Catholic Mass

I very much appreciated the advice offered and a mass will be arranged. Once again, thank you to all those Grans who took the time to answer my query.

Marilla You say you wanted to give a 'small gift' and that, in my experience, is exactly what it is... a voluntary gift, or a donation, NOT a 'payment'. I hope the advice some of us offered was helpful and this matter has now been happily resolved.

I am Catholic, but it has been many years since I asked for a mass to be said for my intention. I thought one of the Grans would be able to make a suggested donation to the priest as I see from previous threads there are Grans who are also Catholic.
Of course if I had no money, the priest would say mass but I WANTED to give a small gift as has been the tradition in the church since I was a girl.

Threads sometimes go off on a tangent. I'm not slagging off all priests. Just some priests. And I still don't see why the OP should pay any money for a Mass.

Alright Vampirequeen ; you are determined to slag off the priests and I cannot stop you or any one else can on this thread who has nothing against the clergy. If you do not like the priests then just don't bother going to mass it's that simple then there is no reason to put money into the collections or any thing else.
In regard of committed crimes or cover-ups that is not what the poster asked about she wanted to know about how much to give in a donation. This is not a thread about crimes committed if you want to share opinions on that then why don't you begin another thread.

I'll finger point at any priest who takes from a parishioner who has less than he does. I'll also finger point at priests who commit or cover up crimes.

I know he is well travelled from DS visiting his home and describing in detail what he saw. But, like I say, I dont begrudge him those things . He has sacrificed much to be a Priest.

Thank you. I don't normally post about religion, it's personal and private, but thisthread bothered me.

Thankyou Mumofmadboys and Marydoll for adding voices of reason. I’m a practising Catholic and have also known many priests. I’ve liked some and not liked others, for various reasons. I’m very fortunate, however, never to have met any of the many VQ has met.
My DFiL was an Anglican vicar and was one of the most self sacrificing men I have ever met.

mumofmadboys ?

Comments like, I have heard that the local priest is well travelled.... add nothing to the discussion.
How do you know he has many mementos?

Im not RC, but have heard that the local priest is well travelled and has many mementoes of his trips. However, not being married or having children I dont begrudge him some pleasures in life.

Our CofE services are now stopped. Glad I went on Sunday. The church is still open if people want to go in and pray but there are no services for the foreseeable future.

Vampirequeen As Christians we are all called to live a sacrificial life aware of the needs of others and sharing our talents and material goods. It is not just the calling of priests. Maybe you live a very humble life and give away many of your possessions but all this finger pointing at RC priests is not fair. We all struggle to live up to our Christian ideals. Few of us are anywhere near perfect. Please look at the priests with the love and forgiveness of Christ . Despite their imperfections you may learn something from them. We are all travellers on the journey.

All Catholic Masses in Scotland have now been suspended after tomorrow.
Funerals, close family only. My friend's son is stuck in Australia, she is burying her other son on Friday and her husband is deceased. ?

On the subject of priests living in luxury.
Our Bishop sold the large Victorian Villa, which was his official residence and moved in to the parish house in the most deprived area of the Diocese. No airs and graces about him.

My Mum used to tell me tales of the Parish priest somewhere in or near Glasgow , who refused to allow his Curates to have cars , they all rode bicycles and had a very spartan lifestyles.
Our PP has a very small car and is quite lean , the main recreation time he has is woodwork
They are all human , with different foibles , like the rest of us

Vampirequeen, I'm fortunate in the experiences I have had.

I do understand what you are saying and I do know of some who do like their comforts, which really bothers me.

However, I thank God for having known those other men, they are true Christians.

He's the rare one who lives what JC taught

vampirequeen, I knew two priests who were certainly were not like that. We obviously ahve had different experiences.

One was in his seventies, had bare floorboards in his house and threadbare clothes, because he gave everything away to those who needed it more than him.
I was shocked when I saw inside the house. It was also very cold, because there was no heating installed.
The houskeeper was always feeding the homeless who came. to the door, he insisted that no-one was turned away.

The other was the most generous person I have ever met. He kept nothing for himself, also giving anything he had away to poor parishoners.

Have ever seen a hungry or cold UK Catholic priest? They may only receive a pittance but that's their money. They don't pay for housing, heat, water, transport etc. Add those costs to the pittance and suddenly it's not such a small amount.

I've known many priests in my life. Some were great and others were not so great but all had the same lifestyle. I knew a Canon who was always going on 'pilgrimages' paid for by the Church or grateful parishioners. It's amazing the lovely, warm places you can go on pilgrimage to in winter. He was on 'pilgrimage' far more often than he was in the parish.

Another was so 'charitable' that he called the police to remove a homeless man who was living under the church steps. A previous priest had allowed him to live there as it provided some shelter but the new priest didn't want him there. Oddly, even though the house had many empty bedrooms, neither priest thought to offer him one.

I'm know many priests are committed to their faith and flock but let's not pretend they do without creature comforts in this country.

Re the mass donation, it IS a donation and as someone else said, the mass will be offered without one.
Just offer what you feel comfortable with.

When the Parish Priest is on holiday, I make a note of all the mass requests and donations. Sometimes people can't afford a donation, but the Mass will still be said.
The majority of the money is actually sent oversees to mission schools etc to help those who need it more.

It doesn't go straight into the priest's pocket, as some think.
Of course there will be priests, who are materialistic, just like in secular society. Please don't tar them all with the same brush. There are many who are humble people, who would give people in need, their last penny.

I was of the impression that financial bequests left to RC priests are accepted only on behalf of the diocese.

I'm sure that this was the way it used to be. I know of one priest in Ireland who certainly did this 20 years ago. He had taken the 3 vows and lived only on a stipend. I don't think he actually "owned" anything.

Maybe there are lots of different vows according to order?

Last time I requested a Mass I gave £10 to the parish secretary. It was very gratefully received and was definitely accepted as a donation rather than a 'payment'.

Not in the Catholic Church in Scotland.
Only vulnerable and elderly parishoners have been given a dispensation from attending Mass. Business as usual at the moment.

* MariaEliza* I heard today that all church services are suspended now.

I was struggling to find the right words. Thank you, mumofmadboys I couldn't have put it better myself.
The RC priests I know, dont have huge salaries, many rely on the support generosity of family and parishioners .