«The greatest suffrage for the souls in Purgatory is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.»
— St. Thomas Aquinas
The Gregorian Mass is an ancient and venerated tradition of the Church: 30 consecutive Masses offered for the eternal repose of a departed soul. It is an act of love and faith in the Communion of Saints, which eases the pain of separation and strengthens Christian hope in eternal life.
What are the Gregorian Masses?
Gregorian Masses are 30 consecutive Masses for the soul of a deceased person, celebrated without interruption by a single priest. This practice dates back to the 6th century and the testimony of St. Gregory the Great.
St. Gregory recounts in his Dialogues that, after ordering the celebration of 30 masses in succession for the soul of the monk Justus, by revelation he was certain that the monk’s soul had been released from Purgatory:
«At the completion of the 30 masses, he appeared saying that he had been released from punishment.» — Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues IV, 55.
This devotion was approved by the Church, with the condition that 30 Masses be celebrated without interruption.
Grounded in the Catholic faith
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
«The Church offers suffrages for the dead, in particular the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist, so that, purified, they may reach the beatific vision of God.» (CCC 1032)
St. Alphonsus Liguori affirms:
«A single Mass well applied helps the soul more than many private prayers.»
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches:
«The sacrifice of the Mass works principally for the benefit of the dead for the remission of their sorrows.» (St. Th., III, q. 79, a. 7)
Why offer Gregorian Masses?
✅ To help a soul to purify itself and reach the vision of God.
✅ To express love and gratitude for our loved ones.
✅ To strengthen our hope in the resurrection.
✅ To unite us in prayer with the whole Church.
It is a spiritual work of mercy: «Pray for the living and the deceased» (CCC 2447).
Spiritual benefits
- More intense and solemn suffrages for the deceased.
- Deep consolation for family members.
- Active participation in the Communion of Saints.
Direct support to priests on mission, who celebrate these Masses and bring the Gospel where the Church is suffering.
How does it work in ACN?
- The requested offering guarantees that a missionary priest will celebrate 30 consecutive Masses for the indicated intention.
You help to support the ministry of priests in poor or persecuted places.
Spiritual testimony
«Offering a Gregorian Mass is an act of love and faith that unites heaven and earth, and deeply consoles the heart of those who love.»
Pastoral Note
To have the value of a Gregorian Mass:
There must be 30 consecutive Masses celebrated by a single priest.
That is why the offering is special: It guarantees the commitment and support of the celebrant for 30 days.
Other forms of prayer for the deceased
If you would like other options for suffrage and prayer, we also offer:
Triduum Masses
- 3 consecutive Masses for the same intention.
- Inspired by the tradition of triduums as an intense spiritual preparation.
- Ideal to pray for the deceased, the sick or special intentions.
«Ask and it will be given to you» (Mt 7:7).
Novena Masses
- 9 consecutive masses, following the ancient practice of the Christian novena.
- Recall the persevering prayer of the Apostles with Mary for nine days before Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
- 9 consecutive masses, following the ancient practice of the Christian novena.
🙏 All offered in the charity of Christ and in communion with the Universal Church
A Pontifical Foundation with worldwide reach
«I invite you all, together with ACN, to do a work of mercy in every part of the world.»
Contact
Aid to the Church in Need
ACN Global Office
Contact:
+57 313 3262029
info@acn-global.org
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