Bination

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Bination, with reference to the

Roman Catholic Church, is the offering up of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
twice on the same day by the same celebrant.

History

It is believed by some

Apostolic Age, private Mass was celebrated whenever convenient. Be this as it may, it is certain that in the first years of Christianity, public Masses were offered on Sundays only and later on Wednesdays and Fridays also.[2] To these three days Saturday was added, especially in the East.[3] Augustine of Hippo, who died in 430, assures us[4] that while, in his time, Mass was celebrated only on Sundays in some places, in others on Saturdays and Sundays, it was nevertheless in many places customary to have the Holy Sacrifice daily,[5] in Spain,[6] in Northern Italy,[7] in Constantinople,[8]
as well as elsewhere.

Daily Mass became universal about the close of the sixth century. It was not long before priests began to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice two, three or more times daily, according to their own desire, until canons

basilica of St. Peter and a second in that of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. Finally, abolishing all these customs, Pope Innocent III (d. 1216) prescribed that a simple priest should say but one Mass daily, except on Christmas, when he might offer the Holy Sacrifice three times; while Pope Honorius III
(d. 1227) extended this legislation to all dignitaries. This then is the discipline of both the Eastern and Western Churches.

Exceptions

Moral theology permits a priest to say two Masses on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation in case of necessity when, namely, a number of faithful would otherwise be deprived of the opportunity of hearing Mass. This would be verified, for example, were a priest in charge of two parishes or missions with no other celebrant available, or were the church too small to accommodate at one time all the parishioners.[10] The ordinary of the diocese, however, is to judge, in these and similar cases, of the necessity of binating. For similar cause, Rome grants to priests of missionary countries the privilege of saying two Masses.[11]

As regards permission to binate, theologians are agreed that it should not be given unless about thirty persons would otherwise be put to notable inconvenience to avoid missing Mass. In certain extraordinary cases this number is reduced to twenty, while, if there is question of those detained in prison or bound by the laws of the papal cloister, from ten to fifteen inmates will suffice to permit bination. In such cases a priest is permitted to say a second (never a third) Mass only in case another celebrant may not be had; that a

sacrarium
. It might even be given to a lay person who is in the state of grace and fasting, as is done with the water in which the priest's fingers are cleansed, when Holy Communion is given to the sick. The chalice thus purified at the end of the first Mass may be used for the second Mass or not, as the celebrant may see fit.

Pope Benedict XIV (d. 1758) conceded to all priests, secular and regular, of the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal the privilege of saying three Masses on All Souls' Day (2 November). This privilege still holds for all places which belonged to one or other of these lands at the time when it was granted. The ordinary stipend is allowed for one only of these Masses; while the other two must be offered for all the souls in Purgatory.

Current Law

The current Code of Canon Law[12] is similar. Can. 905 (1) A priest is not permitted to celebrate the Eucharist more than once a day except in cases where the law permits him to celebrate or concelebrate more than once on the same day. (2) If there is a shortage of priests, the local ordinary can allow priests to celebrate twice a day for a just cause, or if pastoral necessity requires it, even three times on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

Two exceptions granted by the Church by liturgical law are: (1) three Masses allowed on Christmas and (2) three Masses allowed on All Souls’ Day. Ordinarily, the three Masses on Christmas should be celebrated in accordance with the rubrics of the Sacramentary and Lectionary; i.e., at midnight, at dawn, and during the day; also at the vigil. The latest rubrics allow “any priest” to offer these three (plus the vigil Mass) provided that he follow the sequence and time indicated in the Roman Missal. On All Souls’ Day, each of the three Masses allowed must be offered for the intentions indicated in the rubrics for All Souls’ Day; the first, for a particular intention; the second for all the faithful departed; the third for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Notes

  1. ^ Magani, L'Antica Liturgia Romana, Pt. I, p. 296, Pt. II, p. 187.
  2. ^ Tertullian, De Oratione, xiv.
  3. ^ St. Basil, Ep. cclxxxix.
  4. ^ Ep. liv.
  5. ^ Augustine, op. cit.
  6. Council of Toledo
    , year 400.
  7. St. Ambrose
    , Sermo xxv.
  8. ^ John Chrysostom, In Ep. ad Ephesios.
  9. ^ Gratian, De Conseer., dist. I, can. liii.
  10. ^ See Bull, "Declarasti", of Benedict XIV, Bullarium IV, 32 sqq., 16 March 1746; Leo XIII, Litt. Apost. "Trans Oceanum", 18 April 1897.
  11. ^ Three in Mexico, according to an indult of Pope Leo XIII, Acta S. Sedis, XIII, 340, XXIX, 96) on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation, under conditions practically the same as stated above (See Bull "Apostolicum ministerium", of Benedict XIV, for the Anglican Missions, 30 May 1753, Bullarium, X, 197 sqq.; Conc. Plen. Balt. III, Tit. Iii, cap. I; Acta et Decreta Conc. Plen. Americae Latinae, no. 348 sqq.; Putzer, "Commentarium in Facultates Apost.", no. 159 sqq.
  12. ^ "Code of Canon Law: Table of Contents".

References

Attribution
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Bination". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. The entry cites:
    • Kirchenlexikon
      , S.V. Bination;
    • Bamberger, Pastoralblatt, 1878, N. 46-48;
    • Stephan Jakob Neher, Die Bination (Ratisbon, 1874);
    • Instructio S.C. de Propag. Fide, 24, May 1870.
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