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In the Catholic Church, a Mass stipend is a donation given by the laity to a priest for celebrating a Mass for a particular intention. Despite the name, it is considered as a gift or offering (Latin: stips) freely given rather than a payment (Latin: stipendium) as such.[1]
This is usually a small amount of money determined at the discretion of the family, community or individual in question, and may vary depending on the occasion and number of attendees. As it is considered simony for priests to request payment for a sacrament, the donors decide upon the form and amount of stipend, and are received as gifts.[2][3] Typically, the diocese sets a minimum donation for Mass stipends, and donors are asked to cover this amount for expenses.
Code of Canon Law, canon 945 states that
In accordance with the approved custom of the Church, any priest who celebrates or concelebrates a Mass may accept an offering to apply the Mass for a specific intention.[4]
The donation of a stipend for the celebration of a Mass dates back to the eighth century.[5]
- ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Cathy Caridi, J.C.L. (22 February 2008). "Mass Intentions and Stipends". Catholic Exchange. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
- ^ "A Guide to ensuring you have the Traditional Mass at your Funeral, The Latin Mass Society, Page 24 and 25". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ^ Code of Canon Law, Canon 945, accessed 16 March 2023
- ^ Kaleta, Paweł (2021-06-17). "Towards a New Understanding of Mass Stipends". Roczniki Nauk Prawnych. 30 (3): 197–212. doi:10.18290/rnp20303-10. ISSN 2544-5227. S2CID 237787616. Archived from the original on 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2022-09-03.