One of the most effective means we have to help our deceased loved ones is to have Holy Masses offered for the souls of our family members, relatives, friends, and benefactors. Gregorian Masses are a series of Holy Masses offered on 30 consecutive days as soon as possible after a person’s death. The origin of Gregorian Masses comes from an event at the monastery of St. Andrew in Rome, of which Saint Gregory the Great had been abbot. St. Gregory had Masses on thirty consecutive days offered for the repose of the soul of a monk who had died in the monastery. At the end of the thirtieth Mass, the deceased appeared to one of his fellow monks and announced that he had been delivered from Purgatory. Following the example of this saintly Pope, Catholics throughout the ages kept the pious custom of having thirty Masses offered for deceased family members, relatives, and friends. This custom is inspired by the Old Testament when the Israelites mourned Moses for thirty days.
The Mass of St. Gregory the Great, Adriaen Isenbrandt, 1510-1550
The custom of offering Gregorian Masses for a particular soul recognizes that few people are immediately ready for Heaven after death, and that, through the infinite intercessory power of Christ’s sacrifice, made present in Holy Mass, a soul can be continually perfected in grace and enabled to enter finally into union with the Most Holy Trinity.
According to Church Law, Gregorian Masses can only be offered for one deceased individual soul. They cannot be offered for the living, for several deceased souls at the same time, nor for the souls in Purgatory in general. However, it is permissible to order more than one Gregorian Mass sets for the same deceased person. As Gregorian Masses cannot be offered for the living, the faithful can arrange to have them said as soon as possible after their own deaths. In ancient times, people commonly left some money to have Masses said for their souls over a long period. Parish priests usually have a difficult time of offering Gregorian Masses because of the many parish intentions for Masses and it is more difficult to schedule thirty consecutive Masses for a single deceased person. It is better to get Gregorian Masses from convents, monasteries, or residences of retired priests who have fewer pastoral obligations and can offer the thirty Masses without any major problems. Often religious orders or missionaries can fulfill the obligations of Gregorian Masses since they have greater flexibility. There is a stipend for Gregorian Masses, and the religious order or retired priest would let you know the amount.
If someone is not able to have Gregorian Masses offered, we can still have Holy Masses offered for our deceased loved ones. Having Masses said for souls is the greatest benefit we can give them and we can be sure that they will be eternally grateful to us and will intercede for us. The most perfect act of charity is our Lord’s own sacrifice, perpetuated and continued in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and there is nothing more perfect we can offer for those in need of our prayers.
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