Regarding 30 day Masses for the Departed

[Caleb028]

I have a question regarding the practice of the Church to offer 30 days of consecutive Masses for the departed. Regarding the practice, how soon after death do the Masses have to be said to be beneficial to the departed soul? For example, what if the Masses are not said for a few months after the death ? Also, what benefit is this practice to the soul?

I ask because my youngest sister (she was only 26) passed a few months ago. My older sister has been a little slower than I would like handling her affairs, and after much pestering, I was finally able to get her to call a monastery that is capable of offering the Gregorian Masses. Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

[RosyAnne]

It can be said any time after the death but the motive is to benefit to soul to such an extent that it is released from Purgatory so ideally, the sooner the better.

 

[Zooman77]

There really isn’t a set time that they are beneficial as we never know when/if/how long a person is in Purgatory, but certainly the sooner the better. If the person is in Purgatory(and like I mentioned we have no way of knowing) the Masses will certainly have a beneficial effect. If the person happens to be in Heaven then the effect of the Masses goes to the benefit of all the holy souls in Purgatory(it’s the same if the person is in hell, the benefit would go to all the souls in Purgatory). We will be in Purgatory for as long as is needed(if needed). Do not worry that it has been a few months, the Masses will still be beneficial. Masses are often offered for people for years after they die. There are many things we can do to help the holy souls in Purgatory such as pray, fast, and gain indulgences for them. However, the best thing we can do is offer Masses as they have an infinite as opposed to finite amount of graces attached to them. Gregorian Masses originated from Pope St. Gregory the Great, who after offering thirty Masses for the repose of a monk who died, saw the monk appear to him. The monk told him that he had been released from Purgatory into Heaven because of these Masses. Ever since then they have been used for people who have died as an especially efficacious means of benefiting them. One must remember though that these are not a guarantee to release one from Purgatory and there is no way of knowing if the Masses released the person, so prayers, indulgences, Masses, etecetera should continued to be offered. You can check out books from Susan Tassone if you haven’t already, she is the leading author/expert on Purgatory and the Holy Souls. My sincerest condolences on the passing of your sister. She is in my prayers.

God Bless,

Zooman