Intentions of the Priest at Mass

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Augustine3

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I’m reading a book titled “My Catholic faith” it said the priest is not permitted to offer up the mass for non-Catholics, only the lay people assisting at mass may privately do it. Why isn’t the priest permitted?
 
My priest told me that no one can offer up a mass for a non-catholic. I guess you can offer it privately, but not where the priest says their name during mass etc. according to my priest. When I asked why, he said how do we know that they would want a mass offered up if they were not Catholic.
 
But how is that any different if I offered a rosary for the conversion of Islam. I’m sure Muslims wouldn’t want me to pray for them especially with that sort of intention…

Did not Jesus die for the sake humanity? Why do priests limit the application of the holy sacrifice?

God bless,
 
Actually, the Mass is not offered up for anyone in particular, Catholic or not, because the Mass is for the people. A Special Intention can be mentioned during the Prayers of the Faithful, Catholic or Non-Catholic, but the Mass itself if FOR everyone. The only Mass that is usually considered FOR someone is a Memorial or Funeral Mass.
 
Ok – if the mass is meant for everyone in general why are priests not permitted to personally offer up the mass for non-Catholics?

God bless,
 
Augustine3 said:
Ok – if the mass is meant for everyone in general why are priests not permitted to personally offer up the mass for non-Catholics?

God bless,
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Prayer’s can be offered up, not the Mass specifically. Prayers can be offered for anyone, even non-Catholics. The Mass is a participation in the continuing Sacrifice of Christ. What was written in “My Catholic Faith” was, perhaps, not worded quite correctly. I think they meant the prayer intentions during the Mass, not the Mass itself since it isn’t offered up for any particulary person. Nor will the priest mention specific people during the intercessions during the Eucharistic Prayer (except maybe during a funeral or memorial Mass). A priest can offer up prayers during Mass for anyone he wants and many do in the silence of their hearts. While Mass is a Celebration and the greatest Prayer we can offer, it is still different than praying for someone.
 
Augustine3 said:
I’m reading a book titled “My Catholic faith” it said the priest is not permitted to offer up the mass for non-Catholics, only the lay people assisting at mass may privately do it. Why isn’t the priest permitted?
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Is this the 1953 French book by Louis LaRavoire (translated, I presume)?
 
I’m confused by this thread. Are you saying that if we have a deceased relative who was not Catholic, then we cannot request that a Mass be said for them? (Because I have requested Masses for several non-Catholic relatives.)
 
EnglishTeacher said:
I’m confused by this thread. Are you saying that if we have a deceased relative who was not Catholic, then we cannot request that a Mass be said for them? (Because I have requested Masses for several non-Catholic relatives.)
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We have little pieces of paper that we fill out for mass intentions and we submit those and some submit money with them. Is this what every one is speaking of? Then during the mass the priest will say “and especially for the souls of Joe Smith and John Doe” (etc. and so forth) at some point during the mass… ???

My priest said we cannot offer up a special mass intention for people who were not Catholic. I have wanted to offer Mass for my parents, but they were not Catholic. I pray for their souls during mass but have never “had a mass said for them.”
 
I am on staff at a large parish and each Mass is said for two people - or the parishioners as a whole. On our birthday the parish has a Mass said for us. I always got an odd feeling from this on my birthday because it is usually for the repose of someone’s soul.
 
dconklin said:
I am on staff at a large parish and each Mass is said for two people - or the parishioners as a whole. On our birthday the parish has a Mass said for us. I always got an odd feeling from this on my birthday because it is usually for the repose of someone’s soul.
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Masses can be offered for the living or the dead. Many people in our parish offer novenas of Masses when someone is seriously ill. Our priest also encourages people to request Masses be offered for Birthdays or Anniversaries. He has mentioned many times that no Mass should ever be said without being offered for some intention. When announcing the intention, if the person is living, he usually says “for the intentions of Joe Smith”.
 
puppypatrol said:
Prayer’s can be offered up, not the Mass specifically.
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This is incorrect. Masses are offered.
Can. 945 §1. In accord with the approved practice of the Church, any priest celebrating or concelebrating is permitted to receive an offering to apply **the Mass **for a specific intention.
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Augustine3 said:
Yes it is, why?
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Knowing when (and where) it’s from might help someone to track it down (if they’re interested), but also help to understand where its contents are coming from.

I have found some online excerpts from this book, but not one that addresses specifically what you have said. Could you copy down the exact sentences from the book that moved you to ask this question?
 
EnglishTeacher said:
I’m confused by this thread. Are you saying that if we have a deceased relative who was not Catholic, then we cannot request that a Mass be said for them? (Because I have requested Masses for several non-Catholic relatives.)
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Me too.
No one has ever asked me anywhere if the deceased person we want to pray for at Mass was catholic,believed or not,or anything.Think of all the people and issues we ask for in our intentions in Mass…we pray for victims in hurricanes,sometimes leaders in the world…not for the “catholic victims” in a hurricane…
 
Augustine3 said:
I’m reading a book titled “My Catholic faith” it said the priest is not permitted to offer up the mass for non-Catholics, only the lay people assisting at mass may privately do it. Why isn’t the priest permitted?
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Hello Augustine3,

This is wrong. A priest can “offer Mass for anyone, living or dead.” This is stated in canon law, canon 901 in the 1983 Code and canon 809 in the 1917 Code.

The only restriction that was in place in the old Code is that a priest could not publicly offer a Mass for someone who was excommunicated. He could do so privately, however.

This restriction is no longer in place.

Dan
 
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