When is the Requiem Mass?

[PolishK]

Is there a set date in the Church? If so, when is the Mass held this year? I’ve only been to one and I believe it was toward the end of the year.

Thanks for your help!

 

[YoungTradCath]

A Requiem Mass is a [specific kind of] funeral Mass, and if I recall correctly, it can be done on any day except Sundays and during the Triduum.

 

[Operalan]

I wonder if you’re referring to the Mass of All Souls which is celebrated on November 2?

 

[jmjconder]

**A Mass celebrated for the dead. The word Requiem comes from the initial word of the opening song in the Latin Rite. Requiem means rest. **

 

[Bergon]

Is there a set date in the Church? If so, when is the Mass held this year? I’ve only been to one and I believe it was toward the end of the year.

Thanks for your help!

A requiem Mass is also called a Mass for the Dead. Of course, any Mass may be celebrated with the intention of praying for the repose of someone’s soul.

Requiem Massess are celebrated in relation to various events. The most important one is the requiem Mass that is someone’s funeral. This is often called a Funeral Mass.

Other requiem Masses may be celebrated on the following occasions: upon receiving the news of someone’s death; the day of final burial, if this is on a day different from the funeral; a Mass celebrated roughly one month after death; Mass on the first anniversary of death.

Requiem Masses can also be offered on the second and subsequent anniversary of a person’s death.

The occasion for the requiem Mass determines on which days when it can be celebrated. Funeral Masses are only prohibited on Sacred Triduum; Holy Thursday; Sundays in Advent, Lent and Easter; solemnities that are holydays of obligation. At the other extreeme, Masses for the Dead other than in connection witht the Funeral, receiving news of the death, final burial or first anniversary, are only permitted on weekdays in Ordinary Time.

 

[R_C]

A Requiem Mass is a [specific kind of] funeral Mass, and if I recall correctly, it can be done on any day except Sundays and during the Triduum.

And I believe it is something that is now found only in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite - it includes several variations from High Mass, the inclusion of the Dies Irae, and the Rite of Absolution before the casket.

I know because I’ll be serving in one such Mass for the first time on Monday.

 

[Bergon]

A Requiem Mass is a [specific kind of] funeral Mass, and if I recall correctly, it can be done on any day except Sundays and during the Triduum.

And I believe it is something that is now found only in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite - it includes several variations from High Mass, the inclusion of the Dies Irae, and the Rite of Absolution before the casket.

I know because I’ll be serving in one such Mass for the first time on Monday.

I’m confused by these postings. It doesn’t concur with my understanding. That doesn’t mean I’m right. These things contradict what I believed to be correct.

“A Requiem Mass is a [specific kind of] funeral Mass …”. Isn’t a funeral Mass a type of Requiem Mass. Requiems can be celebrated on a variety of occasions, e.g. receiving news of a death, anniversary of death? The Funeral Mass is a Requiem Mass that is the deceased’s funeral, isn’t it?

“And I believe it is something that is now found only in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite …”. I understand Requiem Masses are celebrated in the Ordinary Form. They may be called Masses of the dead. Is “requiem” inappropriate to use in the Ordinary Form?

Considering which forum we’re in, are you both talking about a very specific Mass that I’ve not come across before?

 

[R_C]

The only thing I know to be termed “Requiem Mass” is this.

I did however read that a Requiem Mass could be (was?) offered on All Soul’s Day - see here.

Now here is the history of this Mass, and among other things

• liturgical color is black (vestments and ornaments) with one exception
• it is by its very nature extra ordinem officii, that is, it has no relation to the office of the day, so it may be rightly considered a votive Mass, which means it may not be celebrated “except for some reasonable cause” (nisi rationabili de causa), since “the Mass should, as far as possible, accord with the Office”; and therefore neither may requiem Masses be celebrated without reasonable motive; and this reasonable motive does not exist when the Mass is not to be offered for one, or several, dead, in particular, or for all the dead in general.

 

[OraLabora]

And I believe it is something that is now found only in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite - it includes several variations from High Mass, the inclusion of the Dies Irae, and the Rite of Absolution before the casket.

I know because I’ll be serving in one such Mass for the first time on Monday.

No this not true. The “Requiem Mass” in the old rite was officially known as the “Mass of the Dead”. The term “Requiem Mass” alludes to the entrance antiphon: Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis (and also the Gradual which has the same verse). It isn’t “official” terminology.

