A COMMENDABLE PRACTICE

It is a commendable practice to offer a Mass or several Masses for a person who is deceased. This is an ancient practice of the Catholic Church.  A Mass may be offered to pray for a person, that he/she may be at peace in heaven.  Since each Mass is of infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit for the person prayed for as well as for the family, knowing that their intention is joined with the prayer of the Church.

For specific questions regarding Mass Intentions, please feel free to call the parish office at 318-222-3791.

A GIFT FROM GOD

Every Mass is a wonderful gift from God to us.  It is the center of the Church’s life, “the source and summit of the Christian life” because, in the celebration of the Mass, we make present Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass celebrated.  We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us in the life, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  At each Mass, all the intentions of all God’s people, both living and dead, are included.  Yet, “in the established tradition of the Church, the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join to the eucharistic sacrifice a kind of sacrifice of their own, as a way of taking part more intensely.  They thus do their share to provide for the Church’s needs, especially the support of its ministers…” (Pope Paul VI, motu proprio “Firma in Traditione”).

POLICY AND GUIDELINES

The policy of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish for Mass Intentions is issued so that our parish practices for Mass Intentions and Mass Offerings maintains conformity with the universal law of the Church and the “General Policy for Mass Intentions” of the Diocese of Shreveport (January 1992).  Though no policy can fully address all the spiritual, theological and practical issues associated with Mass Intentions and Mass Offerings, the following will regulate all Mass Intentions requested at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.

ANYONE MAY REQUEST A MASS INTENTION FOR:

• a person who is living

• a person who is deceased

• members of a given family (not all names will be listed or mentioned from the altar)

• a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist (e.g., World Peace, Vocations, Respect for Life, etc.)