Paying for a blessing

[Raider_Red]

This post has a couple of questions that I’ve been asked by my wonderful Baptist dad and don’t want to just answer what I feel to be true. He just got back from Rome and he said that he paid $10 at one of the Catholic Churches there to have a Mass said for me and my wife and didn’t know why he had to pay for it. He just thought that was what you had to do and wanted to have the Mass said for us but didn’t understand to money aspect of it. The other big question he asked me is why would someone charge money or require it before they would bless something or someone. My dad is a missionary to Honduras and Mexico and he said that in his experiences in Mexico especially, that he has been made known of a few priests that won’t give a child the necessary blessing they need to go from a certain school grade to the next unless he is compensated financially first. I know there is good information on this topic and I’m well aware that either my dad has been given poor info or there is some corruption taking place but nonetheless I thought some of you all might be able to help shed some light on this for me.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This post has a couple of questions that I’ve been asked by my wonderful Baptist dad and don’t want to just answer what I feel to be true. He just got back from Rome and he said that he paid $10 at one of the Catholic Churches there to have a Mass said for me and my wife and didn’t know why he had to pay for it. He just thought that was what you had to do and wanted to have the Mass said for us but didn’t understand to money aspect of it. The other big question he asked me is why would someone charge money or require it before they would bless something or someone. My dad is a missionary to Honduras and Mexico and he said that in his experiences in Mexico especially, that he has been made known of a few priests that won’t give a child the necessary blessing they need to go from a certain school grade to the next unless he is compensated financially first. I know there is good information on this topic and I’m well aware that either my dad has been given poor info or there is some corruption taking place but nonetheless I thought some of you all might be able to help shed some light on this for me.

As for the Mass in Rome, he could have filled out the card and not necessarly put any money in with it, the Mass would have still been said. The usual 5 or 10 $ is a stipen and is not required, but is usual.

As far as Honduras and Mexico it’s possible that some local corruption could be taking place, but it could also be a misunderstanding.

 

[ljubim]

It’s a little-t tradition, as well as a courtesy.

 

[Todd_Easton]

The sin of simony (the buying or selling spiritual things) and ministers asking for offerings (stipends) for the administration of the sacraments are addressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2121-2122.

 

[Raider_Red]

Thank you for the comments and the help. I think I have gotten what I was looking for and was able to solidify a few things. Thanks for the Catechism reference… this was really what I needed.