What are the little prayer books in a catholic viewing put in the slots?

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A friend went to a catholic viewing and was asking me what the purpose was of the little books that people were putting in the slots in a case next to the casket and at the back of the viewing room. She read one and there was what looked like a prayer petition written in it.

Can you direct me to more information on this tradition - it’s history, meaning, frequency of use, etc.?

These books are the size of a regular book, and look like the binding you might have for an award. Inside is printed the name of the deceased, and that’s all. No picture No prayer (pre-printed), but a prayer was hand-written in at least one.

There were about 15 of them.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Mass cards for the repose of the soul of the deceased? They have a booklet-like look, and can be very ornate.
 
Sounds like you are asking about Mass Cards. They are like a sympathy card except they include a “Spiritual Bouquet” which means that the religious order or Church from which they were obtained will say a Mass or series of prayers, novenas, etc often in perpetuity on behalf of the deceased. Mass cards such as you describe are placed in the box along with other sympathy cards and are given to the immediate family members. They are keepsakes and are quite meaningful and a great comfort to the families who receive them. Often if the deceased was devoted to a particular order or saint, close family and friend will purchase a Mass card from that organization. The proceeds from the purchase help support the mission and ministries of that organization, and often sponsor the formation of a seminarian or novitiate. If you attend the funeral of a Catholic you may wish to obtain and bring a Mass card with you. They can be purchased from most Catholic Parishes, also from Societies such as the Society of the Little Flower, which is the National Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux and others like it.
 
The reason they are put into a locked case with a slot too narrow for a person to fit his hand through is that often mourners will include cash Mass stipends. Sometimes thieves will go to wakes for the purpose of trying to steal these.

I once had to escort one out of our church during a visitation, for his own safety. We noticed that the tool he had been using to try to fish the envelopes back through the slot had gotten stuck and fallen inside the box. So we just kept an eye on it. Pretty soon he came back with another tool, but when faced with the prospect of dozens of enraged sons, grandsons and great-grandsons of the deceased who were on to him, he elected to leave immediately.
 
Suester said:
Sounds like you are asking about Mass Cards. They are like a sympathy card except they include a “Spiritual Bouquet” which means that the religious order or Church from which they were obtained will say a Mass or series of prayers, novenas, etc often in perpetuity on behalf of the deceased. Mass cards such as you describe are placed in the box along with other sympathy cards and are given to the immediate family members. They are keepsakes and are quite meaningful and a great comfort to the families who receive them. Often if the deceased was devoted to a particular order or saint, close family and friend will purchase a Mass card from that organization. The proceeds from the purchase help support the mission and ministries of that organization, and often sponsor the formation of a seminarian or novitiate. If you attend the funeral of a Catholic you may wish to obtain and bring a Mass card with you. They can be purchased from most Catholic Parishes, also from Societies such as the Society of the Little Flower, which is the National Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux and others like it.
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I’ve never seen this in any of the funeral homes around here, but maybe I just wasn’t looking. I just go to the office at the funeral home, tell them I want to have a Mass said for the deceased, give them some money, fill out the card, and they take care of it. I’ve never seen a box with a slit, or maybe it was somewhere and I did not notice. I will have to pay more attention next time.
 
Leopard said:
…when faced with the prospect of dozens of enraged sons, grandsons and great-grandsons of the deceased who were on to him, he elected to leave immediately.
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I forgot to mention, also about fifteen Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus with swords!
 
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