeterum, Sacra Hostia includenda est in capsula, seu in sepulchro, ut vulgo dicitur, quod clave a sacerdote custodienda claudi debet, nec licet sacram Hostiam ita exponere ut videatur a fidelibus.
4to. In die Sabbati Sancti unica tantum celebrari potest Missa, que solemnis esse debet, vel celebrata ad normam Caeremonialis Benedicti XIII.
5to. Monendi sunt fideles a confessariis et a Concionatoribus praeceptum quo tenentur sacram communionem tempore paschali recipere, adimpleri non posse nisi in propria cujusque Ecclesia Paroeciali, excepto casu quo habeatur dispensatio ab episcopo, vel proprio parocho.
6to. Die Paschatis, in Ecclesiis, quae paroeciales non sunt, vetitum omnino est Sacram Communionem fidelibus dispensare, sive privatim, sive publice.
7to. Quod vero spectat ad eos qui vivunt in communitate, ut, e.g., in Conventibus et Monasteriis, in Collegiis et Seminariis ecclesiasticis, Communionem Paschalem tam ipsi quam eorum famuli, in propriis sacellis aut ecclesiis sumere possunt.
8to. In singulis Ecclesiis paroecialibus Sabbato Sancto benedicendi sunt fontes baptismales secundum ritum in Missali Romano praescriptum.
9to. Vetera Olea ad eos benedicendos adhibenda non sunt; quare, omnibus cavendum est, ut nova olea die antecedenti, ad eum finem petant. Olea vero sacra a laicis deferenda non sunt, sed a Sacerdotibus, a quibus etiam diligenter in loco tuto et clave obserrato semper custodienda sunt.
10to. Si qua in Ecclesia plures Sacerdotes ad sacras caeremonias peragendas haberi non possint, et unicus tantum adsit, servari debet, in hac hebdomada sancta ceremoniale editum jussu Benedicti XIII., pro minoribus ecclesiis, quod nuper in hac urbe in lucem prodiit ex typographia Domini Jacobi Duffy.
11mo. Organa quae pulsantur dum cantatur Gloria in excelsis in Missa Feriae Quintae in Coena Domini, silere postea debent donec initium fiat ejusdem hymni angelici in Missa Sabbati Sancti.
12mo. Campana silere eodem temporis spatio omnino debent.
Caeterum, omnes Parochos et Ecclesiarum Regularium Superiores in Domino rogamus ut, ea que hic praescripta sunt, quam accuratissime observari curent, atque eo zelo quo pro gloria Dei et disciplinae ecclesiasticae observantia flagrant, operam diligentissime navent, ut non solum in hac Sacra Hebdomade, verum etiam per totius anni curriculum, omnes sacrae caeremoniae et ritus ab Ecclesia sanciti, ea qua convenit dignitate et decore, qui domum Dei decet, peragantur.
✠ Paulus Cullen.
Dat. Dublini, Die 5 Aprilis, 1857.