An unexpected chance for escape came to Isaac Jogues through the Dutch, and he returned to France, bearing the marks of his sufferings. Several fingers had been cut, chewed, or burnt off. Pope Urban VIII gave him permission to offer Mass with his mutilated hands: “It would be shameful that a martyr of Christ not be allowed to drink the Blood of Christ.”
- Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions | Saint of the Day for October 19

Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions, pray for the sick priest, pray for all priests, pray for the Church, and pray for us.

@Cuthbert Mayne: I agree with all of your points. There is a further point: the Sacramentum Tantum = the visible rite of the sacrament. In this case there are two visual perspectives: one is the camera and one is the priest. The perspective of the camera is dreadful, so it should not have been there to begin with. It gives a distorted and dreadful view of the sacrament (yes, Christ was also lying down during the Last Supper, and, no, Holy Mass is not an imitation of the Last Supper). There is the perspective of the priest who is not able to stand up anymore and who celebrates Mass according to his possibilities (why without vestments?). The situation, this priest is in, does not a priori preclude him from saying Mass, however, it does preclude him from saying Mass for a congregation which has virtually been brought in through the camera. It's wrong to display every detail of the Mass into the eyes of the viewers, many parts of the Mass are hidden (at least in the original Roman Rite), here it is even wronger to do so, for obvious reasons.

This image is wrong on many different levels.
Firstly it’s crude to take photo during Mass, Secondly it’s crude to use such a photo with an emotive motivation. Thirdly it’s crass to say Mass reclining. What ever the reason. Either the priest feels a bit lazy, or he’s paralysed from waist down. This is because, the liturgy follows certain rubrics, and the rubrics are based on Christ’s actions surrounding and including His sacrifice of Himself at Calvary. He didn’t get dragged up the Via Dolorosa. He was assisted, as a server would assist a priest at Mass, but He walked upright, upto His death on the cross.

If a man has a disability that prevents him from offering the Sacrifice of the Mass and being able to follow the rubrics - for example he has missing digits - then he may not be ordained. A midget, who can’t reach the Altar may not be ordained also. (EWTN Advertises a Midget Nun)

Canon law encourages a priest to say Mass frequently (c904) however it does not insist on priests offering the Mass daily. In fact it prohibits a priest to say Mass without the participation of at least one other person (c906). (There are reasonable exceptions to this rule).

Curiously, Canon law makes it mandatory that all priests, deacons, and trainees to these offices and all religious (including nuns) are required to pray the liturgy of the hours daily (c276.2).

The primary reason for the mandatory daily liturgy of hours, but not of celebration of the Mass, is theological and not legal. A priest should avoid saying Mass if he is in a state of grave sin, until he makes a sacramental act of confession.

Therefore it is clear that if, for what ever reason, be it sin, mental or physical illness, a priest is incapacitated, he is excused from celebrating Mass.

Finally, as Mass is the source and summit of Catholic worship, it should be celebrated with the dignity this act of worship deserves. Mass is not a personal privilege

@HerzMariae Unnecessary agitation of the faithful. Let a priest offer sacrifice to God for His Glory and for our good and for God’s Holy Church.

Asking for thoughts on GTV ... if I may suggest, reach out to your parish priest, Bishop, and Rome in that order and report back. Perhaps that way you can mitigate the damage you have caused here.

God bless him and keep him!

And the saints when they were in prison? Think of the Apostles Ss Peter and Paul.

*****

If recall, GTV featured a very sick seminarian who was finally ordained and celebrated his first Mass in bed.