In a Roman Catholic liturgy does the Master of Ceremonies have to be ordained clergy?

Question

Could a lay person do this?
Please site your source.

The Master of Ceremonies is not the celebrant of the liturgy (I know that only a priest or bishop can do this.) The Master of Ceremonies is the person who directs everyone as where to go and makes sure the liturgy runs smoothly.

Answer 1

I do not think so, I believe that an elder in the Church can do this, or perhaps another trusted member of the Parrish. It is just reading, not interpretation.

Answer 2

As an active Master of Liturgical Ceremonies, I can answer this with a clear and definitive "no". During the days of the so-called Latin Mass (the Tridentine Mass or Extraordinary Rite today), the Master of Ceremonies (MC) was an older altar boy, usually one in high school, who had served for a several years and had been specially selected by the pastor for his reverence, his knowledge and, perhaps, the potential for a vocation to the priesthood. The pastor would give him additional training, and he would then have a role in overseeing the younger altar boys during High Mass and other complicated liturgical events.

Today, the MC for a Bishop is often an ordained priest who also serves as his private secretary, but this is not always the case. The Diocese of Grand Rapids, for instance, used to use several laymen and deacons as MCs. They would be trained and then scheduled to both drive the Bishop to parish confirmations, etc., and also to serve as MC for the Mass itself. Large dioceses with lots of priests can often afford to have one travel with the Bishop as his private secretary/MC, but most dioceses find that what priests they have are needed in parishes, not in diocesan offices.

Very few parishes have more than one priest, and so the parishes that do have Masters of Ceremonies regularly count on laity to fulfill that function.

Contrary to popular thinking, the Master of Ceremonies does not "tell the celebrant what to do". Rather, he is very much like a conductor, making sure the various ministers (lectors, altar servers, concelebrating priests, deacons, etc.) are familiar with their particular roles at that specific Mass, are in the proper places when the celebrant needs them, etc. He insures that the liturgical books are properly marked, that the chalices, patens, and other liturgical items are present where they are supposed to be, that the celebrant has what he needs when he needs it, etc. The MC must have an intimate knowledge of the liturgy, must know what is coming and what is expected far in advance, he needs to be able to see three or four steps ahead and anticipate problems and solutions.

Obviously, a priest can perform all of these roles, but none of them are roles that can only be performed by a priest. It is preferred that a priest concelebrate if he is present at a Mass. The role of MC would then fall to a deacon or layperson.

I hope that this helps. Being a parish MC is a very rewarding, yet challenging, ministry. If you are considering it, it will bring you much satisfaction, and will deepen your love of and appreciation for the Sacred Liturgy.

Answer 3

It is called the usher or doorkeeper. You can find them mentioned as early as the early second century. They are not called a master of ceremonies as it would make no sense in Catholic theology.

The base of all Catholic services are the first century services, which are in fact still in use, though rarely since they run four hours. Current services are shortened in length so they fit the needs of the community. As they are fixed largely in form, everyone knows what to do. They are designed for a community of illiterate people so they don't require many people capable of reading.

So the answer to your question is that the usher, porter or doorkeeper are not ordained and any lay person could potentially do it.

In the Greek version of the Catholic liturgy, you still hear the words from time to time (though they are optional when not in times of persecution) "the doors, the doors, in Wisdom, be attentive!"

It is a reminder to the doorkeeper to watch for Roman soldiers, yet also a reminder that what is happening inside is more important and that given a choice of paying attention or watching for soldiers, you must pay attention.

As to making sure it runs smoothly, that is everyone's job. No one holds that responsibility.

Answer 4

These are terrible answers above. They have no knowledge of ministries of the Roman Catholic Church. If you don't know, say nothing.

The MC can be a priest, deacon, OR lay person. See the "Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite." This is an approved text of the Church for the ministries of the Mass.

Answer 5

According to Roman Catholic Canon Law, the presider at a Roman Catholic Mass must be either a bishop or a priest.

Lay people are never permitted to do this.

ARTICLE 1: THE MINISTER OF THE BLESSED EUCHARIST

Can. 900 §1 The only minister who, in the person of Christ, can bring into being the sacrament of the Eucharist, is a validly ordained priest.

§2 Any priest who is not debarred by canon law may lawfully celebrate the Eucharist, provided the provisions of the following canons are observed.

Can. 901 A priest is entitled to offer Mass for anyone, living or dead.

Can. 902 Unless the benefit of Christ's faithful requires or suggests otherwise, priests may concelebrate the Eucharist; they are, however, fully entitled to celebrate the Eucharist individually, but not while a celebration is taking place in the same church or oratory.

Can. 903 A priest is to be permitted to celebrate the Eucharist, even if he is not known to the rector of the church, provided either that he presents commendatory letters, not more than a year old, from his own Ordinary or Superior, or that it can be prudently judged that he is not debarred from celebrating.

Can. 904 Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic Sacrifice the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate frequently. Indeed, daily celebration is earnestly recommended, because, even if it should not be possible to have the faithful present, it is an action of Christ and of the Church in which priests fulfil their principal role.

Can. 905 §1 Apart from those cases in which the law allows him to celebrate or concelebrate the Eucharist a number of times on the same day, a priest may not celebrate more than once a day.

§2 If there is a scarcity of priests, the local Ordinary may for a good reason allow priests to celebrate twice in one day or even, if pastoral need requires it, three times on Sundays or holydays of obligation.

Can. 906 A priest may not celebrate the eucharistic Sacrifice without the participation of at least one of the faithful, unless there is a good and reasonable cause for doing so.

Can. 907 In the celebration of the Eucharist, deacons and lay persons are not permitted to say the prayers, especially the eucharistic prayer, nor to perform the actions which are proper to the celebrating priest.

Can. 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.

Can. 909 A priest is not to omit dutifully to prepare himself by prayer before the celebration of the Eucharist, nor afterwards to omit to make thanksgiving to God.

Can. 910 §1 The ordinary minister of holy communion is a Bishop, a priest or a deacon.

§2 The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte, or another of Christ's faithful deputed in accordance with can. 230 §3.

Can. 911 §1 The duty and right to bring the blessed Eucharist to the sick as Viaticum belongs to the parish priest, to assistant priests, to chaplains and, in respect of all who are in the house, to the community Superior in clerical religious institutes or societies of apostolic life.

§2 In a case of necessity, or with the permission at least presumed of the parish priest, chaplain or Superior, who must subsequently be notified, any priest or other minister of holy communion must do this.

Answer 6

Only a priest is allowed to say Mass under canon law.

However, lay people are allowed to lead less formal prayer services, liturgical readings, group discussions, and guided meditations.