Can anybody besides a priest say a Catholic Mass?
Question from Theresa on 8/18/2008:
Who besides a Catholic priest may say a Mass? A friend of my sister's, who has left the priesthood, found out about a terminally-ill relative of ours and he said, "I'll say a Mass for you; you know, I can still do that." Can he? We are confused.
Answer by Catholic Answers on 8/18/2008:
Theresa--
Any validly-ordained priest (not just Catholic, but also Orthodox) can celebrate Mass (or the divine liturgy, as Eastern Christians call it). But a Catholic priest must have faculties (i.e., permission) to do so licitly (i.e., lawfully). A priest who has left the priesthood ordinarily no longer has permission to celebrate Mass and should not do so.
Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers
Question from Theresa on 8/18/2008:
Who besides a Catholic priest may say a Mass? A friend of my sister's, who has left the priesthood, found out about a terminally-ill relative of ours and he said, "I'll say a Mass for you; you know, I can still do that." Can he? We are confused.
Answer by Catholic Answers on 8/18/2008:
Theresa--
Any validly-ordained priest (not just Catholic, but also Orthodox) can celebrate Mass (or the divine liturgy, as Eastern Christians call it). But a Catholic priest must have faculties (i.e., permission) to do so licitly (i.e., lawfully). A priest who has left the priesthood ordinarily no longer has permission to celebrate Mass and should not do so.
Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers
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