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One of our readers recently wrote me asking whether there are any formal rules for the language and rubrics of a “Missa Solitaria,” that is a Mass said privately without the presence of a server or anyone else to make the responses. An example of three priests saying such a Mass can be seen to the right. Obviously, such a situation makes the priest’s parts addressed to those present, such as Dominus vobiscum, very odd.
With one somewhat indirect exception, I know of no explicit rules about priest’s parts addressed to others when there is no one to make the response. This is not surprising because it was always assumed that there would be at least one server to make the responses. And it was an obligation of the local superior to provide a server for any Dominican in his community who was saying a “Private Mass.” So, at least in theory, Missae Solitariae did not happen. They were even listed among the “faults” in the introduction of the Missal. In the modern period, this kind of provision of servers has lapsed and priests still have to say Mass, at least for the stipend expected by the community. So what to do?
First, the exception I mentioned is the case of the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, which were traditionally directed to the servers, not the people. Before Vatican II, Dominicans often said Mass in “Roman” parishes, where the servers did not know the Dominican forms. In that case, it was explicitly provided that the priest say the Confiteor in the form used at Prime or Compline, which changes the form from second person to first person and drops the Absolutionem. This, by the way, was also the form used in the Office when said privately, or by nuns in the absence of a priest. But what about the other responses?
Although there is nothing specific on this, the provision for use of the first-person Confiteor at Prime provides and analogous solution. The analogy is to be found in other rubrics of the Office. When the Office was said privately or by nuns without a priest present to lead, the following changes were made:
1. Dominus vobisum; Et cum spiritu tuo. was replaced by Domine exaudi orationem meum; et clamor meus ad te veniat. That also makes sense for Mass because that is already done in the Dominican Mass (quietly) before the Secret Prayer at the Offertory. This would also work for the dialogue before the Gospel (paralleling what is done Matins said privately) and before the Ite (paralleling the practice before the Benedicamus Domino at the other hours of Office).
2. At the Office said alone, the blessing that ends Compline is changed from the second person form to the first person: Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti descendat super nos et maniat semper.
3. Finally, it seems logical to not turn to the empty nave of the church when saying these formula.
So, although not explicit, I think this resolves the remaining rubrical questions that arise during a Missa Solitaria by analogy.
