The Congregation for Divine Worship has made this decree. The Latin text explains that priests will be allowed to celebrate four Masses on Christmas Day, Jan. 1 and the Epiphany.
Canonical law allows priests to celebrate, with special permission, a maximum of three Masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
With this decree, bishops will be allowed to authorize priests to celebrate a fourth Mass if they deem it “necessary for the good of the faithful.”
This is an extraordinary measure adopted because of the pandemic and the need for physical distancing. If there are more Mass options, there will be smaller crowds and a lower risk of contagion.
The Christmas celebrations are reflecting the consequences of the pandemic. Even the Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican has been moved to 7:30 p.m., to respect the curfew in Rome.
