The earliest mention of a Mass for the deceased dates to the 7th century, when St. Isidore of Seville (d. 631) proposed a Mass for departed souls on the Monday following Pentecost. This practice likely stemmed from the Feast of All Saints, celebrated in the West on the Sunday after Pentecost, drawing on Greek traditions. Historically, prayers for the deceased were common after major celebrations like Epiphany and Pentecost or on the feast day of a church’s patron saint.
It is thought that St. Odilon, Abbot of Cluny (904-1048), first designated November 2 as a day to remember the faithful departed. According to his biographer, the observance originated from a story about a man who, caught in a storm at sea, sought refuge on an island with a holy hermit. The hermit revealed that the prayers and alms of devout believers, especially the Cluny monks, were liberating souls from purgatory.
Upon returning to Cluny, the man shared his experience with St. Odilon, who was inspired to establish an annual day of prayer for the departed the day after All Saints’ Day, thereby complementing the celebration of All Saints with a memorial for the deceased.
By the late 15th century, a Dominican monastery in Aragona, Spain, began holding three Masses for the dead, mirroring Christmas traditions. This practice was officially endorsed by Pope Benedict XV in 1919, following World War I's devastation, which had claimed millions of lives.
Subsequently, it became customary to celebrate Masses for the dead monthly and weekly. The Rubrica of the Old Missal advises that Masses for the dead should be held on the first available day of the month when no saint is commemorated, except during major liturgical seasons (Advent, Lent, and Easter).
Monday was chosen as the day for weekly commemoration of the dead due to a medieval belief linking it to Sunday. It was thought that all souls, in hell or purgatory, enjoyed a reprieve from suffering from Saturday evening until Monday morning. This belief, while seemingly exaggerated, underscores the love and compassion inherent in the Monday Masses for the suffering souls.
Purpose of Masses for the Deceased
The General Provisions of the Missal state that "The Holy Church celebrates the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ's Paschal Mystery for the departed to provide them with spiritual support and to offer us strength and comfort through the spiritual communion that unites all members of Christ." (379) In the liturgical calendar, the commemoration of all the faithful departed is recognized alongside celebrations for Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the major saints. It is the only feast designated as "Remembrance" that can replace Sunday if November 2 falls on that day, although the Liturgy of the Hours continues as scheduled for Sunday.
On this day, priests are allowed to celebrate three Masses, each with distinct intentions: the first for the souls of the deceased, the second for the souls of the poor, and the third for the Pope. Each Mass includes a prayer focused on resurrection, inspired by Christ’s resurrection, asking for the deceased to achieve eternal life with Him.
Praying for the dead invites reflection not only on their lives but also on our own legacy and whether we will be remembered in prayer after our passing. Purgatory is seen as an interim state between earthly life and eternal life in heaven, where divine mercy is at work—a crucial theological phase we all encounter after death.
Ultimately, prayer for the deceased is a significant aspect of faith, forming part of the "communion of saints" referenced in the Creed.
