Can masses be said for non Catholics?

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I have friends who have died. They converted out of the Catholic faith and died protestant. Can I have masses said for these friends?
 
Absolutely! All God’s creatures need prayers. We have an obligation to pray especially for those friends and loved ones in our lives. You may be the only one who does pray for them!
 
Of course. They probably have a greater need for your Masses than you’ll ever know. It’s a generous and charitable thing to do for them. 🙂
 
Excommunication from the Catholic Church is defined as “exclusion from fellowship in a group or community” and “depriving a person of the rights of church membership” which include having public prayers said for them. A person who is not a member of the Catholic Church also is deprived of the the rights of church membership since they are not a member. Wouldn’t that also include the benefit of not having public (mass) prayers said for them?
 
Sir_Knight said:
Wouldn’t that also include the benefit of not having public (mass) prayers said for them?
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From the CCC:
III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
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1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
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1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607
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As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608
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1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
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Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611
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So I take it to mean that the only requirement you need to have a mass said for the repose of someone’s soul is that they die in God’s grace and friendship. Since we have no way of knowing whether someone is in God’s grace of friendship or not, despite any past sins or errors they may have committed during the course of their lives, isn’t it better to err in their favor? 🙂 There’s no such thing as a wasted prayer. 🙂
 
joclucsylv said:
I have friends who have died. They converted out of the Catholic faith and died protestant. Can I have masses said for these friends?
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Greetings Joclucsylv,

Of course, I would counsel you to do so. Everyone needs prayers, and if they are in purgatory they sure would appreciate Mass being said for them.

God bless.
Anathama Sit
 
joclucsylv said:
I have friends who have died. They converted out of the Catholic faith and died protestant. Can I have masses said for these friends?
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yes you may and you certainly should. you do not have to inform their families if they would find the idea offensive.
 
midori said:
From the CCC:

So I take it to mean that the only requirement you need to have a mass said for the repose of someone’s soul is that they die in God’s grace and friendship. Since we have no way of knowing whether someone is in God’s grace of friendship or not, despite any past sins or errors they may have committed during the course of their lives, isn’t it better to err in their favor? 🙂 There’s no such thing as a wasted prayer. 🙂
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So why does the Church FORBID public prayers to be said for those who have been excommunicated?

People who are excommunicated are “outside of the community” of the Catholic Church. Those who are not Catholic are also “outside of the community of the Catholic Church”. Why would mass be forbidden for one group but allowed for the other group?
 
The Canon Law quoted by Sir Knight is not a valid article in the new Code of 1983. It appears to have been photocopied from an older version, and as such, would be abrogated under the new language in §1183, 1184.

OP, I would ask your priest, but puzzleannie is very knowledgable and I would trust her opinion as well.

Certainly, you are permitted to pray for any soul who has departed, since at the moment of their death, God may have granted the grace of repentence, through the continual prayers of the Church offered for the dying. There are many throughout the world who offer the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for this specific intention, myself included. The Church does not even make a definite statement concerning Judas.

Certainly, occasions for scandal would be not be present in having a mass said, and you can always send an stipend to the missions to have a mass offered. Meanwhile, pray for them. St. Faustina tells us that our prayers may be used by God for another person, and are always beneficial.

In faith, we also trust to the intercession of Mary, that is also prayed universally and continually: “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” Truly, this is not merely lip service. 😉
 
I just found this article from Zenit posted at EWTN:
First, we must distinguish between offering a funeral Mass and celebrating a Mass whose intention is the eternal repose of a particular soul.

Since the latter is basically the private intention of the priest, albeit offered at the request of a particular person, and since there are practically no limitations as to whom we may pray for, almost any intention can be admitted.

In cases that might cause scandal, especially if the person were denied a funeral Mass, it would not be prudent to make this intention public.
 
Sirach2 said:
The Canon Law quoted by Sir Knight is not a valid article in the new Code of 1983. It appears to have been photocopied from an older version, and as such, would be abrogated under the new language in §1183, 1184.
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I guess that would explain why I couldn’t find anything online. So the old Canon is no longer valid?
 
That is true, Sir Knight. The new Canon states it here:

Can. 6 §1. When this Code takes force, the following are abrogated:
1/ the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917;
2/ other universal or particular laws contrary to the prescripts of this Code unless other provision is expressly made for particular laws;
3/ any universal or particular penal laws whatsoever issued by the Apostolic See unless they are contained in this Code;
4/ other universal disciplinary laws regarding matter which this Code completely reorders.
§2. Insofar as they repeat former law, the canons of this Code must be assessed also in accord with canonical tradition.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2.HTM
 
Sir_Knight said:
Can’t find an online copy but this is what it says in the Canon law book …

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Hello Sir Knight,

In addition to what you quoted being from the old Code, that book wasn’t even correct about what canon law said. The quote referred to c. 2262. Here is what that canon said:

“1. One excommunicated is not able to participate in the indulgences, suffrages, and public prayers of the Church. 2. Nevertheless, it is **not **prohibited: 1. For the faithful to pray privately for him; 2. For priests privately and avoiding scandal to apply Mass for him, but if he is banned (a “vitandus”), only for his conversion.” (emphasis added)

So, even in “the old days” saying a “private” Mass for an excommunicated person was permitted. What book did you get that quote from?

The question of the thread, however, is about non-Catholics. Since only Catholics can be excommunicated, this issue does not really apply to the question at hand.

Dan
 
Sir_Knight said:
So why does the Church FORBID public prayers to be said for those who have been excommunicated?

?
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do you have some citation for this?
in any case, how would you know if they are excommunicated? noyb
have the Mass said anyhow
 
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