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Acelebret, inCatholic canon law, is a letter from abishop orreligious superior authorizing apriest to sayMass in a/an (arch)diocese other than his own. The name of the document is taken from the Latincelebret, meaning “may he celebrate”, as it is traditionally thefirst word of the text therein.
TheCouncil of Trent (Sess. XXIII, chap. xvi on Reform) lays down the rule that "no cleric who is a stranger shall withoutletter commendatory from his ownordinary be admitted by any bishop to celebrate the divine mysteries". Ordinarily, permission is not to be given to a priest from another diocese or archdiocese to say Mass without this certificate signed and duly sealed.
The seal is the more important requisite, as it is the safer guarantee against forgery. Thecelebret itself should be officially recognized by the (arch)diocesan authority of the place where a priest may wish to say Mass. One who has hiscelebret in due form, or who is certainly known to be in good standing in his own diocese, may be allowed to celebrate until he has had sufficient time to comply with this rule. A priest with proper credentials cannot reasonably be prevented from saying Mass, though he will be expected to comply with reasonable restrictions which may be imposed.
In theUnited States, theThird Plenary Council of Baltimore, as a regulation against collectors of funds for other (arch)dioceses or countries, enacted a decree (No. 295) that priests on such a mission should not be allowed to celebrate Mass even once until they had received permission from the ordinary. This rule has generally been enforced in (arch)diocesan synods.
The absence of thecelebret does not suffice denial of permission to say Mass, if persons worthy of belief bear positive testimony to the good standing of the priest. If the permission is unreasonably refused, the priest may say Mass privately if no scandal is given. Yet, therectors of churches are not obliged to incur any expenses the celebration may involve. (S.C.C., 15 December 1703).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Concelebration".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
