Section — Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis
§ 2. On Those for Whom the Mass Can Be Applied
249. Preliminary note. Some theologians distinguish a threefold application of the Mass: public, if it is publicly announced for whom the Mass is applied; semi-public, if the priest and the one offering the stipend know the application; occult, if the priest alone knows the application of the Mass.
Principle. a) By divine law the Mass (or rather, the ministerial fruit) can be applied to all those whom it is capable of benefiting; b) by ecclesiastical law, however, the application of the Mass is affected by few limitations.
The first part of this principle is evident. For the Mass is nothing other than the application of the fruits of the sacrifice of the Cross. But Christ died for all, and the fruits of the sacrifice of the Cross can accrue to all who are capable of grace. Therefore the same must be said of the application of the Mass. Hence the Mass cannot be applied to the damned in hell, nor to infants who have died with original sin alone. The reason is that all these are incapable of grace and glory. Therefore it is not lawful to accept a stipend for celebrating Mass for an infant who has died without baptism. Some authors317 teach that the Mass can be offered not only in honor of the saints, but also for them, namely, so that their cult on earth may be increased, and thus an advantage may accrue indirectly to the faithful on earth. It is better, however, and more true to say that the Mass cannot be offered for the saints, because even their accidental beatitude does not seem mutable on account of human prayers. Nothing prevents someone, however, from offering Mass to obtain the canonization of one who has already been solemnly beatified by the Church. For by such a canonization not only is the accidental glory of the blessed person himself increased, but the devotion of the Christian people is also fostered. The fruit of the Mass can benefit all other men, whether living or deceased, and accordingly can be applied to them, unless the Church has prohibited it.
317 For example, Lehmkuhl, Theol. mor. II, n. 245.
250. Ecclesiastical law, according to the discipline now in force, permits the Mass to be applied for any persons whatsoever, both living and deceased in purgatory; for excommunicated persons, however, only privately and with scandal removed.
It is not lawful to apply the Mass for an excommunicated person vitandus, except to obtain his conversion.318 Previous statutes, therefore, if any existed, have now been revoked, and the Mass can be applied even for living and deceased non-Catholics, provided this is done privately and scandal is removed.
For deceased persons to whom ecclesiastical burial has been denied, for example, for those who ordered that their body be delivered for cremation, not only the funeral Mass but also the anniversary Mass is prohibited, at least if the application is made publicly.