Mass Intentions

[Batfink]

I have an intention I would like Mass said for, however it is rather personal (not to me, but it’s for a married couple who are going through difficulties). Does the priest saying the Mass have to know the intention? Quite a lot, I see Masses advertised as being for a ‘special intention’. I assume that in these cases the person requesting the Mass has told the priest what it is for but asked him to keep it private? Or is it allowed to ask the priest to say a Mass for someone without telling him who?

If I have to reveal who it is, I think I will just have the Mass offered by an Aid to the Church in Need priest who won’t know the couple, but I prefer to support my own parish financially if possible as we’re a bit strapped for cash!

Thanks in advance for any answers!

 

[Seatuck]

I have an intention I would like Mass said for, however it is rather personal (not to me, but it’s for a married couple who are going through difficulties). Does the priest saying the Mass have to know the intention? Quite a lot, I see Masses advertised as being for a ‘special intention’. I assume that in these cases the person requesting the Mass has told the priest what it is for but asked him to keep it private? Or is it allowed to ask the priest to say a Mass for someone without telling him who?

If I have to reveal who it is, I think I will just have the Mass offered by an Aid to the Church in Need priest who won’t know the couple, but I prefer to support my own parish financially if possible as we’re a bit strapped for cash!

Thanks in advance for any answers!

You can ask for the Mass to be said for “a special intention” or some wording like that. Most of the time the scheduling is done by the parish secretary and the priest isn’t involved at all.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

When I helped out in my parish office, we would list an intention such as this as
“For the Special Intention(s) of (insert name of person requesting Mass)”.

This seems to be standard operating procedure in my diocese.
I have never had a priest ask what the intention was.
My feeling is that God knows what is in our hearts,
so getting specific is not necessary,

 

[Jean_Anthony]

I would also advise you to not have a Mass offered for a special intention at a parish where they’re known/might be known without the permission of the couple in question. The last thing they need is people asking them what’s wrong if it’s such a private matter. Better to send it in to some place like a mission for a Mass to be said with one of their cards stating that “such and such mission” is remembering them with a Mass. You don’t want to take the chance of embarrassing them.

 

[MissRose73]

Perhaps, you can ask for the intention to be worded as (Private) Intentions of your name without stating what or who the intention is for, and should be requested that way. The person taking the donation and stuff should not ask you why its private or you don’t wish to name the person(s).