Perpetual Mass Enrollment Card?

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HyeDetroit

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Hello,

I saw a notice in a weekly Catholic Church newsletter about Perpetual Mass Enrollment Cards.
What is that?
I googled it and it still wasn’t clear.
 
I’m not sure if this is what you’re talking about, but a lot of religious orders and shrines and such offer these enrollments. I usually send one if someone is very ill or has died. You send the order some amount of money, and they enroll the person in their Masses. The priests or whatever group it is, prays for the people enrolled in daily Mass. I get cards in the mail, usually very pretty cards with some prayers printed, and an explantion for the recipient, and I mail that to the family and there’s a little coupon and envelope to send a check. I have a huge box of them from when my mother died a few years ago.
 
Would it be inappropriate to enroll a healthy person in it, or is it just for sick and deceased?
 
You can have it done for anyone at all.

Let me add that the spiritual benefits have having masses said for people are… immeasurable…

One of the first things I did after my conversion was to sign -myself- onto a -bunch- of Perpetual mass enrollments. There are family ones you can do for an entire family… your own or for friends’ families…

And it is customary when you hear a person has died to send a mass card, as a Catholic.
 
Well, I have to tell you, brothers and sisters, some of these places want
OUTRAGEOUS fees for individual enrollments.
The Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) want a WHOPPING THIRTY DOLLARS for an individual enrollment in the Mass Association.
Good Lord, who can AFFORD such an exhorbitant enrollment fee???
Especially these days??? All at once??? Just to be enrolled???
Especially if you want to enroll 5 or more friends separately???
You would go BROKE trying to pay these fees. This is RIDICULOUS and
INEXCUSABLE. After all, Rome wasn’t BUILT in a DAY, for crying out loud.
The Transalphine Redemptorists sent me info on enrolling in their Purgatorian Archconfraternity. A nice thing. But I nearly had a heart attack when I read some of what they are asking, namely, a whopping ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS for a Perpetual Enrollment of ONE Person. ONE Person. I’m sorry, but to me, that is absolutely inexcusable. The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception wants Twenty Five bucks and up. And the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate want a whopping TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS to LIGHT A WAX VOTIVE CANDLE for you intentions. TWENTY FIVE bucks for a CANDLE. I’m sorry, but in my mind, I cannot find any justification for these exhorbitant fees. No justification AT ALL. ON THE OTHER HAND:
THANK GOD for the Seraphic Mass Association, where you can perpetually enroll an individual for $5.00, $10,00 or $15.00, depending on the type of enrollment(s). These fees are reasonable and just, as are the fees asked by ST. ANN’S SHRINE for enrollment in their Eucharistic Mass Association ( $5.00 per individual, plus any voluntary donations you may periodically wish to make, as you are able ).
I am going to write to these others, who want a pot of gold, basically, for individual enrollments, and tell them that they HAVE TO BRING THEIR PRICES DOWN, as these fees smack of Simony, even though that, I am sure, is NOT their intent.
But TWENTY FIVE BUCKS to light a votive candle???
What is that candle made of, solid GOLD???
It just doesn’t fly with me. It just doesn’t fly. WHO can afford this other than people who make gobs and gobs of money??? Are prayer enrollments ONLY for those lucky enough to be moderately wealthy??? Good grief !!!
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY
 
Well… then don’t pay it! No one is forcing you to. It may not occur to you that they will probably haggle with you, for example out of genuine need. They only “charge” as a “suggested donation” usually. It is a way to help them. If you genuinely need it for cheaper, they will probably work with you.

🤷
 
The Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) want a WHOPPING THIRTY DOLLARS for an individual enrollment in the Mass Association.
Good Lord, who can AFFORD such an exhorbitant enrollment fee???
Especially these days??? All at once??? Just to be enrolled???
Especially if you want to enroll 5 or more friends separately???
You would go BROKE trying to pay these fees. This is RIDICULOUS and
INEXCUSABLE. After all, Rome wasn’t BUILT in a DAY, for crying out loud.
Would you like to know where the money goes?
A priest who is a distant relative of mine would know.
He currently resides in the SVD retirement home.
He was called back there from Ghana,
a small country in West Africa, under obedience
after cancer was discovered for the third time,
since the USA provides better medical care.
He would have preferred living out his remaining days
among “his people in Africa” as he called them.
He called me the other day, having received my Christmas card.
“You didn’t need to send me any money,” Father said,
“They take very good care of me here. You know, I gave the money
to the African mission.”

Father was a missionary priest in Ghana for over 50 years.
He was allowed to return to visit his family in the US for several weeks
once every three years. Father would describe things like the joy of the Mass
in Ghana, where people would sing with so much spirit, and describe the
grateful smile of a woman whose picture he brought back with him, telling us
how this woman lived hand to mouth, not sure from day to day where her
next meal would come from. And Father would mention how blessed we were
in America to have water.

