THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CANONS ON MASS OFFERINGS IN PARTICULAR LAW AND CUSTOM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DIOCESES OF CAMEROON By Francis Ndzegha NDEY A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Canon Law Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Canon Law Saint Paul University Ottawa, Canada, 2019 © Francis N. Ndey ABSTRACT The immemorial practice of the institute of Mass offerings and its reaffirmation in the present universal law of the Church presents several canonical problems, especially with the proper implementation and application of the canons on Mass offerings in particular law and the customs of particular Churches. This work explores the historical origins and development, the theological understanding and the practice of the Mass offering system within the Church, with the view of a proper and equitable application of the canons on Mass offerings within the customs and particular law of particular Churches in Cameroon. It develops the proper interpretation and application of the canons on Mass offerings in particular law. The first chapter considers the historical origins and evolution of the practice of Mass offerings. The introduction of monetary transactions within Eucharistic praxis influenced the development of an economic theology of the fruits of the Mass. The pastoral practice of the limitation of the application of the fruits of the Mass to one Mass offering donor, to the exclusion of others, had the consequent theological effect of introducing the language of economics and commerce in the conceptualization of Eucharistic theology and efficacy of the Mass. The second chapter presents a systematic exposure and analysis of the scope of canonical doctrine in actual legislation governing Mass offerings, analyzed in light of the 1917 Code, the 1974 motu proprio Firma in traditione, and the decree Mos iugiter on “pluri-intentional” Masses. This chapter accentuates the right of the priest celebrant with regard to the Mass offering, a grant of i ii the universal law of the Church, while also underscoring the complete and total exclusion of any semblance of trafficking or commerce within the Mass offering transaction. The third chapter addresses the issue of simony and the various juridical theories devised to justify the practice of Mass offerings and the avoidance of all charges of simony. The fourth and final chapter focuses on the implementation and application of the canons on Mass offerings in particular law and customs within the dioceses of Cameroon. In light of the assessment of some questionable practices within some the dioceses in Cameroon, we have proposed a uniform praxis based on sound canonical principles that if prudently and equitably applied within the dioceses of Cameroon will eliminate questionable and unorthodox practices. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to first of all render immense thanks to God Almighty for health, strength, and energy during these long and difficult years of studies without which the completion of this work would not have been possible. I thank Him fervently for the many helpful people he put on my way in the course of my studies. I will also like to register the expression of my gratitude to Bishop George Nkuo for the opportunity he gave me, first of all, to study for the licentiate in Canon Law at the l'Université Catholique d'Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroon, and then for the doctorate degree in canon law at the Saint Paul University, Ottawa. I will also like to avail myself of the opportunity to extend my sincere words of thanks to His Grace, Terrence Prendergast, S.J, Archbishop of Ottawa, for his paternal solicitude, particular attention, and for the time he allowed me to spend in his diocese during the course of my studies. I thank him fervently for welcoming me and for allowing me to complete my studies while at the same time doing pastoral work in his diocese. I am grateful to my thesis supervisor, Prof. Chad Glendenning, for his tireless efforts at correcting the different drafts of the chapters, for his professionalism and helpful suggestions, and also constructive criticisms, together with his editorial assistance with correcting footnotes. In the same breath, I will also like to thank Prof. John Huels, co-supervisor of the work at the beginning stages of my thesis. I benefitted very much from his world of expertise and experience. Without these it would have been almost impossible to bring this thesis to a successful completion. iii iv My sincere words of gratitude go to the former Dean Dr Anne Asselin. As well, I wish to thank the present Dean, Msgr. John Renken, for the assistance he offered during the course of my studies. I wish to add a word of thanks also to all the professors of the faculty and to the administrative staff of the faculty for their friendly, encouraging, and enabling environment that made studies possible. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Faculty of Canon Law Oblate Scholarship Bursary Fund. Without the financial support of this fund, the first two years of my studies would not have been possible. I take this opportunity, too, to thank all the faithful and pastors (Frs. Bernie Georges and Jarrod Lies) of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Schulte, and St. John's Parish Clonmel, Diocese of Wichita, KS, USA. Their financial, material, moral, and prayerful assistance made it possible for me to complete my studies. I will forever remain grateful to them all for all they did. God bless you all! ABBREVIATIONS AAS Acta Apostolica Sedis c. canon cc. canons CCEO Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium CCLA CAPARROS, E. et al. (eds.), Code of canon Law Annotated CIC'17 Codex iuris canonici, Pii X Pontificis Maximi iussu digestus CLD Canon Law Digest CIC Codex iuris canonici, auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II promulgatus CLSA Canon Law Society of America CLSA Comm1 CORIDEN, J., T.J. GREEN, and D.E. HEINTSCHEL (eds.), The Code of Canon Law: Text and Commentary CLSA Comm2 BEAL, J.P., J.A., CORIDEN, T.J. GREEN, (eds.), New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law CLSANZ Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand CLSAP Canon Law Society of America Proceedings CLSGBI Comm SHEEHY, G. et al. (eds.), The Canon Law: Letter & Spirit CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church v vi CDF Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith CTAP Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America Exegetical Comm MARZOA, A., J. MIRAS, R. RODRÍGUEZ-OCAÑA (eds.), and E. CAPARROS (gen. ed. of English translation), Exegetical Commentary FLANNERY1 FLANNERY, A. (gen. ed.), Vatican Council II, vol. 1 FLANNERY2 FLANNERY, A. (gen. ed.), Vatican Council II, vol. 2 GS SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes LG SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium PB JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Constitution Pastor bonus TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ iii ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... v GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 6 HISTORY AND THEOLOGY OF MASS STIPENDS ......................................... 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 6 1.1. Roman Law and Mass Stipends ..................................................................... 12 1.2 Tithes and Mass Stipends................................................................................ 14 1.3 History of Mass Stipends ................................................................................ 16 1.3.1 Early Apostolic Era to Fifth Century ........................................................... 18 1.3.2 Sixth to Twelfth Century ............................................................................. 23 1.3.3 Thirteenth Century ....................................................................................... 27 1.4 Mass Stipend Proper ....................................................................................... 28 1.5 Abuses in Mass Stipends ................................................................................ 30 1.6 Theology of the Value and Fruits of the Mass ................................................ 35 1.6.1 General Fruits of the Mass ........................................................................... 50 1.6.2 Ministerial Fruits .......................................................................................... 51 1.6.3 More Special Fruits ...................................................................................... 54 1.6.4 The Application of Mass .............................................................................. 55 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 62 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 65 THE LAW ON MASS OFFERINGS AND THE 1983 CODE ............................ 65 2.1. The General Fundamental Principle .............................................................