Untitled - Saints' Books

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22O Material for Instructions. [PART n.
In my Moral Theology
I have shown, by the author
ity of many theologians, that to celebrate Mass in less
than a quarter of an hour cannot be excused from
grievous sin. This doctrine rests on two reasons: first,
the irreverence that in so short a Mass is offered to the
holy sacrifice;
secondly, the scandal that is given to the
people.
As to the reverence due to the sacrifice, we have ad
duced the words of the Council of Trent, commanding
priests to celebrate Mass with the greatest possible de
votion: All industry and diligence are to be applied
that it be performed with the greatest possible outward
2
show of devotion and piety."
The Council adds, that to
neglect even this external devotion due to the sacrifice
is a species of impiety: Irreverence that can hardly be
separated from impiety. As the due performance of
the ceremonies constitutes reverence, so to perform them
badly is an irreverence which, when grievous,
is a mor
tal sin. And to perform the ceremonies with the rever
ence due to so great a sacrifice, it is not enough to go
through them; for some who are very quick in their
articulation and motions may be able to perform the
ceremonies in less than a quarter of an hour, but it is
necessary to perform them with becoming gravity,
which belongs intrinsically to the reverence due to the
Mass.
To celebrate Mass in so short a time is also a grievous
sin on account of the scandal given to the people who
are present. And here it is
necessary to consider what the
same Council of Trent says in another place, that the
ceremonies have been instituted by the Church in order
. mor. 1. 6, n. 400.
Omnem operam ponendam esse, ut quanta maxima fieri potest
exteriori devotionis ac pietatis specie peragatur. Deer, de obs. in M.
22.
3 "
Irreverentia, quae ab impietate vix sejuncta esse potest." Sess.