Pay-to-Pray?

jdopus · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Pay-to-Pray?

Recently, I was talking to my grandmother, a Catholic and she told me that she's been selling something called Mass tickets, as far as I can make out, you pay about 2 pounds, and apparently a preacher in another country will say mass on your behalf. I kind of dropped the topic then though because:
a) I could see she wasn't comfortable
b) She's my Grandmother, i don't particularly want to put any blame on her for these.

But honestly, even supposing that a mass is said on behalf of every person who purchases these, what exactly is the point? other than as another money-maker for the catholic church of course.....

What exactly do you think of this? and does anyone know more about them? I'll possibly take the time to learn a bit more soon.

Moloth · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

O_o

wow. its like a casino. you're paying them to give you nothing at all.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

chookrooter · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

jdopus · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:24 am Post subject:

Yes, one of the things it did remind me of was the sale of indulgences.
The only place I heard of it happening was in Fermanagh, but I seriously doubt if that's the only place it's happening, it's just where I've come across it. Hell, it could be happening in the church up the road from me, but I never attend.

jdopus · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:31 am Post subject:

Well, I've found a link to a page which seems to explain them

http://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/masscards/index.htm

Apparently the idea is that you buy a card and then people at mass will pray for a person of your choosing.

Interestingly I also came across a large number of sites as well as an article Here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7280729.stm

Which leads me to believe that this industry is very widespread. Little was offered in way of an explanation in the article, so they seemed to be assuming people would know what they are...

Make of it what you will, that's just what comes to my mind
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chookrooter · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:36 am Post subject:

jdopus · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:16 am Post subject:

Oh yes, sorry, rather absent-minded, it's a mostly Catholic county in Northern Ireland. of course you wouldn't have heard of it, doh.
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LakeGeorgeMan · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:58 am Post subject:

I'm selling something called Ass Tickets.

You send me 20 bucks, and I have an atheist in a another country ask the Invisible Pink Unicorn to send you a donkey.
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Moloth · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject:

Lilith · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

When I went to church as a kid (Catholic as well) they did something like this but it was for tokens blessed by the pope.
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coloringzebras · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

I'm so cashing in on this.

chookrooter · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

Hit_me_up024 · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

im down
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jaycorath · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

jdopus · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:52 am Post subject:

Heh heh, apologies then chookrooter.

by the way, what does 'No need to be snitty ya spalpeen!' mean? it's got me confused Wink

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