a. About Place Properly Speaking

212. On the part of place properly speaking removal of impediments is required, namely that the place is not forbidden, and appointment of fitting disposition is required, namely that the place be sanctified.

213. The first is simply necessary, because he who celebrates in a forbidden place acts against the prohibition of the Church, and consequently not in ordained fashion.

214. The second is necessary unless a case of necessity arise, as is proved by Decretum ‘On Consecration’, p.3 d.1 ch.11, “In places other than those consecrated to the Lord, that is, tabernacles anointed by pontiffs, it is not licit to chant or to celebrate.” The same is plain from the next chapter and the following one, where is said, “Let no priest presume to celebrate mass save in places sanctified by a bishop, who has wanted it in other respects to share his priesthood.”

215. But the exception there about a case of necessity is plain ibid., and the cases there are these: as when the churches in a country are destroyed, or if someone traveling cannot at all get to a consecrated church (which is regularly true of those traveling by ship, and others of the sort). For it does not seem likely that observation of the precept of the decalogue ‘Keep the sabbath holy’ (which precept the Church has interpreted to mean hearing mass on the Lord’s day, Decretum p.3 d.1 ch.64) was intended by the Church to be impeded by a precept of lesser obligation (as that such and such a place is determinately required for mass to be heard), since no one should be constrained in observance of something more necessary by the strictness of something less necessary.

216. But what and where are the consecrated places?

As a rule, they are parish churches and other solemn collegiate churches.

217. Oratories, that are called ‘chapels’ cannot be held to be consecrated save by license of the bishop, Decretum p.3 d.1 ch.33, “Each of the faithful is permitted to have an oratory and to pray there, but not to celebrate masses there,” save in the above stated cases [n.215]; for it is not permitted to make a sacred oratory without the authority of the bishop, Decretals III tit.41 ch.14.

218. Now there is need of ornament for the place, namely a light, as is said ibid., “He was sacrificing without fire and water,” and there follows, “We command that you deprive him perpetually of office and benefice.”