Mass Intentions: Purpose, Process, and the Role of Stipends

When a priest offers a Mass, he does so with three intentions in mind. First, that he may offer it reverently and validly within the norms established by the Church. Second, he offers it in union with and for the good of the whole church. Finally, he may offer it with a particular intention in mind. For example, in thanksgiving for particular blessings received, for someone living on a special occasion such as the anniversary of one’s baptism, for health and healing for someone who is ill, or as is most common for someone who has died. 

Typically when someone requests that a priest offer a Mass for a particular intention, a stipend or monetary gift is offered to the priest. The local bishops set the amount that becomes then customary. For as long as I can remember, this amount has been $10. The bishops of Wisconsin recently announced that effective July 1, this amount will be raised to $20. (For Masses that have already been scheduled, the amount remains $10, even if the Mass will not be celebrated until after July 1.)

Generally the Masses Father Dan and I offer are scheduled through the parish. The stipend or offering is paid to the parish. These stipends go to help pay our salaries or to support retired priests within our Diocese. We prefer that you schedule Masses though the parish office, rather than come to us directly. Since most of the Masses we offer are celebrated here at Saint Patrick Parish, it is difficult for us to fulfill Masses when the request is made to us personally. 

Each Sunday, one Mass must be offered for the intention of the living and deceased members of the parish. This is mandated by Church law. That is why you see a Mass listed as such in the bulletin.

A person is not obligated to make an offering for a Mass. If someone requests a Mass, the request must be fulfilled whether or not an offering is made. Usually when a request is made for a Mass it must be fulfilled within one year of the submission. 

There are times when there are simply too many requests for Masses and we are not able to fulfill the requests. At these times we pass some of the Mass requests on to the Diocese, who then forwards the requests to either retired priest or missionary priest. The stipends attached to these Mass intentions often provide valuable income for retired and missionary priests. 

It is fairly easy to understand why a Mass may be offered in thanksgiving for blessings received or for the needs of someone living. It may be more difficult for people, especially non-Catholics to understand why Masses should be offered for people who have died. While this is an ancient tradition that goes back to the earliest days of the Church, it was also one of the issues contested by Martin Luther at the time of the reformation in the 1500’s.

As Catholics we believe that the bonds that unite us do not unravel with death. In other words, we who are living are bound to those whose souls are in heaven and people who are in purgatory. (Yes, as Catholics we believe in purgatory. It is a state of one’s soul who is in need of purifying or purgation.) However once a person dies, their soul and body are broken apart. The soul goes on, while the body remains here on earth. If the soul is perfect (without the stain of sin), it can go on to the presence of God. Since God is perfect, only what is perfect can be in the presence of God. As a result, if a soul has a mark of sin or is not perfectly united to God, it needs to be purified of the stain so it may be in perfect union with God. But as the soul cannot change itself, it needs our prayers in a spirit of charity and the grace or help of God. A perfect act of charity is to have one remembered at a Mass. 

So family and friends can be remembered at a Mass, which includes non-Catholics. To make this arrangement, contact the parish office.

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