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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Perpetual Masses	Christina	Monday, April 6, 2015
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius Mary, I would like to go to my parish office and offer perpetual Masses for my relatives but they charge a fee for these masses that I can not afford. Is there something in Canon Law that states that I do not have to pay for these masses if I can not afford them. Thank you for your assistance. Christina
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Christine: Sorry for the delay in answering. Perpetual Mass intentions are not usually accepted in parishes. This would not be fair to the rest of the parish as it would deprive others from having Mass said for their relatives. A priest can only accept a stipend for one intention per Mass. Other intentions may be applied to the Mass depending on the directives of the Bishop. You need to decide on a specific number of Masses for your intentions. The Mass stipend in the United States is, I think, five or ten dollars. This does not mean that one must pay this amount. It means that a priest cannot accept more than that amount for a single Mass. Priests also should accept Mass intentions from those who cannot afford the stipend. Talk to your pastor about it. 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

Perpetual Masses

Christina

Monday, April 6, 2015

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius Mary,

I would like to go to my parish office and offer perpetual Masses for my relatives but they charge a fee for these masses that I can not afford. Is there something in Canon Law that states that I do not have to pay for these masses if I can not afford them.

Thank you for your assistance.

Christina

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

Dear Christine:

Sorry for the delay in answering.

Perpetual Mass intentions are not usually accepted in parishes. This would not be fair to the rest of the parish as it would deprive others from having Mass said for their relatives. A priest can only accept a stipend for one intention per Mass. Other intentions may be applied to the Mass depending on the directives of the Bishop. You need to decide on a specific number of Masses for your intentions.

The Mass stipend in the United States is, I think, five or ten dollars. This does not mean that one must pay this amount. It means that a priest cannot accept more than that amount for a single Mass. Priests also should accept Mass intentions from those who cannot afford the stipend. Talk to your pastor about it.

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