Every day in the year has appointed to it a series of canonical hours and (except Good Friday) a Mass corresponding, containing, for instance, the same collect and the same Gospel.
Almost at the very origin of the Western liturgies (with their principle of change according to the Calendar) Mass was occasionally offered, apparently with special prayers and lessons, for some particular intention, irrespective of the normal Office of the day.
Wilson 34), anniversaries of ordinations (153–54), nuns (156), for the sick (282), for marriages (265), kings (276), travellers (283), the dead (301 sq.
In this book the name first occurs, "Missa votiva in sanctorum commemoratione" (p. 367; Rheinau and S. Gallen MSS.).
The Gregorian Sacramentary, too, has a large collection of such Masses and the name "Missa votiva" (e.g., Patrologia Latina, LXXVIII, 256).
John Beleth in the thirteenth century describes a series of votive Masses once said (fuit quoddam tempus) each day in the week: on Sunday, of the Holy Trinity; Monday, for charity; Tuesday, for wisdom; Wednesday, of the Holy Ghost; Thursday, of the Angels; Friday, of the Cross; Saturday, of the Blessed Virgin (Explic.
The Council of Trent stated the belief in the intercession of saints as a canon every Catholic is obliged to believe.
The judgement is based on the balance of personal sins to merits toward salvation acquired during the earthly life of the individual soul.
Only souls who die in sanctity, which is to say with no stain of personal or original sin, are admitted to Paradise immediately after their particular judgements.
("Spem Omnem Derelinquas, Anima" ["Abandon All Hope, Soul"] are traditionally the four words that mark the entrance gate to Hell.)
The soul is believed to stay in Purgatory for a finite period of time in order to repair its sins and have them forgiven by God.
The number of months or years in Purgatory is believed to be proportional to the gravity of the sins committed during the earthly journey.
Paradise is dedicated to the vision of the truth and contemplation of the Face of God, which is the highest and last purpose of the human soul.
Ordinary Form The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) allows for the celebration of votive masses[3] on certain days.
[1] The other kind of votive Mass (late sumpta) may be said by any priest on a semidouble, simple or feria, at his discretion, except on Sunday, Ash Wednesday, the eves of Christmas, Epiphany, Pentecost, during the octaves of Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, Holy Week, and on All Souls' Day.
A votive Mass may be taken from any of those at the end of the missal, or of the common of Saints, or of their propers, if the text does not imply that it is their feast.
Solemn votive Masses have only one collect; others are treated as semidoubles, with commemorations of the day, etc., according to the usual rule.