Father is past 90 years old now, am not sure how able he is to still say Mass
given his declining health.
But if you would like to pass along a prayer request to him, please let me know.
I’ll do my best to pass your request along to him and I’m sure he would, health permitting,
be willing to pray for you for free.
Father is already praying for a CAF member here named Spiritualunity … and
she is also praying for Father.

~~ the phoenix
 
I just had to respond this thread. The Divine Word Missionary is an unbelievable place, it’s located in Techny, Ill. in fact it’s the only thing located in Techny. I used to live very near Techny and went there often. I have sent many mass cards and each person who has received them has remarked how beautiful they are and how grateful they are to receive them. I have also had many masses said without a card. The money goes for all the good works the Missionaries do that go unpublished, unless you receive a small publication from them letting you know where your money goes. Personally, I’m not affluent, at times can barely get by, but I still call Techny for masses. I went as a child with my Dad and I will continue as long as I’m able. What these Missionaries do can not be measured in dollar’s and cent’s, they have devoted their lives.
God Bless them all.
 
To: Jaypeeto4

Do you have any idea of what you are saying?..These dark thoughts and temptations should banish from your mind.

Do you have any idea about the Privileges and Advantages of being a member of the Purgatorian Archconfraternity? I think you haven’t read or known anything…

" Affiliation to the Redemptorists and other Orders: The heads of SEVERAL religious orders have concurred in favouring the Archconfraternity. The Superiors-General of the Carmelites, of the Augustinians, of the Trinitarians, of the Franciscans and of the Capuchins, have AFFILIATED all the members of the Archconfraternity as OBLATES of their respective orders, and they grant them the PRIVILEGE of sharing in ALL the good works which are performed in these orders. The Archconfraternity being under the direction of the Redemptorists, all its members share also, in a particular manner, in all the good works which are performed in the Transalpine Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer." - It`s almost hard to believe but there are many more mentioned in the list of advantages in the website.

Financially speaking, If you were to take this literally, your donation of $150 divided by 6 for the six religious orders equals $25 ONLY! Ask yourself what can $25 can do to help each religious order and in perpetuity - that $25 is barely enough for one person for a day… Imagine if your mother would only give you $150 for your tuition or food, what help can it bring and for how long?.. Remember they are celebrating Holy Mass continuously for your sake forever, they are training men in studying for the Priesthood and providing their daily needs, providing everything the Monasteries needs, feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, giving it to those who are most in need, etc. etc. etc… We are not only helping them, but we also helping others through them… “A single soul saved is worth more than our life.”… So, the donation of $150 is absolutely small, almost insignificant - Actually we should be totally ashamed of ourselves…

Those votive candles your complaning for $25 seems too big, but remember they ask of these one-time donation because it doesn’t lit forever. It is your help for them retain a prayerful place of worship for many… again, no one is forcing you.

So what can these one-time donation/payments/fees of $5.00, $10,00, $15.00 or even $50 to $150 can do to help?.. Do not think only of saving yourself. Give with a good heart and you shall receive.

Exorbitant Fees? Outrageous Payment? Whopping or Very Large Donations? Ridiculous? Absolutely Inexcusable? An Act of Simony? Unjust?.. It would give us more than a heart attack if we are to come in the Day of Judgment, and to be asked: “What did you do for me?” … and we do not know what to say… Can we be ever wrong in giving ourselves to others?

No one is forcing you to enroll your love ones especially all at once, you can do it little by little, one by one. The Good Lord God in His Divine Mercy knows everything you need and will help and guide you to secure yourself and your love ones on all your needs, if we seek Him first…

Many of us cannot shell out $150 in one shot, I know it’s hard, but we could save some amount we could manage every paycheck/every month, have a box and envelopes and a list of dates in your notebook that remind you to save some for this and that… you know what I mean…

Be patient, the Good Lord God does not look on the success of the work, but on the sacrifices we give for His sake. He could rewards us more than we ask or ever dream of, if we give in perfect charity and love.

It is better to be broke and die, that God may know in your pure heart burning with perfect charity you did all you could, sacrificed everything. For what you give you will receive threefold. It is not what you receive, but what you give that is important upon your life on earth. The soul’s true happiness is found in self-sacrifice for the glory of God…

Our needs are many and very great, but will the All-Powerful God fail us if we trust Him? Let us learn to deny ourselves and give our absolute trust in God, this will please Him most… God can restore and provide everything you need in a instant, He is All-Merciful, nothing is impossible for Him Who loves you so much.

Saint Matthew, Chapter 6:33

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Saint Matthew, Chapter 16:25

For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
 
I came back to this thread to see what was happening. I forgot to mention the most important aspect of Perpetual Mass enrollment, at least for me. Yes, I have them said for those who have passed, but I also have them said for the Souls in Purgatory. It seems to me they are the forgotten ones. Those poor Souls aren’t talked about much and they should be prayed for more frequently. Fortunately, I go to a Church that does and that comforts me. I was taught at a young age to never forget them and have masses said for them, so I do every month.
 
