Gregorian Masses are Masses that are celebrated for thirty consecutive days for a particular departed soul.
This thirty-day series is called “Gregorian” because its origin goes back to Pope St. Gregory the Great, who reigned in the sixth century. Pope Gregory was a monk who founded a monastery on his family’s estate in Rome.
St. Gregory the Great by Francisco de Goya
According to legend, a monk named Justus who belonged to this monastery committed a grave fault against his Rule by keeping a few gold pieces for himself. This was such a serious sin against the vow of poverty that he was excommunicated by Pope Gregory.
The monk repented and died a holy death. Later, Pope Gregory, out of compassion for the monk, ordered that Masses be celebrated for his soul on thirty consecutive days. On the thirtieth day, Brother Justus appeared to a fellow monk and proclaimed his deliverance from purgatory and entrance into heaven.
Thus began the beloved tradition of “Gregorian Masses.” Though diocesan parishes often are unable to celebrate thirty Masses in a row for one person, religious communities often offer this as a regular service to the faithful.
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