Why request Mass intentions?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice [the Mass], so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (CCC 1032).

The dead in purgatory can no longer pray for themselves. Pope Francis said that offering Masses for the dead “is the best spiritual help that we can give to their souls, particularly to the most abandoned ones.”  Masses can also be offered a living person who is sick or suffering; a living person who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special moment in their life; in thanksgiving to God; in thanksgiving for a prayer from a saint; or for a prayer intention (that does not contradict Church teaching). The efficacy or fruitfulness of a Mass in a person’s life depends on that person’s interior openness to God’s will and not merely on the external performance of a sacrament (CCC 2111). We allow normally one intention per Mass, except that two Masses per week may have two intentions.