Adsum

October 2002

Persons for Whom Mass May Be Offered

From the book, Moral Theology
by Fr. Jones and Fr. Adelman, O.F.M. Cap., J.C.D.

1. With some restrictions the Holy Sacrifice may be offered for all the living and for the Souls in Purgatory (C. 809).

The application of the Mass for the damned is absolutely invalid. — We may implore an increase of the external, accidental veneration of the saints in Heaven through the Mass; besides, thanks to God may be offered for the grace and glory He has bestowed upon them. Finally we may entreat God at Mass for spiritual and temporal blessings through the intercession and merits of the saints. — It is an article of faith that the Holy Sacrifice helps the Poor Souls. It is not certain, however, that the fruits will be given to just that soul for whom the Mass is applied. Neither do we know to what extent the Mass is beneficial to the faithful departed.

2. Mass may be said privately for the excommunicated, provided no scandal is given. In the case of an “excommunicatus vitandus” the Mass may be said only for his conversion (C. 2262).

Mass is said privately if it is not announced or if only the priest or at most one or two others know for whom it is being applied. What is said of the excommunicated can be applied also to heretics and schismatics. Care must always be taken that the application be not public. This also applies in the case of a deceased Protestant Ruler.

3. Mass may not be applied publicly for those to whom the Church denies ecclesiastical burial (C. 1241).

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