Concelebrating

[zunshynn]

How come priests used to be forbidden to concelebrate mass? And it seems like even now, it is an iffy thing, only to be done in "special" circumstances or whatever.

[phatcatholic]

personally, i don't know very much about it being forbidden. maybe others will know more about this. as for it being an "iffy" thing, it is now in fact a perfectly acceptable practice. see the GIRM, para [url="http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter4.shtml#sect2"][b]199-209[/b][/url]. when done appropriately, it should and does add to the dignity of the Liturgy and the Sacrifice that is taking place.

Edited November 27, 2005 by phatcatholic

[phatcatholic]

[i]Inaestimabile Donum[/i] (Instruction Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Ministry), para. 7 says:[list][b]7. [/b]Concelebration, which has been restored in the Western Liturgy, manifests in an exceptional manner the unity of the priesthood. Concelebrants must, therefore, pay careful attention to the signs that indicate that unity. For example, they are to be present from the beginning of the celebration, they are to wear the prescribed vestments, they are to occupy the place appropriate to their ministry as concelebrants, and they are to observe faithfully the other norms for the seemly performance of the rite.[18]

[18]Cf. "Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani," nos. 156, 161-163.
[/list]also see [i]Sacrosanctum Concilium[/i], para 57-58:[list][b]57. [/b]1. Concelebration, whereby the unity of the priesthood is appropriately manifested, has remained in use to this day in the Church both in the east and in the west. For this reason it has seemed good to the Council to extend permission for concelebration to the following cases:

1.

a) on the Thursday of the Lord's Supper, not only at the Mass of the Chrism, but also at the evening Mass.

b) at Masses during councils, bishops' conferences, and synods;

c) at the Mass for the blessing of an abbot.

2. Also, with permission of the ordinary, to whom it belongs to decide whether concelebration is opportune:

a) at conventual Mass, and at the principle Mass in churches when the needs of the faithful do not require that all priests available should celebrate individually;

b) at Masses celebrated at any kind of priests' meetings, whether the priests be secular clergy or religious.

2.

1. The regulation, however, of the discipline of con-celebration in the diocese pertains to the bishop.

2. Nevertheless, each priest shall always retain his right to celebrate Mass individually, though not at the same time in the same church as a concelebrated Mass, nor on Thursday of the Lord's Supper.

[b]58. [/b]A new rite for concelebration is to be drawn up and inserted into the Pontifical and into the Roman Missal.
[/list]
i hope that helps some, in regards to articulating the theology behind concelebration and the governance of it.