A Note on the Decree of the Dicastery for the Clergy on the Discipline of Mass Intentions

 1. On April 13, 2025, the Dicastery for the Clergy issued a decree titled Secundum probatum concerning the discipline of Mass intentions, which came into effect on 20 April 2025. The decree begins by citing canon 945 §1 of the Code of Canon Law: “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.”

2. Recalling earlier documents of the Magisterium, the decree explains the rationale behind this practice. It states: “… the faithful, through their offering, desire to unite themselves more closely to the Eucharistic Sacrifice by adding their own sacrifice and collaborating in the needs of the Church, particularly by contributing to the support of her sacred ministers. In this way, the faithful are more intimately united with Christ, who offers Himself, and are, in a certain sense, drawn more deeply into communion with Him. This practice is not only approved by the Church but is actively encouraged.”

4 §1. While the general rule remains that “separate Masses must be applied for the intentions of those for whom an individual offering, even if small, has been made and accepted” (can. 948), an exception was introduced with the decree Mos iugiter (22 February 1991) by the then Congregation for the Clergy. This exception permits the celebration of two “collective,” – “pluri-intentional” or “multi-intentional” – Masses per week (cf. Art. 2 §§1–2), provided that the faithful are explicitly informed beforehand that a multi-intentional Mass will be offered at a specific time on particular days. This gives the faithful the opportunity to choose either to unite their intention with others or to request an individual Mass at another time.

4 §2. In practice, however, this regulation from the Roman Dicastery has not been widely known or followed by those who receive intentions and celebrate Mass. In many places, collective Masses have been celebrated daily, thereby contravening the discipline outlined in canon 945 §1 and the Mos iugiter decree.

5. In response to this situation, the Dicastery for the Clergy issued the new Decree Secundum probatum on 13 April 2025, which largely reiterates the specific canons of the Code of Canon Law (canons 945–958). Only those elements pertinent to the present topic are highlighted here.

6. The Decree, in Article 1 §1, confirms that canon 945 remains in force (cf. above, n. 1). However, the authority to permit “pluri-intentional Masses” is now delegated to the Provincial Councils of Bishops – in India, this refers to the Regional Bishops’ Councils. These Councils are to decide, based on the local social and ecclesial context, how many such Masses may be celebrated per week and on which days. They must also issue a decree to this effect.

7. Mass offerings must always be understood in the light of canon 945, that is, one offering, one Mass. According to Article 1 §2, the donor’s consent to aggregate their intention with those of others cannot be presumed – it must be explicitly given. For this reason, the law requires that the donor be informed in advance about which Masses are designated as pluri-intentional. Consequently, not all Masses may be celebrated with multiple intentions, and the faithful must have the option to choose between a single-intention Mass and a pluri-intentional Mass (cf. Art. 1 §4).

8. The Decree also reaffirms canon 952, which states that the Regional Bishops’ Council (Provincial Council) is competent to determine the amount to be offered for the celebration and application of a Mass (cf. Art. 1 §4). Nonetheless, can. 952 states, “It is permitted to accept, for the application of a Mass, an offering voluntarily made, which is greater, or even less, than that which has been determined.” The 1983 Code has done away with the term “stipend”, emphasising that the Body and Blood of Christ cannot be subject to commerce (cf. can. 947). It is an “offering”, freely given and received (cf. can. 945), not a payment.

9. The Decree clarifies the distinction between the application of a Mass for a specific intention (even if collective) and a mere commemoration or remembrance during the Liturgy of the Word or at certain moments of the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Art. 4 §2). Simply reading aloud the donor’s name or intention is not sufficient; the celebrant must actually apply the Mass to the donor’s intention. Furthermore, the Decree states that it is gravely illicit to accept an offering for a mere commemoration (cf. Art. 4 §3).

10. Priests and others who receive Mass offerings must note that, until the Regional Bishops’ Council has deliberated on the matter and issued a Decree, the provisions of Mos iugiter (22 February 1991) remain in force (cf. Art. 6; see also above, n. 4).

11. Finally, the Decree states that ten years after the norms come into effect – in 2035 – the Dicastery for the Clergy will promote a study of both the current legislation on the matter and its practical implementation, with a view to assessing its impact and considering possible revisions.

By Bp. Elias Frank

Consultor for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments