A: Any Catholic may offer up the Mass in which he or she attends for any good intention. Certainly, graces will accrue in accordance with the intensity of that person’s participation and sincerity.
However, the custom of requesting a priest to offer the Mass for a specific intention, even when one cannot be physically present at the Mass, is a longstanding tradition in the Church. This is because the Church considers the Mass as the greatest possible prayer of intercession insofar as it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father by making present the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection.
Because of the particular role of the priest as mediator between God and man, acting “in persona Christi” when offering the holy sacrifice of the Mass, it is usually considered that special graces may be obtained when he applies the Mass to a particular intention.
A: Historically, the purpose of offering a Mass stipend for a particular Mass intention has been two fold. On the one hand, the money that the priest received for saying his daily Mass for a specific intention was essentially his source of income and sometimes still is today. At the same time, by giving a stipend, the person requesting that a Mass be celebrated made a sacrificial offering of his own.
Nowadays priests aren't generally reliant on their daily Mass stipends to pay for their basic necessities, but the laws surrounding Mass stipends remain basically the same. The tradition is referred to in canon 946, which states that those members of the faithful who give Mass stipends are contibuting to the good of the Church, for they share in the Church's concern for the support of its ministers.
Of major concern of the Church is that there be no appearance that Masses are being bought or sold. Canon 947 notes that even the semblance of trafficking or trading in Mass offerings is to be entirely avoided; and someone who traffics in Mass stipends for profit may actually be punished with censure (canon 1385). Because this matter directly affects the Most Holy Eucharist and also involves obligations of justice to the donors, even the slightest appearance of profit or somony must be avoided (Archdiocese of Portland, Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook 2018, 20.5.5)
A: This is allowed. He may celebrate a regularly scheduled parish Mass for which a parishioner has provided an intention (and a stipend), but at the same time he may perhaps have in mind the intention of his elderly mother. In fact, he may have as many intentions as he likes while offering a Mass, so long as he has accepted a stipend for no more than one of them. While on the surface this may seem illogical, keep in mind that the spiritual value of a single Mass is infinite. The intention for which a stipend was offered is not somehow giving short-shrift if the celebrant offers that same Mass for other intentions as well.
As a rule, a priest may only offer one Mass per day, although there are occasions when he may be permitted to offer more than one Mass in a single day (canon 905.1). (This is why, when St. Frederic has a funeral scheduled, daily Mass is cancelled for the day. Anyone who wants to go to Mass that day is able to attend the funeral.) On Sundays and Holy Days, for example, a priest may celebrate as many as three Masses in one day (and possibly more in areas with a shortage of priests).
This does not mean that a priest can accept more than one (1) stipend per day. Canon 951.1 is very clear that, while a priest may celebrate multiple Masses, with a different intention for each one, he may only keep the stipend for one Mass. The archbishop of Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon determines what is to be done with the stipend that was received for any subsequent Mass(es). Archbishop Sample has determined any remaining amounts are to be placed in the parish accounts (Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, Archdocesan Liturgical Handbook 2018, 20.5.5.d).
A: The great Doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after your death. The merit of the Masses we have offered for ourselves during life will obtain for us a higher degree of glory in Heaven, since we have made the meritorious sacrifice of offering the stipend for the Mass. After death, this is impossible.
Masses offered during our life will go before us, to either cancel our debt – whole or in part, of the punishment due for our sins; thus, it may greatly shorten our Purgatory.
Masses offered for us during our life can help us obtain the great grace of a happy and holy death. The most beautiful gift one can give to another person is a Spiritual Bouquet of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. No material gift can ever compare to or equal the Infinite Value of the Holy Mass.
Holy Sacrifice offered for hardened sinners and those who are dying are especially effective.
Masses may be offered in reparation for the outrages, offenses and blasphemies against Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and insults to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Masses may be offered in thanksgiving for our blessings, family, health and answer to prayers is very pleasing to the Most Blessed Trinity.
Masses for our departed loved ones and all the Holy Souls in Purgatory is a great act of charity, efficacious and meritorious.
A: You must fill out an envelop with the person you would like the Mass Intention said. You can get one from the Sacristan before or after Mass or you can go to the office to request one. Mass Intentions can not be requested or paid through the website. This is to make sure that the Mass Intention has been forwarded to the right person in a timely manner. Thank you for your understanding.