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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Mass Stipends	Anthony	Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, I was talking to my cousin who lives in Miami, Florida and he was telling me that he recently went to this parish church and requested a Mass for his father (my uncle) who died a few years ago. My cousin said that the diocesan priest told him that the stipend would be 250 dollars. He then changed his mind about having the Mass said because he couldn't afford to pay that amount. I was shocked because I remember that when I lived in New Jersey 15 years ago, my Franciscan parish priest would ask for a 10 dollar stipend or whatever I could afford for the yearly Mass that was said for my deceased grandmother . That 250 dollar stipend just doesn't sound right. Brother, I am praying so that your health improves. May St. Joseph and St. André Bessette pray for you. God bless and thank you for continuing to answer our emails.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Anthony: Your cousin needs to immediately contact the Diocese. A stipend of $250 is illegal. Canon Law prohibits even the "semblance of trafficking" (CIC 947). It is the Bishops, in this case, of the United States, or the local bishop, who determines an amount (CIC 1264). The amount for a stipend is usually around $10 or less. Canon Law also states that priest ought to say a Mass for free to those who cannot afford it (CIC 945.2). In addition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2121) makes clear that the First Commandment forbids simony, which is the buying or selling of sacred things. Contact your cousin and tell him that he needs to contact the diocese right away before there are any more victims of this crime. Thank you for your prayers concerning my health. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Mass Stipends

Anthony

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius,

I was talking to my cousin who lives in Miami, Florida and he was telling me that he recently went to this parish church and requested a Mass for his father (my uncle) who died a few years ago. My cousin said that the diocesan priest told him that the stipend would be 250 dollars. He then changed his mind about having the Mass said because he couldn't afford to pay that amount. I was shocked because I remember that when I lived in New Jersey 15 years ago, my Franciscan parish priest would ask for a 10 dollar stipend or whatever I could afford for the yearly Mass that was said for my deceased grandmother . That 250 dollar stipend just doesn't sound right.

Brother, I am praying so that your health improves. May St. Joseph and St. André Bessette pray for you. God bless and thank you for continuing to answer our emails.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Anthony:

Your cousin needs to immediately contact the Diocese. A stipend of $250 is illegal. Canon Law prohibits even the "semblance of trafficking" (CIC 947). It is the Bishops, in this case, of the United States, or the local bishop, who determines an amount (CIC 1264). The amount for a stipend is usually around $10 or less. Canon Law also states that priest ought to say a Mass for free to those who cannot afford it (CIC 945.2).

In addition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2121) makes clear that the First Commandment forbids simony, which is the buying or selling of sacred things.

Contact your cousin and tell him that he needs to contact the diocese right away before there are any more victims of this crime.

Thank you for your prayers concerning my health.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum