Case LIII: Gregorian Altar

Case.—Father Christopher is asked to say thirty Gregorian Masses for a deceased person. Some of these Masses he says himself; but falling ill, he has the remainder said by another priest in a neighboring town. None of these Masses were said at a Gregorian altar.

Questions.—1. What is the meaning of the Gregorian altar?

2. What is the Gregorian trentain, or thirty-day Mass?

3. Did Fr. Christopher fulfill his engagement?

Solution.—1. It is a privileged altar; that means to say, that any Mass offered on that altar for a certain soul detained in purgatory will obtain the deliverance of that soul, not by reason of justice, but because of the mercy and liberality of God who accepts the vicarious satisfaction. The Congregation of Indulgences gave the following reply on July 28th, 1840, to the above question: By the indulgence attached to a privileged altar, if the intention of the grantor and the exercise of the power of the keys are considered, a plenary indulgence is to be understood, which would immediately free the soul from all the punishments of purgatory; but if the effect of the application is considered, an indulgence is to be understood whose measure corresponds to the good pleasure and acceptance of divine mercy. The good work or indulgence offered in behalf of the deceased is offered per modum suffragii, but it has back of it the intercession of the Church. It is the belief of the Church that God will not turn a deaf ear to the intercession of the Spouse of Christ. The Altar of St. Gregory, which is the Altar used by the holy Pontiff, is in the chapel of the Church of St. Gregory at Rome, on the Caelian hill. The saint during life had a great devotion to the Holy Souls, and there is a widespread belief that he obtained from God the favor of liberating by his intercession any soul for whom he prayed. After his death the faithful adopted the custom of having Masses said on his altar, piously trusting to his intercession for the efficacy of their prayers. In 1884 the Congregation of Indulgences declared that this was a pious custom and one which met with the approval of the Church. In due time the Holy See constituted the Altar of St. Gregory a privileged one. Since then the Supreme Pontiff has designated other altars throughout the world and has annexed to them the indulgences granted to the Altar of St. Gregory at Rome, at the same time placing them under the special intercessory power of that great saint. These are the Gregorian ad instar altars. Hence, Masses said on these altars for a soul in purgatory will be offered with all the intercessory power of the Church and the saint for the immediate deliverance of said soul. It is confidently believed that God in His mercy will grant the petition thus made.

2. The Congregation of Indulgences has likewise approved the tricenarium Gregorianum or thirty-day Mass, that is Mass offered for thirty consecutive days but not necessarily on the same altar, or by the same priest, for a definite deceased person. These Masses are not privileged. This is a long-standing custom with the faithful, who, relying upon the practice and the intercession of St. Gregory, hope that the sacrifice offered as a suffragium under these auspices will bring more certain and more abundant fruit to the soul detained in purgatory.

Theologians hold that the continuity of the Gregorian trentain is not interrupted when the thirty successive days include the last three days of Holy Week. “It is not credible that God would not accept them as continuous while so pious a custom of His spouse, the Church, is observed.” (Tamburini.)

3. Since Father Christopher had not promised to celebrate at a privileged altar, he fulfilled his obligations by having the Masses offered on thirty consecutive days in the manner indicated. It is not necessary that the Masses be said by the same priest, or at the same altar. They may be celebrated at any altar.