Giving money to a priest for a Mass intention (I always thought it went to the church).
The offering for a mass intention goes to the priest if it is his first mass of the day, except on Christmas when he may retain 3 mass offerings. If a priest says more than one mass in a day, the second offering is directed wherever the diocese has set the policy. In our diocese it goes to support the priests’ retirement fund. If a priest receives more offerings than he can say in 1 year, the excess are turned over to our diocesan mission offices and given to mission priests to say to help support them.
As the bible says, “the laborer is worth his wages”. The offering you make when you ask for a specific mass intention is a thank you to the priest for saying your intention.
Ten dollars in the US is customary, and it looks like 10 pounds or 10 euro are also common. In some places, such as 3rd world counties, I am sure the customary offering is much less. And may not be money-- it may be food or something like that.
Offerings are governed per canon law, and if you ask for a mass to be said and cannot afford to give or choose not to give an offering, the priest should accept it and say the mass (if he isn’t already obligated for the next year’s worth of masses).
Now, offerings on the occasion of sacraments and funerals are different. In some places the priest receives those. In my diocese those go to the works of charity fund of the parish. There are customary amounts set by the ecclesial province. And, they are suggested, not required.
If he says “I want £10”, how is that not the same as selling a blessing?
If a priest worded it like that, it’s a poor choice of words and does give a wrong impression.
I know, I am looking at it wrong but it is confusing.
It’s a thank you and a token offering for the priest saying your intention as the principle intention of the mass. If you don’t want to make an offering, you can always offer the intention at any mass you attend yourself during your prayer time.
Also, if my house is blessed, how do I sell it without being in simony the same as selling a blessed rosary?
A person can sell a blessed object. When they do, it loses its blessing. It isn’t simony.
If a person sells a blessed object
for the blessing, or charges more because of the blessing, that is simony.
For example:
House blessed by Pope Francis:
Valued at $200K, sell for $220K because of bidding war on house-- fine.
Valued at $200K sell for $300K because you advertised it as having been blessed by Pope Francis and the $100K profit is because of the blessing - not ok, simony.
Selling rosary that has been blessed for $10 - fine.
Selling rosary that has been blessed for $10 + $20 for the blessing - not OK.
