Another question that we might find ourselves wondering about is how the Priest chooses which Mass to celebrate on a particular day? Are there options or is it a matter of this is what it is?

  On Sunday’s this question may not be as evident as there usually are not many options when it comes to weekend Masses. A particular Sunday may be the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 4th Sunday of Easter, the 2nd Sunday of Advent, etc. When it comes to weekend Masses there are really not many options, the Mass of the day is the Mass of the day and each individual priest doesn’t get to choose whether to celebrate that particular Sunday or not. However, on weekdays there are often more options.

  In the weekday Mass rotation, there is a hierarchical ordering of days. Some days are mandatory celebrations, there are no options, no matter what. Think of days like the celebration of the Transfiguration, the Immaculate Conception, All Saints, the more universal Saints of the Church, like St. Francis of Assisi, for example. When those celebrations come around there’s no room for options, that is the Mass that is to be celebrated. Certain more important celebrations are given the title of Solemnities, other celebrations are Feasts, then there are Obligatory and Optional memorials. Usually the difference between an obligatory and an optional memorial is the universality of the Saint. A Saint who is well known in the universal Church is primarily an obligatory memorial that must be celebrated, while a Saint who is not as universally well known may be optional, meaning that the Priest may choose to celebrate that Saint or he may choose another Mass. If there’s no solemnity, feast, or obligatory memorial on a particular day, then the Priest may choose another Mass that he feels may benefit the community. There are Mass prayers for certain pastoral gatherings, in times of war, for human labor, for Church ministers, for our family & friends, for the priest himself, etc.

  How does the Priest decide? Every year, a guide called the Ordo is published that lists the Mass, & any options that may exist, for that day. Every time I celebrate Mass I check that book & look to see what the options, if any, may be.

  Have a great week & we’ll continue our journey next week.