Why the Mass?
The Mass is not just a prayer. It is the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross, made present on the altar, offered to the Father for the living and the dead. Everything else we do for the souls in Purgatory draws its power from that sacrifice. When a priest offers Mass for a deceased person, the whole Church joins in asking God to apply the fruits of Christ's offering to that soul.
This is an ancient practice. We saw that Tertullian mentioned it around the year 200, that Cyril of Jerusalem described it in the 300s, and that Monica asked only to be remembered at the altar. Augustine offered the Mass for her. It's the oldest and most cherished way of helping the dead.
Requiem Masses and funerals
The funeral Mass, often called the Mass of Christian Burial, is the Church's most visible prayer for the dead. In the older form of the Roman Rite, it was known as the Requiem Mass, from its opening words, Requiem aeternam. Both forms are centered on the offering of the Eucharist for the deceased and on the family's consolation (CCC 1689).
If you're planning a funeral, the best gift to a loved one is a well-prepared Mass: readings that point to hope, music that lifts the heart, and your own participation. If you're attending one, remember that the funeral Mass isn't mainly a tribute to the person. It's a prayer for the person.
How to request a Mass
Requesting a Mass intention is simple. You contact your parish office, tell them the name of the deceased and the date you'd like, and they will tell you the stipend, the traditional offering that accompanies it. This is a small amount, set by the diocese, and it helps support the priest and the parish. It isn't a price, and the Church is careful to say so. The priest isn't being paid for the Mass. He's being supported, and the offering is a sign of your sacrifice. If you can't afford it, tell the priest, and he'll offer the Mass anyway.
You can ask for Masses on anniversaries, birthdays, death days, and monthly. Many families have a Mass said for their dead every year on All Souls' Day. And you can request a Mass for people who have no one, which is a lovely act of charity.
Gregorian Masses
You may have heard of Gregorian Masses: thirty Masses offered on thirty consecutive days for one deceased person. This devotion goes back to Pope Gregory the Great around the year 600, who told of a monk for whom the practice was said to have been fruitful. The Church approves it. It's an act of trust and love, not a guarantee that a soul is released on a given day. If you would like a series of Gregorian Masses, ask your parish or a religious community; many offer them.
Taking part more deeply
Perhaps the best thing you can do is to join the Mass with greater awareness. If a Mass is being offered for someone you love, go if you can. Pay attention at the points where the priest prays for the dead, in the Eucharistic prayer and at the end of the prayers of the faithful. Offer your own Communion for them. After Mass, stay a few minutes and pray the Eternal Rest.
On All Souls' Day, a priest is permitted to offer three Masses, which shows how seriously the Church takes the day.
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