A notable feature of some online masses, is the number of names and multi-intentions that are announced by the celebrant at the start of every mass, often totalling around 20 to 30. People have become more religious during the pandemic it seems. Nevertheless, what is surprising is the number of intentions that are clubbed together for a single Eucharistic celebration, unlike what it used to be a few years back, when only a single mass was accepted for each intention.
Bookings for masses were accepted only a month earlier, and it was sometimes difficult to get a particular day for a particular intention or for the soul of a departed member. In some churches for instance, multi intentions were clubbed together every week and names displayed on the parish notice board during the week and celebrated only on Sunday during the parish mass.
What is happening today seems to be contrary to Canon 948 which explicitly states, that only the intention of the first stipend payer will be fulfilled at the offered mass, and separate masses for other intentions will have to be celebrated later.
Will the church kindly clarify.
AF NAZARETH, Porvorim
