Mass intentions form help
Why do I have to give the person’s name?
In many cases, the person is mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer by name. For example, the priest says the following words as part of the first Eucharistic Prayer: “Remember, Lord, your servants, N. and N. and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you.“
Why do I have to say if the person is living or dead?
The mass texts differ depending on whether the person being prayed for is alive or deceased. For example, the second Eucharistic Prayer allows the priest to pray in this way: “Remember your servant N., whom you have called from this world to yourself.” It would be embarrassing to use this prayer for someone who is still alive!
Why do I have to say if the person is male or female?
The mass texts can vary depending on whether the person being prayed for is male or female. For example, the third Eucharistic Prayer includes this passage for a deceased person: “Grant that he (she) who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his Resurrection.” It would be embarrassing to get the gender of the person wrong, and it is not always possible to guess the gender of the person simply by their name!
Why do I have to indicate the person’s religious status?
The choice of mass text is sometimes informed by the religious status of the person. for a non-baptized person, for example, the priest might use the fourth Eucharistic Prayer, which states: “Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead whose faith you alone have known.”
What is the value of indicating a mass date?
It is not necessary to indicate a particular date, but sometimes a date has special meaning. For example, the mass intention might be for a person who will be undergoing surgery on a particular date, or for a couple celebrating a wedding anniversary, or for a deceased person on the anniversary of their death. While I cannot make any promises, I will do my best to respect the choice of a particular date.
While you probably cannot attend the mass to be celebrated for your intention, part of the mass will be recorded and made available as an mp3 file. You can then give a copy of that file to the person who was prayed for, or their family or friends. It helps, then, if the mass was celebrated in a language that people can understand! My mother tongue is English, so the form defaults to that choice, but I can also celebrate in French.
Why must I add details about the intention?
Any information you place in this text box will be kept confidential. As stated on the form, the purpose is to allow me to formulate the intention in my heart. No priest should be a “mass robot”, so I would prefer knowing what exactly I’m praying for.
Your name will be kept confidential. However, a PDF mass card will be prepared and sent to you by email, and it is customary that the name of the person requesting the mass be included on the card.
Your email will be kept confidential. However, in the event I have a question or desire clarification of some point of your request, I need to be able to contact you. Also, I will need to let you know when the audio file of part of the mass, along with a PDF mass card, are available.
Why must I give my religious affiliation?
You do not need to indicate your religious affiliation, but if you do it will be kept confidential. I ask this information because it is customary that a person making an intention request spiritually unite himself or herself to the mass even if they cannot be present when that intention is prayed for. I can supply you with a suggested prayer for just this purpose, but it helps to know a bit about your spiritual background to be able to do this well.
Unfortunately, spam is a real problem on the Internet. My last web form for making mass intention requests was hijacked by a spam robot and I was flooded with junk mail. I am hoping that this validation form will help prevent future problems.