A Mass intention is the particular purpose for which a priest offers a Mass: for example, “for the repose of the soul of John Smith” or “in thanksgiving for Maria’s recovery.” Catholics can ask a priest to offer a Mass for anyone, living or dead, and it is customary to give a small offering when doing so. To request one, contact a parish office (or a religious community that accepts Mass intentions), give the name and the intention, choose a date if possible, and ask what offering is customary.
This guide explains how Mass intentions work, what to write, what the Church’s law says about offerings, and the questions people ask most often.
What is a Mass intention?
Every Mass is offered for the whole Church and the whole world. But the Church has always allowed the priest to apply the Mass for a particular intention as well. Canon law says plainly that “a priest is free to apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead” (canon 901). When you request a Mass, you are asking the priest to apply that Mass for your intention.
This practice is very old. St. Augustine records that his dying mother, St. Monica, asked only that her sons “remember me at the altar of the Lord” (Confessions IX). The Catechism teaches that the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered “for the faithful departed who have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified” (CCC 1371), and for the needs of the living.
A Mass intention is different from the Prayers of the Faithful. The intention is applied by the priest to the whole Mass; the Prayers of the Faithful are the petitions prayed by the assembly after the Creed. A name can appear in both, but they are not the same thing.
Who can you have a Mass said for?
- The dead: “for the repose of the soul of N.” This is the most common intention. See Mass intentions for the dead.
- The living: for a birthday, recovery from illness, an exam, a new job, a marriage, a safe birth, or someone’s conversion.
- Thanksgiving: for a favor received, a wedding anniversary, a jubilee or a recovery.
- A special intention: a private intention that you do not wish to publish. The priest offers the Mass “for the special intention of N.” without the details being announced.
- Non-Catholics: yes. Canon 901 allows a Mass to be applied for anyone.
How to request a Mass intention
- Contact the parish office. Call, email or stop by. Many parishes have a Mass intention form or an online request page.
- Give the details: the person’s name, whether they are living or deceased, the intention (for example, “repose of the soul” or “birthday blessings”), and who is requesting it.
- Choose a date. Popular dates such as anniversaries and All Souls Day fill quickly, so ask early. If the exact date is not available, ask for the nearest one.
- Give the offering (see below). Pay by cash, check or the parish’s online system.
- Ask for a Mass card if you want to give one to a family. See Mass cards.
- Attend the Mass if you can. It is not required, but being present and receiving Communion for the person is a beautiful way to join the prayer.
Here is an email you can adapt:
Good morning. I would like to request a Mass for the repose of the soul of Thomas Brennan, who died on March 3. If possible I would like the Mass on or near the anniversary of his death. The request is from his daughter, Anne Brennan. Please let me know which dates are available, the customary offering and how you would like to receive it. Thank you.
For many more wordings, see Mass intention examples and birthday Mass intention examples.
How much is a Mass offering?
The offering (sometimes called a stipend) is not a payment for the Mass or for grace. Canon law says that by giving it the faithful “contribute to the good of the Church and by that offering share its concern to support its ministers and works” (canon 946), and that “any appearance of trafficking or trading is to be excluded entirely” (canon 947).
- The amount is set locally. The bishops of each province set the customary offering, and a priest may not ask for more, although he may accept a larger voluntary offering or a smaller one (canon 952).
- In many U.S. dioceses the customary offering is in the range of about $10 to $20 for a single Mass. Your parish will tell you the local amount.
- No one should be refused because they cannot pay. Canon law earnestly recommends that priests celebrate Mass for the intention of the faithful, especially the needy, even if they have not received an offering (canon 945 §2). If money is tight, simply ask.
What the Church’s law says
The Code of Canon Law (canons 945–958) protects both the faithful and the dignity of the Mass:
- One offering, one Mass. A separate Mass must be applied for each intention for which an offering has been accepted, even a small one (canon 948).
- Only one offering per day. A priest who celebrates several Masses on one day may apply each for its intention, but except on Christmas he may keep the offering of only one; the others go to purposes set by the bishop (canon 951).
- Within a year. No priest may accept more intentions than he can satisfy within a year (canon 953). If a parish has more requests than it can fulfil, intentions are passed on to other priests, often missionaries (canon 955).
- Collective intentions are restricted. The Congregation for the Clergy’s decree Mos iugiter (1991) allows several intentions to be combined in one Mass only if every donor has been told and freely agrees, and no more than twice a week in a given place.
- The pastor’s Mass for the people. On Sundays and holy days a pastor must offer one Mass for his parishioners (canon 534), so that Mass is not available for private intentions.
Requesting a Mass online or from a religious community
If your own parish cannot fit your date, many religious orders, shrines and mission societies accept Mass intentions online and pass them to their priests, often missionaries for whom the offering is a real support. The Mass may be celebrated in another country and you will not be present, but it is fully valid and applied to your intention. Before you choose, check that the organization is a recognized Catholic community and that it offers individual Masses rather than collective ones.
Gregorian Masses
For someone who has died, some families request Gregorian Masses: thirty Masses offered on thirty consecutive days for one deceased person. The custom goes back to Pope St. Gregory the Great, who in his Dialogues describes thirty Masses offered for a deceased monk of his monastery. Because the Masses must be celebrated without interruption, they are usually arranged through religious communities rather than a single parish.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to attend the Mass?
No. The Mass is applied to your intention whether or not you are present, although attending is a wonderful way to unite your own prayer with it.
Will the name be read out at Mass?
It depends on the parish. Many publish intentions in the bulletin and some mention the name at Mass, often in the Prayers of the Faithful. If you want privacy, ask for a “special intention.”
Can I request a Mass for a living person?
Yes. Masses for birthdays, healing, exams, marriages, pregnancies and conversions are common. See Mass intention examples.
Can more than one name be included in one Mass?
Normally one offering means one intention. If you want several people remembered, you can request one Mass for a family (“for the deceased members of the Brennan family”) or request separate Masses. Your parish will explain its practice.
Are Mass offerings tax deductible?
In the United States a Mass offering is usually treated as a donation to the parish, but because tax rules vary and you receive a spiritual benefit in return, ask the parish office and your tax adviser rather than assuming it is deductible.
What is the difference between a Mass intention and a Mass card?
The intention is the Mass itself. A Mass card is a card, usually signed by a priest or the parish, that tells a family a Mass will be offered for their loved one. See Mass cards.
Can I have a Mass said for my pet?
No. Masses are offered for human persons, living or dead. You can, of course, pray in thanksgiving for a beloved animal and ask St. Francis to pray for you.
More prayers
Sources
- Code of Canon Law, canons 534, 901 and 945–958
- Congregation for the Clergy, decree Mos iugiter (February 22, 1991)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1371 and 1032
- St. Augustine, Confessions, Book IX; St. Gregory the Great, Dialogues, Book IV