To: Jaypeeto4

Do you have any idea of what you are saying?..These dark thoughts and temptations should banish from your mind.

Do you have any idea about the Privileges and Advantages of being a member of the Purgatorian Archconfraternity? I think you haven’t read or known anything…

" Affiliation to the Redemptorists and other Orders: The heads of SEVERAL religious orders have concurred in favouring the Archconfraternity. The Superiors-General of the Carmelites, of the Augustinians, of the Trinitarians, of the Franciscans and of the Capuchins, have AFFILIATED all the members of the Archconfraternity as OBLATES of their respective orders, and they grant them the PRIVILEGE of sharing in ALL the good works which are performed in these orders. The Archconfraternity being under the direction of the Redemptorists, all its members share also, in a particular manner, in all the good works which are performed in the Transalpine Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer." - It`s almost hard to believe but there are many more mentioned in the list of advantages in the website.

Financially speaking, If you were to take this literally, your donation of $150 divided by 6 for the six religious orders equals $25 ONLY! Ask yourself what can $25 can do to help each religious order and in perpetuity - that $25 is barely enough for one person for a day… Imagine if your mother would only give you $150 for your tuition or food, what help can it bring and for how long?.. Remember they are celebrating Holy Mass continuously for your sake forever, they are training men in studying for the Priesthood and providing their daily needs, providing everything the Monasteries needs, feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, giving it to those who are most in need, etc. etc. etc… We are not only helping them, but we also helping others through them… “A single soul saved is worth more than our life.”… So, the donation of $150 is absolutely small, almost insignificant - Actually we should be totally ashamed of ourselves…

Those votive candles your complaning for $25 seems too big, but remember they ask of these one-time donation because it doesn’t lit forever. It is your help for them retain a prayerful place of worship for many… again, no one is forcing you.

So what can these one-time donation/payments/fees of $5.00, $10,00, $15.00 or even $50 to $150 can do to help?.. Do not think only of saving yourself. Give with a good heart and you shall receive.

Exorbitant Fees? Outrageous Payment? Whopping or Very Large Donations? Ridiculous? Absolutely Inexcusable? An Act of Simony? Unjust?.. It would give us more than a heart attack if we are to come in the Day of Judgment, and to be asked: “What did you do for me?” … and we do not know what to say… Can we be ever wrong in giving ourselves to others?

No one is forcing you to enroll your love ones especially all at once, you can do it little by little, one by one. The Good Lord God in His Divine Mercy knows everything you need and will help and guide you to secure yourself and your love ones on all your needs, if we seek Him first…

Many of us cannot shell out $150 in one shot, I know it’s hard, but we could save some amount we could manage every paycheck/every month, have a box and envelopes and a list of dates in your notebook that remind you to save some for this and that… you know what I mean…

Be patient, the Good Lord God does not look on the success of the work, but on the sacrifices we give for His sake. He could rewards us more than we ask or ever dream of, if we give in perfect charity and love.

It is better to be broke and die, that God may know in your pure heart burning with perfect charity you did all you could, sacrificed everything. For what you give you will receive threefold. It is not what you receive, but what you give that is important upon your life on earth. The soul’s true happiness is found in self-sacrifice for the glory of God…

Our needs are many and very great, but will the All-Powerful God fail us if we trust Him? Let us learn to deny ourselves and give our absolute trust in God, this will please Him most… God can restore and provide everything you need in a instant, He is All-Merciful, nothing is impossible for Him Who loves you so much.

Saint Matthew, Chapter 6:33

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Saint Matthew, Chapter 16:25

For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
Thank you for writing this response; that is how I think about this. I, myself, have enrolled my family in the Purgatorian Archconfraternity and I think of this as a MAJOR blessing. Imagine what this will do for those who are enroll when they need help to enter into heaven. Also, they have one year payments of $10 if you can’t do the perpetual membership.
 
I came back to this thread to see what was happening. I forgot to mention the most important aspect of Perpetual Mass enrollment, at least for me. Yes, I have them said for those who have passed, but I also have them said for the Souls in Purgatory. It seems to me they are the forgotten ones. Those poor Souls aren’t talked about much and they should be prayed for more frequently. Fortunately, I go to a Church that does and that comforts me. I was taught at a young age to never forget them and have masses said for them, so I do every month.
I get Perpeptual Mas cards from the Passionist Fathers and always have a Mass said for someone who died, but never thought of the Souls in Purgatory. What a beautiful thought, as I was taught to pray God them too and “offer it up” for them. But then, what go you do with the card you usually send to the family? Do you just keep it?
 
Utah Rose,
How wonderful of you to show an interest in the Souls! I’ve been doing this for a while, so the wonderful people I speak with know there is no card involved. The card would just come to me acknowledging the masses being said and I really don’t need it.
This is such an exciting time of year for many reason’s, did you realize the Gates of Purgatory will open for many Souls to enter Heaven on Christmas Day?
Another reason for a warm heart on Christmas Day.
God Bless
 
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