PARISH PRIEST. - He is a priest or a moral person to whom a parish (v.) is conferred in title, with the care of souls, to be exercised in subordination to the authority of the local Ordinary (can. 451, 1). Under this designation are also included the quasi-pastors (v.) who preside over quasi-parishes and the parochial vicars endowed with full parochial power, who, whether they be actual vicars (can. 471), vicars economus (can. 472), vicars substitute (can. 474) or vicars coadjutor (can. 475), are in rights and obligations equated to pastors. Military chaplains must observe particular dispositions of the Holy See (can. 451, 3).
I. ORIGIN
As regards etymology, some authors hold that it derives from the Greek παροχάς, which was the prefect of the stations; others from παρέχω (to supply), in the sense that priests would have had the task of announcing the word of God to the people and administering the Sacraments; more correctly, others derive the name from παραιχέω (to dwell), whence παραιχέω (episcopal territory), from which παραιχέω (inhabitant), that is, the priest who dwells together with the people. Its institution goes back to the 4th century and precisely to the Council of Arles (a. 314, can. 21), in which mention is made of the rural clergy. In the 7th century the priests placed in charge of rural parishes were called archpriests; in the 9th century pastors, rectors and plebani. In the sources the name of p. is rarely found; only after the Council of Trent did this appellation become common.
The parochial office is of ecclesiastical institution. A supposed origin by divine right was maintained in France during the Jansenist controversies, and then in Italy, particularly on the occasion of the Synod of Pistoia; but it finds no foundation in Scripture or in divine-ecclesiastical tradition. Moreover, the historical origins of the parish prove the contrary. Parochial rights therefore depend solely on the provisions of canon law.
II. NATURE
The parish priest assists the bishop in the sense of leading to eternal salvation the persons of the individual faithful, whom the bishop's direct care could not ordinarily reach. His office is a true and proper ecclesiastical office: he receives the parish stably and as it were in ownership, becomes its true holder, and exercises the office in his own name and in a stable manner; his removal cannot take place except for a just and grave cause, contemplated by law. The primary object of this office is the care of souls, which is carried out especially by the exposition of the truths of the faith, according to the capacity of the faithful, so that they may be safeguarded from errors at every age. A necessary consequence of teaching is the administration of the Sacraments, which give and preserve the grace of God in the faithful.
The smooth conduct of these functions requires unity of direction; therefore the CIC establishes that in each parish there be a single parish priest (can. 460). Two parishes are invalidly conferred on a single parish priest, because the two offices are incompatible (can. 156), except in the case that they are united negue principaliter; nor can several parish priests have cumulatively the same subjects and the same ministry: norms that regulate not only the parishes that are to be erected, but also those already erected (Commission for the Interpretation, 14 July 1922: AAS, 14 [1922], p. 527). The case is excepted in which the parish priest has one parish in title and another in administration. These prohibitions do not absolutely exclude that two parishes may have their seat in the same church, if there were a true necessity (AAS, 10 [1918], p. 285). Although such duties must be carried out under the direction of the Ordinary, the bishop cannot restrict or limit his faculties: the parochial office is determined by the common law, to which even Ordinaries are subject. They evidently, as pastors, can carry out all parochial functions and can also delegate other persons; however, it is well that this right be used rarely and in circumstances worthy of note and of profit for souls. With this, the bishop is not to be deprived of the right to be able to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the parish priest certain families if there is a just and reasonable cause (can. 464, 2), since, although the parish priest has power over the entire territory of the parish, he does not however have a right regarding the belonging of individual families to that determined territory.
The jurisdiction of the parish priest is exercised only in the internal forum, since his office is instituted principally for the good of the individual faithful: the principal care is the salvation of souls. He can therefore lay down rules for the development of the piety of the faithful and take precautionary measures to prevent abuses against the natural and ecclesiastical law; but he can in no way attach to these norms penalties or obligations in conscience. In truth he also participates in the executive power, insofar as he is the administrator of the goods of the parish, but this right is exercised only as a participation in the power that resides in the bishop and can easily be reduced to a rather economic function. The relation, therefore, that exists between parish and parish priest is principally dominative. The parish priest, that is, presides over the vigilance and administration of the parish, which he must guard as a good father of a family and direct with precepts, not with laws. This does not exclude that the parish priest has ordinary power: this, in fact, derives from the office (can. 464), to which it is annexed by law, and he exercises it in his own name and not as a delegate of the bishop.
Such jurisdiction can be delegated completely or only in part according to the determinations of law. Without the consent of the bishop the parish priest cannot authorize anyone to preach in his parish (can. 1337), cannot grant the faculty to hear confessions (can. 873), cannot dispense from ecclesiastical laws without special faculty (can. 83). He can grant certain dispensations in matrimonial matters (cann. 1043-44-45), from abstinence, from fasting, from hearing Mass and from servile works (can. 1245). The parish priest can subdelegate the faculty to dispense, if he has obtained the indult (can. 199, 3).
III. ELECTION
The bishop has the right to appoint and install the parish priest; the participation of the people, under current law, is excluded. The vicar general must have a special mandate; the capitular vicar can confirm the elected parish priest and accept the presentation by the patron: after one year from the vacancy of the diocese he can also confer parishes of free election. In the case of parishes entrusted to religious, the competent Superior chooses the religious and presents him to the local Ordinary, who will carry out the verifications required by law (can. 456).