In the OF, it’s still called unofficially a Requiem Mass (at our abbey for instance) and officially, Mass of the Dead, and the official book of Gregorian chant still starts the Mass for the Dead with the same antiphon, Requiem aeternam…

In the OF liturgy, apart from the Requiem Mass itself there are rites for the liturgy before the casket, from the home of the deceased, for the procession into the church, procession to the cemetery.

The Dies Irae is no longer part of the OF Requiem Mass. It has been moved to become the hymn for Vigils (Office of Readings), Lauds and Vespers of the last week in Ordinary Time.

Of course you’d be hard pressed to find all this at your average parish funeral. However our schola is frequently asked to chant a Requiem Mass (always in the OF), and we usually do a couple per year. We even had one, a couple of years ago, that was entirely (again OF), in Latin.

 

[Ruprecht]

When I was an altar boy back in the 1950’s I served at so many Funeral Masses that I still remember the Gregorian chant, still can sing the Dies Irae, In Paradisum, the Kyrie, and the rest. It was so moving and made a lifelong impression on me…well,not quite lifelong yet…

 

[YoungTradCath]

There are different kinds of Masses for the dead:

Masses for dead, baptized children under seven years
Masses for all other dead, which is the generic one
Masses for memorials/anniversaries of deaths
Mass on All Souls Day which, in the OF, if I’m not mistaken, is the generic Mass for the dead

Some of these have as their Introit the Requiem. At least one does not, and I believe it is the one for dead, baptized children under seven years.

 

[Bergon]

The only thing I know to be termed “Requiem Mass” is this.

I did however read that a Requiem Mass could be (was?) offered on All Soul’s Day - see here.

Now here is the history of this Mass, and among other things

• liturgical color is black (vestments and ornaments) with one exception
• it is by its very nature extra ordinem officii, that is, it has no relation to the office of the day, so it may be rightly considered a votive Mass, which means it may not be celebrated “except for some reasonable cause” (nisi rationabili de causa), since “the Mass should, as far as possible, accord with the Office”; and therefore neither may requiem Masses be celebrated without reasonable motive; and this reasonable motive does not exist when the Mass is not to be offered for one, or several, dead, in particular, or for all the dead in general.

I understand now: you’re referring to one type of Mass for the dead (a.k.a. requiem Mass).

In the EF I think there’s four classes of Mass for the Dead:

1. 
   *]On the occasion of the funeral itself;
   *]On one or more of the following occasions: receiving news of a death, day of final burial, first anniversary of death;
   *]On the occasion of the second and subsequent anniversary of death;
   *]Daily Mass of the Dead (I think this was applied for all souls).
   
   In the OF I don’t think Masses of the dead are strictly classified but the reason for the Mass determines when it can be celebrated. They are often shown in tables that show whether votive Masses can be celebrated on a particular day as R1, R2 and R3.
   
   R1 is the Mass said as the deceased’s funeral. This Mass has the most “privileges”, i.e. days when it’s permitted. R2 is for the occasion of receiving news of a death. R2 is permitted on the day of the final disposition of the mortal remains (if that doesn’t happen on the same day as the funeral). Also R2 is for the Mass on the first anniversary of death. R3 is for the second and subsequent anniversaries of death. R3 is also all other Masses of the dead, including what might be carried over from the EF: daily Mass of the Dead. R3 Masses are only permitted on ferial weekdays in Ordinary Time.

 

[PolishK]

Thanks for your responses and insight.
A few years ago, I attended a “Requiem Mass” that was held for all the departed souls of that year. The Mass took place sometime near the end of the year… Perhaps, before Advent?

At any rate, I am asking because I lost my stepfather this year, under very tragic circumstances, and I would like to attend one for him. He was not Catholic; he considered himself a Christian but was not a church-goer, but he was one of the most kind and loving souls I’ll ever know.

I suppose not all churches have a special Requiem Mass, though.
I already planned on lifting him up at the Mass on All Souls’ Day.

Thank you for all of your help.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Thanks for your responses and insight.
A few years ago, I attended a “Requiem Mass” that was held for all the departed souls of that year. The Mass took place sometime near the end of the year… Perhaps, before Advent?

I already planned on lifting him up at the Mass on All Souls’ Day.

This was All Souls’ Day Mass.

 

[LovedMyAlydar]

A requiem mass is one of the most beautiful things this side of heaven.

 

[Rich_C]

A requiem mass is one of the most beautiful things this side of heaven.

True that. It really makes you feel small before God, and make eternity seem enormous.

A local priest’s father died and there will be a solemn requiem Mass for the repose of his soul tonight. I wish I could be there.