Memorial Mass Offerings?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. A friend of mine from Asia is wondering if it is normal and morally ok for a priest to ask people to donate some money for a memorial Mass offering. Any answers you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Completely acceptable. Some places, such as Our Lady of the Snows, an offering of $2. Average parish in the Chicago area, suggested offering of $10.

 

[Phemie]

Hi everyone. A friend of mine from Asia is wondering if it is normal and morally ok for a priest to ask people to donate some money for a memorial Mass offering. Any answers you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

It can be suggested but not demanded and if the person who requests the Mass doesn’t/cannot donate the priest must still celebrate it. Canon Law is clear on that point.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi everyone. A friend of mine from Asia is wondering if it is normal and morally ok for a priest to ask people to donate some money for a memorial Mass offering. Any answers you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, and the stipend is usually set by the diocese. No more no less should be requested.

 

[Marauder]

Also note that the amount should always be small. If it is anything higher then say $20 (usually smaller), then something is wrong. Traditionally this amount isn’t paying for the Mass itself, it is paying for supplies (i.e. the bread and wine) in lue of actually giving the gifts yourself. Now that the offering of the gifts is actually paid for by the parish, where the money goes is defined by the parish/diocese.

 

[Phemie]

Also note that the amount should always be small. If it is anything higher then say $20 (usually smaller), then something is wrong. Traditionally this amount isn’t paying for the Mass itself, it is paying for supplies (i.e. the bread and wine) in lue of actually giving the gifts yourself. Now that the offering of the gifts is actually paid for by the parish, where the money goes is defined by the parish/diocese.

Usually the Mass stipend goes to the priest, through the parish. There are rules about how many Mass stipends he can receive in a day: even if he celebrates 2 Masses, he can only receive the stipend that was given for one of those. The diocese decides what happens to the rest. In our diocese the parish gets to keep the rest, in other dioceses the extra money is sent to the diocese.

 

[Marauder]

Usually the Mass stipend goes to the priest, through the parish.

That’s the way things work in your average parish, but the reason I said things the way I did was it depends on a number of factors. One example, is the parish run by a religious order? If so, depending on the religious order the priest might not see a cent. Money may go to the order, parish or diocese, all depending on the set-up in that diocese. Like I said, where the actual money goes depends on the parish/diocese.

 

[joamy]

I’m going to ask a really basic question (coming from a convert) - how do you go about asking tha a mass be celebrated for certain intentions? Do you contact the parish office?

 

[Phemie]

I’m going to ask a really basic question (coming from a convert) - how do you go about asking tha a mass be celebrated for certain intentions? Do you contact the parish office?

Yes. Or you can talk to the priest directly. Mass intentions are inscribed in the Mass book and announced in some format, usually the parish bulletin.

In parishes that get too many requests – they’re not supposed to have more Masses on the books than they can celebrate in a year – the intentions and the stipends are sent to the missions to be celebrated. I can remember as a child that at least twice a year the priest would post a list of all the Masses he’d sent to be celebrated outside the parish. Some missionaries in poor countries depend on those stipends to make ends meet.

 

[Holly3278]

Ok, this friend of mine has also told me that the priest is saying the offering is necessary for the soul of the deceased. That sounds fishy to me. What about you?

 

[Phemie]

Ok, this friend of mine has also told me that the priest is saying the offering is necessary for the soul of the deceased. That sounds fishy to me. What about you?

Unless she misunderstood – very fishy. How much is he asking for?

 

[Marauder]

IF that is what the priest actually said and not a misunderstanding or misinterpretation, then it sounds like the priest is asking money for indulgences which is not permitted.

The Mass and prayers are what provides for the soul, not the monetary contribution.

 

[Holly3278]

Unless she misunderstood – very fishy. How much is he asking for?

IF that is what the priest actually said and not a misunderstanding or misinterpretation, then it sounds like the priest is asking money for indulgences which is not permitted.

The Mass and prayers are what provides for the soul, not the monetary contribution.

Yeah, this is basically what I told him. But he said he wants something official from the Vatican or something. Can you all possibly provide something official such as Code of Canon Law or something please?

 

[Marauder]

See the following link, go to Canons 945 - 958 Chapter III: The offering made for the celebration of Mass for the appropriate canon on this.

ourladyswarriors.org/canon/c0840-1165.htm

You still haven’t said how much money is being requested. If it is larger then say about $20 the person should contact the diocese and ask someone there what the customary donation is for a Mass to be said.

 

[Holly3278]

See the following link, go to Canons 945 - 958 Chapter III: The offering made for the celebration of Mass for the appropriate canon on this.

ourladyswarriors.org/canon/c0840-1165.htm

You still haven’t said how much money is being requested. If it is larger then say about $20 the person should contact the diocese and ask someone there what the customary donation is for a Mass to be said.

I have not said how much money the priest is requesting because I simply do not know. Anyway, thank you for the Code of Canon Law.