Why do we have to donate money to have a Mass said?

[catholiclawyer0]

I have no problem donating money to the Catholic Church. In fact, I do it on a regular basis, but I am a bit curious as to why donations are expected (more like required, if you ask me) for a Mass to be said for your intention. It just seems to me like the parish or religious order in question is selling you a Mass.

 

[bben15]

You are donating money, not buying a Mass. If someone is unable to donate money, they still have a right to have Mass said for their intention.

The money keeps the parish running, and might buy the priest a nice meal, or a nice book. Priests don’t make much money, so a can of soup might be a daily meal.

If a priest refuses to say Mass for you because you are unable to donate, then you need to contact the bishop, as that is simony.

 

[grasscutter]

I don’t have the entire answer but sometimes in a large parish there are too many Masses being requested and they send out the intention (with the donation) to a parish in the developing world to be said/celebrated by that Priest. This helps the poorer parishes in the global south and helps the parishioners there to feel united with all Catholics.

Other reasons could be the cost of the Mass card, the donation as almgiving, etc. Hopefully others will have a more complete response. It’s definitely not simony, by the way.

 

[catholiclawyer0]

Thank you for the responses. I would certainly assume that Mass would be said if one is unable to donate, but (for some reason) did not think of that.

 

[Corki]

I have no problem donating money to the Catholic Church. In fact, I do it on a regular basis, but I am a bit curious as to why donations are expected (more like required, if you ask me) for a Mass to be said for your intention. It just seems to me like the parish or religious order in question is selling you a Mass.

In our parish, they never turn down a Mass intention, even if a donation is not included. Now the “form” for the Mass intention is actually an envelope so it is certainly implied that you will donate* something *but they don’t care how much. I asked the secretary once about this. Some people put in $1, some people put in $20. I don’t see it as any different that putting a quarter in the slot when you light a candle.

 

[adrift]

The way that I understand that it came about is in the past when you had a mass said your participated in that mass by baking the bread and providing the wine. As time progressed this participation became money. The donation helps to cover the cost bread, wine, lights and heat.

 

[tawny]

You are donating money, not buying a Mass. If someone is unable to donate money, they still have a right to have Mass said for their intention.

The money keeps the parish running, and might buy the priest a nice meal, or a nice book. Priests don’t make much money, so a can of soup might be a daily meal.

If a priest refuses to say Mass for you because you are unable to donate, then you need to contact the bishop, as that is simony.

Well stated.

 

[TimothyH]

The sum is paltry for most people. They ask for $10 in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

-Tim-

 

[Petaro]

I would ask around. Tell them at one parish that the other one takes a fiver. You may be able to break it down to 50c if you try hard. I would suggest that if they quibble at 50c you threaten to take it to the Bishop as simony. Don’t worry about all that stuff about a labourer being worth their hire. Priests are kind people. You are a lawyer. Use them up.

 

[felsguy]

I would ask around. Tell them at one parish that the other one takes a fiver. You may be able to break it down to 50c if you try hard. I would suggest that if they quibble at 50c you threaten to take it to the Bishop as simony. Don’t worry about all that stuff about a labourer being worth their hire. Priests are kind people. You are a lawyer. Use them up.

I hope this was meant to be tongue-in-cheek or a (failed) attempt at humor. Otherwise I think it is pretty off-base.

 

[1ke]

Here are the relevant canons of canon law that apply to Mass offerings. The diocese makes particular law such as the amount of the stipend, where excess Mass intentions are to be sent, etc. Ours is $10 and our excess Mass intentions, if any, are sent to the retired priests of our diocese first and then to missions.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3D.HTM

 

[1ke]

The way that I understand that it came about is in the past when you had a mass said your participated in that mass by baking the bread and providing the wine. As time progressed this participation became money. The donation helps to cover the cost bread, wine, lights and heat.

you are confusing the offertory at Mass (the gifts of the faithful) with Mass offerings. The gifts of the faithful did indeed used to be actual bread, wine, animals, etc. Now it is money for support of the church with the bread and wine being brought up retaining the symbolism even though the bread/wine is purchased by the parish these days.

The Mass offering has its origin in the stipend. Priests did not receive wages, and these stipends were their only support, in some places that may still be the case. In most countries there is now a salary schedule for priests. The Mass offerings now supplement their wages, and are not their entire wage.

 

[MorEphrem]

As people above have said, you don’t pay for the mass. My reason for posting is I would like to add that people often forget that the Church on earth is a temporal institution and therefore requires temporal support - the priests need to eat, the buildings need to be maintained, etc. As Christians, we have a duty to put forward the upkeep of our places of worship and those who minister to them so that we may continue to worship in them - essentially supporting the temporal needs of the Church is an extension of our prayer life.

 

[agnes_therese]

Thank you for the responses. I would certainly assume that Mass would be said if one is unable to donate, but (for some reason) did not think of that.

When I was a single mother, whenever I requested a Mass, Father would always ask me if I was sure I had enough money left after the stipend. I still remember him once saying, “Do you have lunch money?” before he would take the check.

 

[PJM]

=catholiclawyer0;11775388]I have no problem donating money to the Catholic Church. In fact, I do it on a regular basis, but I am a bit curious as to why donations are expected (more like required, if you ask me) for a Mass to be said for your intention. It just seems to me like the parish or religious order in question is selling you a Mass.

First they are NOT mandated or “required”

Priest are notoriously Over-worked and UNDER paid. This money stats with the priest and these Masses are over and above his normal work-load; so it is a GIFT in gratitude to the priest. If one does NOT have the money; then the priest STILL says the Mass:thumbsup:

God Bless you and thanks for asking,
Patrick

 

[Petaro]

I hope this was meant to be tongue-in-cheek or a (failed) attempt at humor. Otherwise I think it is pretty off-base.

Sorry if I was off base, but the offering for a mass is so out of balance to its true value that we should be proud to support our priests without quibbling. What is the old saying about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

 

[amsjj]

At my parish, the suggested donation is $10.00, but the day of, I also give Father a thank-you card with more money – I am so very grateful we have Father to celebrate this form of the Mass for my papa! I figure Father can use it for his own needs or those of our EF community.

amsjj

+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.

• Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.

• San Josemaría Escrivá, 1 junio 1974

God loves to be resisted in His displeasure, and to be restrained by the humble from inflicting punishment… One saint will often save a nation; so true is it that humble souls are the hinges on which God moves the world.

• Abp. W. B. Ullathorne, The Groundwork of the Christian Virtues, 1882.

 

[Sunbreak]

First they are NOT mandated or “required”

Priest are notoriously Over-worked and UNDER paid. This money stats with the priest and these Masses are over and above his normal work-load; so it is a GIFT in gratitude to the priest. If one does NOT have the money; then the priest STILL says the Mass:thumbsup:

God Bless you and thanks for asking,
Patrick

Huh? At my parish and other parishes in my archdiocese, these Masses are just the usual Masses, not over and above the priest’s normal workload. Also, it depends on the Archdiocese whether the money goes to the priest - for example, he may get to keep the donation for the first Mass intention of the day but not the others on the same day.