mukashi_banashi in little_details

Medieval priests too ill to celebrate mass

Feb 08, 2012 07:51

I've tried numerous Google searches, along the lines of "priests unable to say mass", "medieval priests too sick to celebrate mass", etc. I've also looked on the Wikipedia articles for "History of medieval Christianity" and "History of Christianity", as well as "Priesthood (Catholic Church)" and "Mass (liturgy)". I can't seem to find an answer to ( ... )

tags: ~religion: christianity: historical, ~middle ages, ~religion: christianity: catholicism

Comments (10)

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reapermum

Only an ordained priest can celebrate mass, so not the sacristan. A curate is an assistant priest and so that is what the temporary replacement would be. If he can get out of bed for a short while he can consecrate the bread and wine for the sacristan to distribute in a Eucharistic service. I don't know if Eucharistic services were held back in mediaeval times but that is what happens now in the developing world where a priest can only celebrate mass once a month in any given village, he leaves enough consecrated bread for Eucharistic services to be held.

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bwinter

No-one who isn't ordained would be able to say Mass, because only ordained priests are able to perform sacraments. Mind you, it's perfectly possible for an ill priest to say Mass in bed, but to make sure that the parishioners are able to participate, the bishop could send basically any ordained priest he could spare. It'd probably be a good training assignment for a newly minted priest...

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badgermirlacca

Not quite true. Anyone can perform Baptism, but preferably you'd want a priest to do it.

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bwinter

Okay, with that one exception in emergencies :)

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jayb111

The priest from the next parish might walk or ride over to say Mass, depending on how far it was. In England at any date it wasn't unusual for a priest to have the cure of more than one parish, so it was something priests were accustomed to do. Or the nearest place that had a priest and a curate in residence might send their curate.

Or the local lord might have a priest who acted as chaplain to his household who he might be willing to lend.

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sollersuk

One thing you may need to check on is how often it was necessary for him to say Mass. At many times in the Middle Ages and at least some countries parishioners were only required to attend three times a year, and in between many priests often didn't bother saying Mass.

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syntinen_laulu

Indeed: at times in the Middle Ages people were positively discouraged from taking Mass at frequent intervals, the feeling being that it was far too sacred and important an event to do routinely, and that one should prepare for it with weeks of fasts and special observances.

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profbutters

If there were a monastery anywhere nearby, the abbot might send a brother or two to help (e.g., the Cadfael mystery stories.). Mind you, one of them would have to be an ordained priest, but the priest might bring a lay brother with him. That would probably be faster than getting to the bishop and back. Maybe the Order of St. Anthony.

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