Can A Retired Catholic Priest...

[Paladin D]

Our parish priest (Fr. Dennis) couldn't do Mass this weekend, so we got Fr. Bill (retired Catholic priest, very nice man). So I was wondering, can a retired Catholic priest still do Mass and the Sacraments? Thanks.

[Dave]

Yes, he certainly can.

[Brother Adam]

I sure hope so because Father Henry at our parish was saying mass and in the confessional until almost the day he died.

[lifeteenchick527]

ya iam pretty sure u can...from wat i know...once u r a priest u r always a priest

[qfnol31]

Exactly. Retired Priests have full authority to say Mass, and I believe they normally still have all other Sacramental authority. Retired mainly means that you don't have your own parish to run.

[Paladin D]

Oh ok, thanks guys.

[DominaNostra]

Also, in case you are wondering, there are some priests who are not given the ability to administer the Sacraments and are only permitted to say Mass. I do not think it is common anymore, and I have forgotten the name, but apparently, it was practiced in the past and not uncommon before Vatican II. Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech (Psalm CIX). God bless.

N.B., while a priest can be laicized, he is still a priest, but his canonical obligation to say the Divine Office (as far as I know) is relieved; this is the only canonical obligation of a priest.

[qfnol31]

The reason I say that he may not be able to administer all other Sacraments is you have to have Bishop approval to hear Confessions.

[BurkeFan]

I think you need approval from your Bishop even to say Mass.

[qfnol31]

I don't think so, because that is one of the priveledges of being a Priest is you can say Mass.

Maybe public Mass you have to have permission, but I could be wrong about all of this.

[DominaNostra]

Faculties from a Bishop are required for the Sacraments of Penance and Matrimony. The Mass can be said without faculties, but if a priest is specifically delegated as "not in good standing," then his Mass is illicit (not invalid). The Bishop's blessing is not required for a valid Mass, and if a priest is in good standing, it is licit, regardless. The Sacrament of Baptism can be conferred validly by anyone, even someone who is unbaptized, even by a woman. The Sacrament of Extreme Unction can be administered validly by any priest. Confirmation is given by a Bishop, but under certain circumstances can be delegated to a priest. In this case, of course, the Bishop would have to grant "faculties" in some sense insofar as he must permit the priest to perform the Confirmation to begin with; otherwise it is invalid. The Sacrament of Holy Orders can only be conferred by a Bishop. Below is a link to Catholic Encyclopedia, on the Sacraments.

[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm#VI"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm#VI[/url]

N.B., the Church can provide faculties through supplied juristiction for the Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Unction.

[Mrvoll]

I think so. Retired Priests come say mass at our church when Father leaves.