What's the criteria for having a Mass outside?

[Gnarwhal]

My parish is celebrating our parish patron on the feast of Saint John the Baptist coming up on 6/25, the announcement says there will be a Mass and picnic at one of the local parks and it'll be the only Mass of the day—none at either of the parishes (or main parish or the mission parish nearby). I was just curious what exactly needs to happen, if anything, for a priest to celebrate Holy Mass outside?

There will inevitably be a lot of people since they're essentially combining five Masses by not offering any of the usual scheduled Masses.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

I found this on Newadvent

A portable altar consists of a solid piece of natural stone which must be sufficiently hard to resist every fracture. It must be consecrated by bishop or other person having faculties to do so.

In the Catholic Greek rites, they use (as do Eastern Orthodox) a cloth called the antimensium, which is a cloth signed by the bishop that a priest uses even in the church. As long as the priest has this, he can perform the Liturgy (or Mass).

This article also might be of interest:

[Using the hood of a jeep as an altar, a Roman Catholic chaplain saying mass at the inauguration of an American cemetery, Omaha Beach, Normandy]

Using the hood of a jeep as an altar, a Roman Catholic chaplain saying mass at the inauguration of an American cemetery. A line of soldiers stand behind and one kneels beside the chaplain.

www.icp.org

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Portable Altar

Consists of a solid piece of natural stone which must be sufficiently hard to resist every fracture

www.newadvent.org

 

[Erose]

When I was in the Marines, we frequently had Mass outside in the open, when we were out in the field and not in the barracks. The Chaplin, had a portable altar, with all the cloths and utensils which were used inside a Church, just only smaller in size. It all went into a relatively small suitcase.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I found this on Newadvent

A portable altar consists of a solid piece of natural stone which must be sufficiently hard to resist every fracture. It must be consecrated by bishop or other person having faculties to do so.

In the Catholic Greek rites, they use (as do Eastern Orthodox) a cloth called the antimensium, which is a cloth signed by the bishop that a priest uses even in the church. As long as the priest has this, he can perform the Liturgy (or Mass).

View attachment 332100

This article also might be of interest:

[Using the hood of a jeep as an altar, a Roman Catholic chaplain saying mass at the inauguration of an American cemetery, Omaha Beach, Normandy]

Using the hood of a jeep as an altar, a Roman Catholic chaplain saying mass at the inauguration of an American cemetery. A line of soldiers stand behind and one kneels beside the chaplain.

www.icp.org

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Portable Altar

Consists of a solid piece of natural stone which must be sufficiently hard to resist every fracture

www.newadvent.org

That was from the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1917.

I've attended Masses outside including on the beach of a neighbors camp. The celebrant, Father Brassard, spent
23 years in the Soviet Gulag.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

When I was in the Marines, we frequently had Mass outside in the open, when we were out in the field and not in the barracks. The Chaplin, had a portable altar, with all the cloths and utensils which were used inside a Church, just only smaller in size. It all went into a relatively small suitcase.

I also attended Mass outside when I was in the Marines, 1970.

Semper Fi

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

That was from the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1917.

I've attended Masses outside including on the beach of a neighbors camp. The celebrant, Father Brassard, spent
23 years in the Soviet Gulag.

Morning,
Is that outdated information?
Thanks,
PsaltiChrysostom

 

[RileyG]

Morning,
Is that outdated information?
Thanks,
PsaltiChrysostom

Yes. It doesn't take into account Vatican II.

 

[RileyG]

I've attended Masses outside for a parish picnic many, many years ago. My main concern is the Eucharist being dropped or desecrated. I'm not sure what the conditions are required to properly have Mass outside, though.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Morning,
Is that outdated information?
Thanks,
PsaltiChrysostom

Some is, some isn't.

Use the latest Catechism for current Church teaching.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I've attended Masses outside for a parish picnic many, many years ago. My main concern is the Eucharist being dropped or desecrated. I'm not sure what the conditions are required to properly have Mass outside, though.

If God the Father has the power to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus, I'm sure
he also has the power to undo it should the host be dropped or taken for abusive purposes.

We do our best to protect the Eucharist but don't get into all sorts of unnatural gymnastics in the process.

 

[RileyG]

If God the Father has the power to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus, I'm sure
he also has the power to undo it should the host be dropped or taken for abusive purposes.

We do our best to protect the Eucharist but don't get into all sorts of unnatural gymnastics in the process.

Absolutely!