Can Catholic Mass be offered for a dead person who is not Catholic?

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Janet_S

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I know we should pray for **all **the dead, but is it allowed or appropriate to offer a public (Sunday or weekday) Mass for a dead relative who is not Catholic?

I hope it is, but I’m not sure. A few things I have read seem to indicate that it is not.

I read this in the Catholic Encyclopedia which I know is not the latest in information (it is from 1913).

newadvent.org/cathen/04653a.htm
D. Church laws regarding public offices for the dead
There is no restriction by Divine or ecclesiastical law as to those of the dead for whom private prayer may be offered – except that they may not be offered formally either for the blessed in heaven or for the damned. Not only for the faithful who have died in external communion with the Church, but for deceased non-Catholics, even the unbaptized, who may have died in the state of grace, one is free to offer his personal prayers and good works; **nor does the Church’s prohibition of her public offices for those who have died out of external communion with her affect the strictly personal element in her minister’s acts. For all such she prohibits the public offering of the Sacrifice of the Mass (and of other liturgical offices); **but theologians commonly teach that a priest is not forbidden to offer the Mass in private for the repose of the soul of any one who, judging by probable evidence, may be presumed to have died in faith and grace, provided, at least, he does not say the special requiem Mass with the special prayer in which the deceased is named, since this would give the offering a public and official character. This prohibition does not extend to catechumens who have died without being able to receive baptism (see, v.g., Lehmkuhl, “Theol. Moralis”, II, n. 175 sq.). For other cases in which the Church refuses her public offices for the dead, the reader is referred to the article CHRISTIAN BURIAL. (See also MASS; INDULGENCE; PURGATORY.)
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My parish priest said that non-Catholics cannot have a funeral Mass unless they died with the intention of becoming Catholic (were in the RCIA process.) Does the same requirement apply to public memorial Masses?

If you have knowledge about this issue, please cite references.

I intend to speak to my parish priest about this too.

Thanks.
 
Janet_S said:
I know we should pray for **all **the dead, but is it allowed or appropriate to offer a public (Sunday or weekday) Mass for a dead relative who is not Catholic?

I hope it is, but I’m not sure. A few things I have read seem to indicate that it is not.

I read this in the Catholic Encyclopedia which I know is not the latest in information (it is from 1913).

newadvent.org/cathen/04653a.htm

My parish priest said that non-Catholics cannot have a funeral Mass unless they died with the intention of becoming Catholic (were in the RCIA process.) Does the same requirement apply to public memorial Masses?

If you have knowledge about this issue, please cite references.

I intend to speak to my parish priest about this too.

Thanks.
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A Catholic Mass can be offered for any Person. A Funeral Rite can be used for any Baptized Christian who is usually a child, sister/brother, spouse, parent of the Catholic seeking the funeral. The Pastor has the right to judge if a Funeral Mass is acceptable. Many will offer the funeral Rite within Mass for a child or spouse of a Catholic who may have attended with the Catholic on a regular basis.
 
Janet_S said:
I know we should pray for **all **the dead, but is it allowed or appropriate to offer a public (Sunday or weekday) Mass for a dead relative who is not Catholic?

I hope it is, but I’m not sure. A few things I have read seem to indicate that it is not.

I read this in the Catholic Encyclopedia which I know is not the latest in information (it is from 1913).

newadvent.org/cathen/04653a.htm

My parish priest said that non-Catholics cannot have a funeral Mass unless they died with the intention of becoming Catholic (were in the RCIA process.) Does the same requirement apply to public memorial Masses?

If you have knowledge about this issue, please cite references.

I intend to speak to my parish priest about this too.

Thanks.
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The CE written in 1913 embodies the former legislation that allowed private Masses but forbade public Masses.

The stipulation against all public Masses for non-Catholics was lessened in the 1970’s (I think either 1974 or 1976). I’ll hunt around for the decree but one stipulation I remember was that the name of the non-Catholic dead person could not be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer (where the N. comes) . And of course, there were the usual stipulations that it should not give scandal, and so forth.

The canon lawyers of the forum would be able to say exactly, but I was under the impression that one of the requirements in granting Catholic funerals to baptised non-Catholics was that their own priest/minister is not available.
 
Last year, a former boss of mine (who had served as a state representative and state senator) died. He was close to 100 years old and a practicing Methodist.

When I was working for him, he gave me time to go to Daily Mass (legislature keeps a weird schedule during session) and even went to Mass with me a few times. He had played football for UT and worked as a porter for a Catholic girls dorm.

When he died, I could not get to Fort Worth for the funeral; I did, however, have Masses said for the repose of his soul. In fact, I include his name now in the envelopes for All Souls Day Masses.
 

I ran across the decree again today: it’s titled Accidit in diversis, ii June 1976​

From time to time Catholic priests in this or that region are asked to celebrate Mass for deceased persons who are baptised members of other Church or ecclesial communions. This is especially likely to happen when the deceased person has had high regard and esteem for the Catholic religion, or had held public office in the service of the entire civil community.

There is no difficulty, as one knows, about the celebration of private Masses for such deceased persons. Quite the contrary: it can be recommended on several grounds such as respect, friendship, gratitude and the like, provided no prohibition stands in the way.

The current discipline forbids the celebration of public Masses for deceased persons who had not been in full communion with the Catholic Church.