The bishop must provide for the election within six months, except when particular conditions require a postponement (can. 458). The one to be elected must already be a priest, a condition required for validity; for liceity it is required that he be of good morals, of sound doctrine, animated by zeal, prudence, and especially patience and charity (can. 453). Among several worthy persons the bishop must choose, under grave obligation, the most worthy; he must formulate his judgment not only on doctrine and piety, but also on the other qualities that are required to govern the parish (can. 459, 1, 2). The judgment on the qualities belongs solely to the bishop, who, in order to proceed in legitimate form, must consult the documents of the Curia that refer to the elect; request secret information, if he deems it opportune, both within the diocese and outside it; check the outcome of the examinations in the first years of the priesthood; submit, in his presence and that of the synodal examiners, the elect to an examination, from which, however, he may be dispensed, with the consent of the examiners, if he is known for his theological competence (can. 459, 3). The election can also be made by competition, whether special or general, at least for those places where the law of competition is still in force (v.). With the election the parish priest acquires only the ius ad rem; he can exercise the care of souls from the moment of taking possession (v.). Before or at the moment of this he must make the profession of faith (can. 1406, 1, 7).
IV. RIGHTS
The p. has the right to carry out everything that pertains to the care of souls and that is necessary for the administration of the parish. Certain acts and functions are reserved by common law to the p., except in the case of special exemptions which must always be proven. Such functions, called parochial, cannot be performed by anyone, within the territory of the parish, without the permission of the p. They are strictly established: 1) the administration of Baptism in solemn form; 2) to carry the Most Holy Eucharist publicly to the sick within the parochial territory; 3) to carry the Most Holy Eucharist to the sick as viaticum both in public and in private form and to administer Extreme Unction; 4) to announce the banns of ordinations (can. 998, 1) and of marriages (can. 1022); to assist at marriages, for which he may delegate only in individual cases (can. 1094), and to impart the nuptial blessing to the spouses (can. 1108); 5) to celebrate funerals, that is, to accompany the body from the house to the church, to celebrate the funeral rite, and to accompany the body to the cemetery (can. 1216); 6) to bless the houses on Holy Saturday or on another day according to local customs; 7) to bless the baptismal font on Holy Saturday and on the vigil of Pentecost (AAS, 15 [1922], p. 225). It is for the p. to direct processions outside the church and likewise to impart blessings with pomp and solemnity. In the case that the parish is incorporated into the chapter, the p. is dispensed from such functions if they are performed by the canons (can. 462). The other functions that are celebrated in parishes belong principally to the p., but it is not forbidden that they be performed also in other churches; among them stand out novenas, triduums, daily evening services, first communions, the solemn Mass, Lenten sermons, etc.
Parishioners have the obligation to request the parochial functions from the p., who has the right to receive the offerings that they give on such an occasion, even if the ceremony was not performed by him personally. The offerings occur especially on the occasion of Baptism, Marriage and the funeral rite. The p. is obliged to lend his work gratuitously if the persons concerned are poor. This right to the offerings was affirmed by Our Lord and reaffirmed by St. Paul; a complete abolition of the offerings would not bring good results, inasmuch as the people must understand that they have a sacred duty to support the priest who bestows so many spiritual goods upon them. In this matter the p. must adhere to can. 1507.
V. OBLIGATIONS
The p., by virtue of the office he holds, is bound to exercise the care of souls over all his faithful, an obligation that belongs to him by justice. He must carry out this function by every means suited to the spiritual good of souls, following both the norms laid down by particular statutes or customs and the prescriptions of the bishop. The specific obligations are: 1) residence: The p., in order to attend fruitfully to his duties, must reside in the parochial house, which is generally built near the church; the Ordinary may permit him to live elsewhere, even outside the parochial territory, provided that the sacred ministry suffers no harm thereby.
He may be absent from the parish for a maximum period of two months in a year, with absences either continuous or intermittent; spiritual exercises are not counted as days of vacation. It is for the Ordinary to prolong or to reduce, for grave reason, the terms established by law. The p. may not be absent for more than a week except for a just cause and with the written permission of the Ordinary. Before absenting himself he must leave a substitute vicar approved by the bishop: if the p. is a religious he must also have the consent of his Superior. If there is a sudden cause the p. may leave the parish, provided that he notify his bishop by letter and communicate to him the name of the vicar. In every case of absence the p. must always provide for the needs of the faithful (can. 465); transgressors are punished with the deprivation of the fruits (can. 2381) or even of the benefice itself (can. 2168). 2) The application of the Holy Mass. This obligation is founded on hypothetical divine law and binds p. in the same way as bishops: that is, the p. must satisfy this obligation on Sundays and the other holy days of obligation, even suppressed ones. This obligation is personal, real and local: the p. must satisfy it personally; if for some reason, such as illness, he cannot celebrate, he either delegates another priest or, after recovery, must celebrate as many Masses as were omitted; the rite, ordinarily, must be performed in the parochial church. If the p. is legitimately absent he may apply it in the place where he is or delegate a substitute. The Ordinary may permit the application to be made on a day other than that established by law; for a just reason the p. too may, ad modum actus, postpone the application to another day (can. 466). It is an excellent norm to celebrate the parochial Mass, even on weekdays at a fixed hour, in order to facilitate the participation of the faithful. 3) Furthermore the p. must celebrate the sacred rites, administer the Sacraments, when he is reasonably requested to do so, know his own parishioners and prudently correct them, help the poor, assiduously visit the sick, assist the dying, preach the word of God, impart catechetical instruction to children and adults, watch that in public and private schools nothing occurs against faith and morals, prevent abuses as far as possible and remove scandals; promote pious associations of faith, piety, and charity, faithfully administer the goods of the Church (cann. 467, 468, 469). The p. must take care of the parochial books (v.); he must also keep the inventory of the movable and immovable things belonging to the parish (can. 1522-23), preserve the documents that prove the parish's right over the goods (can. 1523, 6), and those of the foundations and perpetual or temporary obligations with the corresponding time of fulfillment and the respective alms.
Bibliography10 works
Giuseppe Damizia