DAILY MASS FOR PRIESTS

Dear Pater,

Do priests have to say Mass every day?

The Eucharist is at the very center of our Catholic Faith. And it is especially significant in the life of a priest whose main responsibility and privilege is to preside over the celebration of the Eucharist. Hence the Code of Canon Law states: "Remembering that the work of redemption is continually accomplished in the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed daily celebration is strongly recommended, since even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function." (Can. 904).

Therefore, priests are not required by Church law to celebrate Mass every day, though the Church "strongly recommends" that they do so. In practical experience, the priest most likely "averages" celebrating Mass daily. There may be days when a priest is not required to celebrate Mass, and there are days when a priest celebrates Mass more than once during the day due to pastoral necessity. Besides the daily Mass that is scheduled at most parishes, priests also celebrate Mass for various occasions during the week and weekend. For example, we celebrate Mass at the nursing homes in our area once a month, we preside over funeral liturgies and marriages, and celebrate various occasions in the context of Mass throughout the year.

However, the Church does limit the number of Masses a priest may celebrate on certain days. The Code of Canon Law states that "It is not licit (i.e., "lawful") for a priest to celebrate the Eucharist more than once a day except for certain instances when the law permits such celebration or concelebration more than once." (Can. 905). Priests are permitted to "binate" during the week, which means we are permitted to celebrate Mass twice a day on any given weekday if priests are lacking and there is a "just cause." We are permitted to "trinate" on the weekend, which means we can celebrate three Masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation if pastoral need requires it.

The Eucharist is the most powerful prayer we have through which the priest and God's people are fed with the Word of God and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a prayer of and for the community of believers which strengthens our unity as the one Body of Christ. We must give thanks to God for this wonderful sacrament that has been celebrated daily around the world since the founding of the Church two thousand years ago.

Fr. James P. Schmitz