InChristianity,concelebration (from theLatincon +celebrare, 'to celebrate together') is the leadership of a congregation by a number ofpresbyters (priests or ministers) at the celebration of theEucharist, for Catholics duringMass. A seniorpresbyter,bishop, orarchbishop generally acts as theprincipal celebrant, with other presbyters and bishops present—each participating in the celebration of the Mass and prayerfully assisting at the consecration in particular—known asconcelebrants. The concelebrants typically assist the principal celebrant by reciting theWords of Consecration together with them, thus invoking the spiritual change in the eucharistic elements that is at the sacramental heart of the Mass. Certain concelebrants may also individually recite pre-assigned portions of theEucharistic Prayer while gathered with the principal celebrant around the altar.[1]
Concelebration is often practiced by ministers within a particular church (it is common in major Catholic Masses, for example) and by ministers from Churches that are infull communion with one another (e.g. theAnglican Communion and theOld Catholic Church).[2]
Concelebration occurs inEastern Christianity and has done for many centuries. In the Roman Catholic Church the practice fell into disuse for several centuries but was revived with the liturgical reforms of theSecond Vatican Council and as directed by the papal documentSacrosanctum Concilium.[3]: Paragraph 57 Theologians Orlando O. Espín and James B. Nickoloff write that "Eucharistic concelebration has ancient roots (Hippolytus,Apostolic Tradition, early third century) and was practiced primarily as a sign of ecclesial unity of the local church and of union with other churches wheneucharistic hospitality was offered to visiting bishops or presbyters."[4]
It is known from early Christian art uncovered througharchaeology that concelebration took place in theEarly Church in theWest, although it is not known precisely when it fell into disuse. It is known that the practice gradually came to be reserved for the greater festival days and other solemn occasions.Columba of Iona, in the 6th century, is recorded to have been requested by a visiting Irish bishop in disguise to celebrate Mass with him. TheSecond Synod of Seville in 619 ordered that priests could not concelebrate Mass with a bishop or archbishop, or anapostolic administrator if he is a bishop, able to celebrate.[5] According toPope Innocent III (r. 1198–1216) thecardinals in Rome still concelebrated with thepope on certainfeast days. It is known that from themedieval period (particularly following theBlack Death) up to the Second Vatican Council there were only two occasions when concelebration took place in theRoman Rite:[6]
The liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council provided for the return to the practice of concelebration ofMass: the Council'sConstitution on the Sacred Liturgy stated that
The pre-eminent manifestation of the Church consists in the full active participation of all God's holy people in these liturgical celebrations, especially in the same eucharist, in a single prayer, at one altar, at which there presides the bishop surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers.[3]: Paragraph 41
Thus, communities with more than one priest could have several priests concelebrate the Eucharist rather than each celebrating it in private, emphasizing its communal nature. Liturgical law allows concelebration on any occasion, but it is more common on feasts, especially those at which the bishop traditionally presides, such as theChrism Mass onMaundy Thursday. If a diocese or archdiocese isvacant and an apostolic administrator that is a bishop is not able to celebrate, a selected group of priests within the diocese will then concelebrate the feast with one of them being a principal celebrant.
An article inLa Civiltà Cattolica of 2 October 2004[7] pointed out that the reintroduction of Eucharistic concelebration in theLatin Church was in line with the teaching ofPope Pius XII, who taught that the two "assistant bishops" at the consecration of a new bishop should speak all the words of consecration, thus indicating clearly that, instead of being merely witnesses, they were co-consecrating, concelebrating the sacrament of orders.[8] He applied the same rule to concelebration of the Eucharist (at that time in use only at ordination to episcopacy and to priesthood) in his talk of 22 September 1956.
Traditionally, concelebration was not practiced or permitted in Anglican churches.[citation needed] However, theBook of Common Prayer of theEpiscopal Church directs other clergy to "stand with the celebrant at the Altar, and join in the consecration of the gifts, in breaking the Bread, and in distributing Communion".[1][9]
BishopDerek Rawcliffe, formerBishop of Glasgow and Galloway, celebrated the Anglican/Old Catholic Eucharist in English. I and a few more priests had the privilege of concelebrating with him. There was a spirit of unity and fellowship among the delegates, despite belonging to different Churches, countries and speaking different languages
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Concelebration".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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