Money for Masses
When I was a kid, the passing of Labor Day didn’t just mean going back to school. For my mother and my grandmother, it meant the opening of “The Book”. That was the Mass Book at my parish. A whole tactical plan had to be worked out for them to get the announced Masses they wanted on the days they wanted. They had to plan because there would be a line down the block from our parish office. Announced Masses were on a first come – first serve basis. Mom was there at dawn for a Christmas Day Mass.
One of the canon law questions I get asked most is more like a challenge. “Why do we have to pay for Masses to be said? Isn’t that horrible, a sin even?”
I don’t remember what my mom and grandmom paid for an announced Mass, but today the “Suggested Donation” is $10 for one Mass. At my parish in Ireland, it’s half that. Suffice it to say, nobody is getting rich from Mass intentions. Still, considering how much it costs to go see a movie at a movie theater, we’re a good deal. Besides, how many movies guarantee anyone entry to Heaven?
A Mass is a powerful worship. To have it dedicated for a special intention, like a relative or world peace, is a true act of love or hope. The Code of Canon Law covers this pretty clearly and completely for the priest celebrant and the donor. It is spelled out in Canons 945 through 958 and they are an interesting read. They establish a clear framework for handling Mass stipends (the name for the payment for an announced Mass intention), emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and the prohibition against any form of commercialization. The primary focus is on the spiritual welfare of the faithful, the fair treatment of offerings, and the responsible management of Mass intentions. These canons emphasize the business of Mass stipends. They are primarily directed to the priest celebrant. The parish secretary of my Irish parish, “The Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven”, takes the money you give her (no credit cards here) and staples it to the dated page of the Book for Mass intentions. When the Mass is completed, that stipend/donation is handed to the priest who celebrated the Mass. I am sure that is pretty much the drill in most parishes worldwide.
Without the old school lines at the opening of The Book, I know our parish secretary gets a lot of emails about requested Masses, no more lines. Every year when the Book is opened at my Holy Innocents Parish, she automatically places two intentions for me (I send her the $20 check). They areMemorial Dayfor All Deceased Veterans honored on that day, andVeterans Dayfor All Living and Deceased Members of our Military. Those numbers are never fluid, they just keep growing. So, it’s important to keep those Masses celebrated for those intentions. May I suggest that you might consider doing this too? Twenty dollars for those who have served our country so well? Think of all the potential Masses for those who served. This November’sVeterans Daymay still be open at your parish. Give it a try.