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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: Mass 40 days after death	Father Smith	Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Question: The Western custom has generally been 30 days (the month's mind Mass) The Eastern custom is 40 days In both cases it has nothing to do with the soul leaving the body. It began as a very pratical solution to the problem of decay and travel. Before embalming bodies had to be buried within a day or two (three at the most ... lots of incense at that funeral) which meant that many times family and friends were only notified of the death after the burial (remember Romeo and Juliet) A month's mind Mass enabled travel to the person's home and grave and join together for the Eucharist for the deceased. In the East it appears as though "40 days" was chosen for its symbolic significance of the transition of the soul from the final purification into heaven (remember this a symbolic liturgical time)
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Father: Thanks for the information. I knew this could not have been about when the soul leaves the body. Thanks, 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

Re: Mass 40 days after death

Father Smith

Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Question:

The Western custom has generally been 30 days (the month's mind Mass)

The Eastern custom is 40 days

In both cases it has nothing to do with the soul leaving the body.

It began as a very pratical solution to the problem of decay and travel.

Before embalming bodies had to be buried within a day or two (three at the most ... lots of incense at that funeral) which meant that many times family and friends were only notified of the death after the burial (remember Romeo and Juliet)

A month's mind Mass enabled travel to the person's home and grave and join together for the Eucharist for the deceased.

In the East it appears as though "40 days" was chosen for its symbolic significance of the transition of the soul from the final purification into heaven (remember this a symbolic liturgical time)

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Father:

Thanks for the information. I knew this could not have been about when the soul leaves the body.

Thanks,
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