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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Validitity of the Mass Andrew Thursday, December 23, 2010

Question:

I know that for the Eucharist to be valid there are four requirements that have to be met: 1) a validly ordained priest, 2) Form: the priest correctly says the words of consecration, 3) Intent: the priest intends to confect the Eucharist, and 4) Matter: unleavened bread (leavened bread would be valid but illicit) and wine fermented from grape juice.

I know the priest has to confect the Eucharist and consume both Sacred Species to complete the sacrifice. Is the Eucharist valid or invalid if the priest does not complete the sacrifice?

Although the Eucharist can be valid or invalid and the priest can complete or fail to complete the sacrifice, can the Mass be valid or invalid or as the Mass is a liturgy and not a sacrament would it be better to say the Mass is complete or incomplete? What would render the Mass incomplete/invalid? E.g. omitting the homily on a Sunday, reading the wrong reading, missing out the Gospel, etc.



Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Andrew,

The four things that you mentioned, minister, form, intent and matter: these are the requirements for transubstantiation to occur...  that is, the bread and wine are changed to the Body and Blood.  The Eucharist is "valid" as long as these four conditions are validly present.

I think it would be best to say that the "sacrifice is complete" though once the Liturgy of the Eucharist is properly celebrated, that is, the priest offers the gifts at the offertory, all of the preparatory prayers are said, the wine is mixed with a little water, the prayers of adoration, thanksgiving and petition are said, the priest receives etc...

Keep in mind though that actually the sacrifice is already complete..  that is, Jesus died on the cross.  Jesus himself is the priest.  To say that the sacrifice was not complete at this Sunday's Mass celebrated by father so-and-so would mean that only this particular celebration of the sacrifice was not complete.

In regards to the homily being omitted, the wrong readings read etc I wouldn't say that the sacrifice of the Mass is incomplete, rather that the Mass was simply celebrated illicitly, as would also be the case if the priest didn't finish the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

In order for the Mass to be invalid, and by that I mean no sacrament is present, there must be a defect in minister, form, matter or intent, for example the priest would need to skip the consecration or alter it into something irrelevant.  If the wrong Gospel were (purposely) read, that alone wouldn't invalidate the Eucharist, but it would be an illicit celebration.

If the priest for some reason did not receive the Eucharist, again it would be illicit, but the sacrament is still valid and present.

Hope this helps and if it doesn't let me know so I can clarify.

Mr. Slavek


Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.