A Few Words About Concelebration
The Eucharist-Sacrifice, Francis J Wengier, PhD, STD (1888-1967), The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee
A Few Words About Concelebration
Can a priest who received an adequate stipend for a Mass satisfy his obligation while concelebrating with other priests (as is often done in the Oriental Churches, and sometimes in the Occidental)? The same question concerns the bishops. The most probable opinion answers affirmatively. And the reason for it is: because our priesthood is one, to use the expression of the Angelic Doctor, being simply a participation in that of Christ. Consequently it matters little in a strictly sacerdotal function such as our Mass whether one or more individual priests take part in it; it is always performed by the same priesthood. This principle applies equally to those Sacraments which are strictly sacerdotal-that is, all except baptism and matrimony. They can be administered by the priests (or bishops) individually or collegiately, always for the same reason, because of the unity of the priesthood. Baptism cannot invoke that principle of St. Thomas, not being a strictly sacerdotal function (any man, woman, even a pagan may validly confer baptism). But if baptism were administered collegiately, the expression “nos te baptizamus” would naturally require unity of priesthood and would exclude all nonpriests from validly conferring baptism. As to matrimony, it is still more obvious that it cannot be administered collegiately. The formula: “We here present N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N. take you here present N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N.N. for our lawful wives...” would be senseless.
“But it is different when ten priests or bishops concelebrate a Mass. Their consecration, formally one or single but virtually plural (actually effected when the last word of the last priest is uttered), is equivalent to as many Masses as there are concelebrants, since each of them could do the same alone. It is clear that the fruits of such a Mass increase in proportion to the number of concelebrating priests and their devotion. Now, if each priest received an adequate stipend, the devotion of their respective stipend givers would likewise increase proportionately the fruits of that Mass, so that each one of those offerers would receive his equitable part of the fruits, and injustice would be done to none. This opinion, then, seems fairly acceptable.”
———————————
Moral and Pastoral Theology by Henry Davis, SJ, Vol III, 6th edition (1949), Chapter III, Sec 1.2
Concelebration
Concelebration by several priests is now forbidden. This rite had existed for about thirteen centuries in both the Eastern and the Western Churches, but disappeared from the Roman liturgy except in the Mass of ordination of priests and consecration of bishops. In the ordination Mass, the ordaining bishop, when celebrating the Mass, and the newly-ordained priests, together consecrate the bread and wine, and together perform the sacrificial act. For this simultaneous act, it is necessary and sufficient that the essential words of consecration should be pronounced at the same moment. Any slight variation will not destroy a moral unity ; or it might be held that bishop and priests agree to consecrate by their united ministry, so that their separate words constitute only one sacramental sign. (1) In both explanations, a newly-ordained priest may accept a stipend for his Mass of ordination. This is a sound and safe opinion, though a few divines think that this procedure would not be lawful unless the donor of the stipend consented. (2)
(1) Verm., III, n. 287; De la Taille, Mysterium Fidei, p. 354.
(2) cf. Benedict XIV, de Sacrif. Missae, lib. 3, c. 16, no. 10; Gasparri, de Euch., nn. 360, 547; de Ord., no. 1066; Cappello, I, no. 666, contra Gen., II, no. 234.
———————————