SACRED FUNCTIONS. —
I. NOTION
The sacred functions (funzione, from fungor, that is, exercise, execution) are the functions of the power of Order which, by institution of Christ or of the Church, are ordered to divine worship and which can be performed only by clerics. Although the CIC speaks of sacred functions in Books II, III, and IVwithout defining the concept (cann. 484 § 1, 1191–2271 § 2), and although the authors lack agreement regarding a univocal meaning of the term, the definition given above appears the most acceptable, since it is drawn from can. 2256 of the same CIC, where mention is made of “divine offices,” which from the text and context seem unable to signify anything other than sacred functions, also in view of comparison with cann. 1165 § 1, 1173, 1193, 2259 § 1, 2275 n. 1. Moreover, the terminology of the CIC is not univocal in this regard. The sacred functions, besides their proper name, are also called ecclesiastical functions (cann. 717 § 1, 1195 § 1, 1544); at times simply functions (can. 716 § 1), or ecclesiastical rites (can. 1171), or sacred rites (cann. 2270 § 1, 2271 n. 1). On the other hand, however, the term “divine offices” is at times taken in a narrower sense to indicate a particular sacred function, namely, the choral recitation of the canonical hours (cann. 413–14), whether in Chapters (cann. 413–414) or in religious communities subject to the obligation of Choir (can. 618). It is therefore necessary to avoid confusion, given the instability of the terminology. It is also useful to observe that the recitation of the Divine Office is no longer a sacred function when it is performed privately, as occurs in the extra-choral recitation by clerics ordained in sacris or by beneficiaries (cann. 155, 1475), or by a religious who has made solemn profession and has not attended the choral recitation (can. 610).
II. DIVISIONS
Sacred functions may be: 1) Liturgical or extraliturgical: the former are the totality of acts of worship officially regulated by the Church; the latter comprise ways of conducting public worship outside the liturgical order, though always under the aegis and according to the dispositions of the Church.2) Ordinary or extraordinary: the former include those which are performed, or at least may be performed, several times during the liturgical year (and most sacred functions are of this kind); the latter are those which may be performed only once a year (e.g., the sacred functions of the last three days of Holy Week, the blessing of the Palms, etc.).
3) Solemn or simple, according as they are performed with the greatest or the least ritual splendor.
4) Reserved and non-reserved, insofar as they may be performed by qualified ministers or by all ministers of worship in accordance with the liturgical laws. These may be divided into: a) pontifical and non-pontifical, according as they are reserved to major prelates or may also be performed by other ministers of worship (various consecrations, blessings, etc.); b) parochial and non-parochial, according as they are reserved to the parish priest (can. 462) or may also be performed in non-parish churches by non-parish priests without the need for specific permission (cann. 481, 482). In concrete terms, liturgical sacred functions are: the Mass, whether solemn or private; the choral recitation of the Canonical Hours; and the conferral and administration of the Sacraments. Extraliturgical sacred functions are: the solemn administration of the Sacramentals (ecclesiastical blessings, exorcisms by deputed ministers, papal blessings, the apostolic blessing «in articulo mortis», the blessing of the abbot, of the abbess, the blessing and consecration of virgins, the blessing of a sacred place, the blessing and laying of the first stone of a church to be built, the consecration or blessing of a church, the consecration of an altar; the blessing of an oratory and of a cemetery, the reconciliation of a church and oratory, the consecration and blessing of bells, the consecration of the chalice and paten, the blessing of sacred furnishings, of candles at the Purification, the blessing and imposition of ashes on the first day of Lent, the blessing of the Palms, the functions of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the solemn coronation of the Image of Jesus and of the Virgin, the solemn observance of the diocesan synod, of a provincial, plenary, or ecumenical council, processions, solemn novenas and tridua, the blessing of houses, of a woman after childbirth, exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, funerals of adults or children, the practice of the nine Fridays, etc.). With regard to reservation, some sacred functions are by their nature withdrawn from inferior ministers; thus, the consecration of a bishop may be performed only by another bishop. Others are withdrawn by positive law and reserved to certain ministers of worship in preference to others. Thus, the consecration of a bishop is reserved to the Pope (can. 953) and may not be performed by others without his mandate; the consecration of churches and altars is reserved, as a valid rite, to bishops and to abbots or prelates nullius (can. 323 § 2, 239 § 1), and, as a licit rite, to bishops, abbots or prelates nullius. Local Ordinaries, with the exception of cardinal titular churches and their altars (can. 1155); the conferral of the tonsure and minor Orders is reserved, besides the bishop, to cardinals and to abbots or prelates nullius (can. 239 § 1, 22; 323 § 2, 964, 1°). Some sacred functions are reserved to the cathedral Chapter, and within the Chapter itself the minister must be chosen according to a certain order (can. 397 nn. 1-3, 462 n. 7); others, in accordance with can. 426, are reserved to the parish priest (solemn Baptism, the public bringing of Communion to the sick in the parish and the visitation of the sick, Extreme Unction, announcing Holy Orders and marriages (cann. 998 § 1, 1022 ff.), assisting at and blessing marriages (cann. 1094, 1108 ff.), celebrating funerals in accordance with can. 1216 (cf. nevertheless can. 1218), blessing houses on Holy Saturday or at another time established by custom, blessing the baptismal font, imparting blessings outside the church with pomp and solemnity, conducting processions outside the church with solemnity, without prejudice to the rights of the Chapter and of religious (cann. 1291, 1295), to customs and privileges (v. meglio allo singolo voc). By particular law, the first Communion of children may also be a sacred function reserved to the parish priest, and likewise the blessing of women after childbirth. When sacred functions are reserved in this way, they may not be performed in other churches (can. 481); otherwise, their exercise is free in accordance with the liturgical laws (thus solemn tridua, novenas, etc.; can. 482), provided that they do not interfere with the parochial ministry (can. 716 § 1, 609 § 1), or unless in special cases the competent authority has ordered otherwise, or unless these involve the privileges and «fura quesita» of a local church, religious, or ecclesiastical associations with regard to a particular function.
III. TIME AND PLACE OF THE S. F. — The s. f. must be performed at the prescribed time, unless freedom is allowed or they depend on the circumstances of other acts, including profane ones. Some s. f. may be performed at any time of day or night, others at a precisely determined time of day, and others during periods or cycles of the liturgical year. The Ordinary of the place may, for a just cause, also determine the time of the s. f. (can. 1171).
Time, as is well known, may be reckoned naturally, civilly, or liturgically. In relation to the s. f., the last kind of time is of direct concern, but indirectly the canonical and civil reckoning of time is also important. Thus, it should be borne in mind that in the private celebration of Mass, the private recitation of the Canonical Hours, and Communion, local time may be followed, whether true, mean, or legal time, and whether regional or exceptional; in other cases, the common time of the place must be followed. Therefore, in solemn s. f. (Solemn Mass, conventual Mass, the Canonical Hours, Solemn Vespers, etc.), the time commonly used in the place of the s. f. must be followed (can. 33 § 1).
The natural place for the performance of the s. f. is a sacred place; indeed, with all due exceptions, some have more particular provisions regarding the place, as follows: for Baptism (can. 773), Communion (can. 869), Confession (cann. 908-910), Confirmation (cann. 791-792), the celebration of Matrimony (can. 1109), the celebration of Holy Mass (cann. 822, 823), and the conferral of Orders (cann. 1008, 1109).
The greatest restrictions apply to the celebration of s. f. in a private Oratory (can. 1195 § 1). With the exception of Mass, the other s. f. normally may not be celebrated there.