Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 71.  Fri  9-18-92 11:31  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Peter Gnemmi
 Subject: daily Mass

PG|Well, it happened.  We had 2 people show up for our non-day-of-obligation,
  |the Feast of the Assumption.  Even though this was at the regularly
  |scheduled morning weekday Mass, our priest announced that he didn't have
  |to say Mass and simply handed out communion.  So....
  |Upon asking him why, he said there weren't enough people for Mass and he
  |thus was not obligated to do it.
  |He cited that it had become a private Mass and because these were
  |forbidden by some mid-1970's church document, he wasn't going to do it.
  |1. What's this document's name and where can I find it?
  |2. Is he constrained by some other area of Church Law to do a Mass if
  |people show up (no matter how many)?
  |3. Doesn't he have to do one Mass daily (and it might have well been the
  |one we attended)?
  |4. Just on the level of being a "nice guy" wouldn't any of us be
  |inclined to do a Mass for the faithful that show up?
  |A wise old man once said, "There are no bad priests, just sick ones."
  |What would be a good antibiotic for my friend?
  |I've searched all the CIN files, found nothing.
  |Thanks, in advance.
 
 
 
Dear Peter
To answer your questions, I interviewed a canon lawyer, who is also a
seminary professor of canon law. I left him 10 minutes ago, with
notes which I took while talking to him.
 
Father said: 1) There is no such document of the 1970's or any other
time which would "forbid" the priest to offeer Mass in the
circumstances you describe;
 
             2) it is impossible to have a "private" Mass in a parish
church. The nature of the place makes every Mass there a parish Mass
even if the celebrant is alone;
 
             3) if a Mass is scheduled and announced (e.g., if it is
listed in the bulletin), it should be said;
 
             4) canon 904 reads: "Remembering that the work of
redemption is continually accomplished in the Mystery of the
Eurcharistic Sacrifice, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed
daily celebration is strongly recommended, since even if the people
cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church, in which
priests fulfil their principal function;"
 
             5) Canon 906 reads: A priest may not celebrate without
the participation of at least some member of the faithful, except for
a just and reasonable cause."
 
Father went on to say that the "just and reasonable cause" of canon
906 is covered by canon 904, which mandates frequent celebration and
strongly recommends daily celebration. Also the presence of even one
person at a regularly scheduled Mass makes refusing to say that Mass
reprehensible.  Of course, if the priest is not feeling well, that
would be an excuse for omitting the Mass.
 
He said also -- and I agree -- that it would be helpful to the parish
if you reported the matter in writing to the bishop, giving the time,
place, and the name and remarks of the priest.
 
We priests are ordained for the people, not for our own convenience.
Also, for a priest to omit offering Mass on a major feast of Our Lady
seems to me a woeful deficiency in devotion to the Mother of God.
 
I must presume the priest was not feeling well. But if so, he should
have explained his omission of Mass to the few who were present.
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
 
                                                Father Mateo