The religious and social conditions in which that discipline was deemed advisable have now changed and this Sacred Congregation has been asked from many quarters if public Masses may in certain cases be celebrated for such deceased persons.

The Fathers of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith examined the problem in detail in ordinary congregation on 9 June, 1976 and issued the following decree:

I. The current discipline with regard to the celebration of public Masses for other deceased Christians shall remain in force as a general rule. Due consideration for the consciences of such deceased persons would itself require this, since they did no profess the Catholic faith in full.

II. Exceptions to this general rule may be allowed until the new Code shall have been promulgated, whenever both the following conditions obtain:
  1. The public celebration of masses must be expressly requested by the relatives, friends or subjects of the deceased person, for a genuine religious motive.
  2. There must be, in the judgment of the ordinary, no scandal to the faithful.
These two conditions can be more easily verified of our brothers of the Eastern Churches, for we have a closer, though not complete, fellowship with them in matters of faith.

III. In such cases public Masses may be celebrated. However, the name of the deceased may not be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer, since this would presuppose full communion with the Catholic Church.

If other Christians are present as well as the Catholics to participate in the celebration of the Masses, the regulations made by the Second Vatican Council and by the Holy See with regard to communicatio in sacris must be most faithfully observed.

In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 11 June 1976, the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI repealed as far as was necessary canon 809 (together with canon 2262,2,2) and canon 1241. He ratified, approved and ordered the promulgation of the above mentioned decision of the Fathers, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.
 
AJV said:
I ran across the decree again today: it’s titled Accidit in diversis, ii June 1976
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The 1983 Code of Canon Law changed all that

Canon 901 – A priest may apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead.
 
Phemie said:
The 1983 Code of Canon Law changed all that

Canon 901 – A priest may apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead.
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Thanks. I know priests say Masses for non-Catholics, but they might not be aware whether or not a person is Catholic. I didn’t want to do it if the Church advised against it. That clears it up.
 
Phemie said:
The 1983 Code of Canon Law changed all that

Canon 901 – A priest may apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead.
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Yes, however, I provided the document because according to a Commentary on the Code that I have, some of its stipulations are still present- such as the fact that the name of the non-Catholic person cannot be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer. Others, as you note are abrogated by the Code.
 
Although I’m sure everyone is already aware of this, it should probably be noted that even if you are not able to have a Mass said for a non-Catholic, you can always personally hear a Mass for anyone (even a non-Christian).
 
Fuerza said:
Although I’m sure everyone is already aware of this, it should probably be noted that even if you are not able to have a Mass said for a non-Catholic, you can always personally hear a Mass for anyone (even a non-Christian).
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Explain what that means (hear a Mass.) I’ve never heard of it.
 
AJV said:

I ran across the decree again today: it’s titled Accidit in diversis, ii June 1976​

From time to time Catholic priests in this or that region are asked to celebrate Mass for deceased persons who are baptised members of other Church or ecclesial communions. This is especially likely to happen when the deceased person has had high regard and esteem for the Catholic religion, or had held public office in the service of the entire civil community.

There is no difficulty, as one knows, about the celebration of private Masses for such deceased persons. Quite the contrary: it can be recommended on several grounds such as respect, friendship, gratitude and the like, provided no prohibition stands in the way.

The current discipline forbids the celebration of public Masses for deceased persons who had not been in full communion with the Catholic Church.

The religious and social conditions in which that discipline was deemed advisable have now changed and this Sacred Congregation has been asked from many quarters if public Masses may in certain cases be celebrated for such deceased persons.

The Fathers of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith examined the problem in detail in ordinary congregation on 9 June, 1976 and issued the following decree:

I. The current discipline with regard to the celebration of public Masses for other deceased Christians shall remain in force as a general rule. Due consideration for the consciences of such deceased persons would itself require this, since they did no profess the Catholic faith in full.

II. Exceptions to this general rule may be allowed until the new Code shall have been promulgated, whenever both the following conditions obtain:

1**. The public celebration of masses must be expressly requested by the relatives, friends or subjects of the deceased person, for a genuine religious motive.**

2. There must be, in the judgment of the ordinary, no scandal to the faithful.
These two conditions can be more easily verified of our brothers of the Eastern Churches, for we have a closer, though not complete, fellowship with them in matters of faith.

III. In such cases public Masses may be celebrated. However, the name of the deceased may not be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer, since this would presuppose full communion with the Catholic Church.
If other Christians are present as well as the Catholics to participate in the celebration of the Masses, the regulations made by the Second Vatican Council and by the Holy See with regard to communicatio in sacris must be most faithfully observed.

In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 11 June 1976, the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI repealed as far as was necessary canon 809 (together with canon 2262,2,2) and canon 1241. He ratified, approved and ordered the promulgation of the above mentioned decision of the Fathers, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.
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I was working on my family history at the same time as I was going through RCIA. I found my great-grandmother’s name and birth date.

That year her 150th birthday fell on a Saturday, so I had the mass said in her honor. She was not listed in the eucharistic prayer, just in the bulletin. It was cool to be able to say “Happy Birthday, Grandma Mattie” during the Eucharist.

She was Lutheran, but she was a faithful Christian, so I have no doubt she is among the “communion of the saints”- the believers who have gone before.
 
I often pray for and have Masses offered for deceased non-Catholics. I figure non-Catholics usually don’t have anyone praying for their souls so we should do that as much as possible.
 
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