Private Mass

Private Mass

Many of my colleagues, and myself sometimes, have been found using this article to oppose the idea of communion at a camp, pastor's conference, at a Bible camp. I have sometimes called this use of Holy Communion a private mass. But is it? The logic, I've usually thought is that this is a public service. But a public service need not be public in the sense that we need to go knock on doors to get the public (i.e. neighborhood) there. If this were the case, Sunday morning services would not be public were it not for the regularly held service. So what makes the mass public? This article would oppose those masses in which only clergy (and usually just one or two) were holding the mass for a purpose other than that to which the Sacrament was intended. And to remember Christ's benefits, as this article puts it, is the central issue. Which is a very odd way to refigure what a public worship service is: is it a function of how the Supper is used or who attends? A little of both perhaps.