Mass Intentions

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romanchant

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I’ve noticed in some parishes there is ***only one ***Mass Intention for the Masses and in other places there are ***several ***(and unrelated) people for whom the Mass is being said. Is there a Church Document that states the rules for Mass Intrentions?

Thank you and God bless,

Romanchant
 
I can’t give you a document, but I can tell you that definitely a Mass intention can be for only one person. With a possible exception for something like “John and Mary Smith” or “deceased members of the Jones family” with one stipend to cover it. The point is, multiple stipends for one Mass are not permitted.
 
I’ve noticed in some parishes there is ***only one ***Mass Intention for the Masses and in other places there are ***several ***(and unrelated) people for whom the Mass is being said. Is there a Church Document that states the rules for Mass Intrentions?

Thank you and God bless,

Romanchant
the priest may accept a stipend for only one intention for each Mass. The graces of the Mass are limitless and as many intentions are are wished can be mentioned, which we know because of the prayer of the faithful, for one thing, but only one stipend can be accepted, and that intention must be mentioned by the priest at least privately. to cover this most parishes print the Mass intentions or otherwise publicize them.
 
We have a new policy, I presume with diocesan approval, of designating one or two masses a week for multiple intentions. It is just getting started and I am not familiar with all the details of how it works. I suspect that all but one stipend goes to the diocese.
 
See this post: [post=114385]Re: Multiple Mass Intentions?[/post]
the priest may accept a stipend for only one intention for each Mass.
In fact, except on Christmas, a priest may retain only one stipend per day, even if he celebrates more than one Mass. ([post=114534]Scroll down[/post] from the above referenced post)

tee
 
on most dioceses today the priest has the option of retaining stipends for his personal use (they are declared as income to the IRS, they even have a guideline on them), directing them to the parish general fund, or sending them to the diocese. In former days, stipends were his primary or only source of support. but today diocesan priests receive a salary, plus stipends for various things, such as service on a diocesan board or directorship, and expense reimbursements. The purpose of the stipend for a mass intention is a token sacrifice to remind the donor that all comes from God and all is offered back to God, most completely in the Mass. Anyone who can’t pay even a nominal amount can still request a mass intention.
 
on most dioceses today the priest has the option of retaining stipends for his personal use (they are declared as income to the IRS, they even have a guideline on them), directing them to the parish general fund, or sending them to the diocese.
Do you mean that priests may retain more than one stipend per day? How does that sqaure with Canon 951.1? (I admit that I do not understand the last clause of which myself)

(Or did you mean stipends (those received across several days) in general?)

tee
 
Although there should be only one intention per Mass, perhaps we should have a look at what the situation would be if this were imposed. When would we ever get a Mass offered for a loved one?

In my parish there can be as many as 20 people mentioned - some asking for healing or other intentions, some in thanksgiving, and, lastly, a number for the dead (named, or for the souls in purgatory). This is every day, two Masses a day Monday through Friday, Saturday morning, the Saturday evening vigil Mass, and four Masses on Sunday.

If there could be only one intention per Mass, it would take about 20 years to offer Mass, one per intention, for all the intentions now being offered.

In prior years (prior to VII), it was common for priests (with the permission of the person making the request for the Mass) to send these intention (and the offerings) to priests in mission territories. I do not think this is done now. Anyway, people want to be at the Mass and hear their intention mentioned.

There is no limit to the graces available from one Mass, so multiple intentions do not cause anyone to receive less grace because of other intentions being included. I think, mainly, the problem is the possibility of the temptation for a priest to become greedy for the offerings…
 
Shouldn’t one consult the documents of the Church rather than express opinions in the search for truth…

RomanChant
 
Although there should be only one intention per Mass, perhaps we should have a look at what the situation would be if this were imposed. When would we ever get a Mass offered for a loved one?

In my parish there can be as many as 20 people mentioned - some asking for healing or other intentions, some in thanksgiving, and, lastly, a number for the dead (named, or for the souls in purgatory). This is every day, two Masses a day Monday through Friday, Saturday morning, the Saturday evening vigil Mass, and four Masses on Sunday.

If there could be only one intention per Mass, it would take about 20 years to offer Mass, one per intention, for all the intentions now being offered.

In prior years (prior to VII), it was common for priests (with the permission of the person making the request for the Mass) to send these intention (and the offerings) to priests in mission territories. I do not think this is done now. Anyway, people want to be at the Mass and hear their intention mentioned.

There is no limit to the graces available from one Mass, so multiple intentions do not cause anyone to receive less grace because of other intentions being included. I think, mainly, the problem is the possibility of the temptation for a priest to become greedy for the offerings…
Are you distinguishing between those prayed for in the Prayer of the Faithful and those for whom the mass is offered?
 
Our parish also designates one or two Masses periodically to be for multiple intentions. If we did not, one would have to schedule a Mass intention a year or two in advance, which would cause problems when we wish to have a Mass said for someone who is in the process of dying for example. I do not believe our priests keep the stipends for themselves, though.

This reminds me of a related question I ran accross recently. At my home parish, when a person is still living, the names are not publicly printed or announced. It is listed as a “special intention.” But at another parish we visit sometimes, this is not done. I guess they are trying to protect the privacy of people? but I don’t understand why the difference between the two parishes…
 
can someone explain why stipends are accepted for mass intentions? It’s always been confusing to me.
 
Are you distinguishing between those prayed for in the Prayer of the Faithful and those for whom the mass is offered?
Is there a difference? I have never heard of anyone asking for someone to be prayed for in the Prayer of the Faithful as opposed to having a Massed offered for them. To my knowledge, all those who are prayed for in the Prayer of the Faithful are those for whom the Mass is being offered - at least in the diocese where I live.
 
eventhough one person’s stipend is accepted by priest for mass he is praying for all people along with the person who have given stipend in mass we have to pray for other’s intention also in the mass
 
On Sunday, I asked our pastor if we would have our regularly scheduled 6:30 am Mass on Memorial Day. He took the bulletin from me to double check and noticed that the Mass was being offered for him. “Can’t miss that!” he says.
 
I’m going to just interject something here. If you have a difficult time having masses said at your home parish, this is a place where you can have a missionary priest say one for you. Not only do you get to have a mass said for your intention, but you are helping support priests in India, Egypt, etc. Mass stipends are only $5.00 each, too.

cnewa.org/generalpg-verus.aspx?pageID=167
 
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