Mass offered for a heretic

[JeanVianney]

I am curious about your answers. As you know I am a former protestant, that means I have plenty of friends, who are heretics. My question is can priest offer for them the mass ?I have read it in Augustine writings I mean it was in de civitate dei, that for a heretic cannot be offered the mass. But I have found in it a good catechism namely Spirago s cathechism too
I am very confused. But I mean it is logical, that for a heretic cannot be offered a mass because he is NOT with the Communion of the Roman Catholic church. Somebody told me that for a heretic can be offered the mass, when there is a intention of his conversion.
So what are your opinions ?

[Stubborn]

Heresy is a sin, a heretic is a sinner, we must pray for sinners - that includes ourselves. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is far and away the best possible remedy and yes of course, can be offered for the conversion of heretics. 

[Gardener]

Might help if you provide a reference for where it said that in de civitatae.

[dellery]

I am curious about your answers. As you know I am a former protestant, that means I have plenty of friends, who are heretics. My question is can priest offer for them the mass ?I have read it in Augustine writings I mean it was in de civitate dei, that for a heretic cannot be offered the mass. But I have found in it a good catechism namely Spirago s cathechism too
I am very confused. But I mean it is logical, that for a heretic cannot be offered a mass because he is NOT with the Communion of the Roman Catholic church. Somebody told me that for a heretic can be offered the mass, when there is a intention of his conversion.
So what are your opinions ?

After having read a few of your posts, it's safe to say you seriously need to find a priest to mentor you.
Since you have to drive a long distance to your chapel, start exchanging emails, or better yet written letters, on a weekly basis. In the mean time, pick up a Baltimore Catechism, study it, and live by it. You place too much emphasis on being a former protestant. It looks as if you're getting bogged down and not pushing forward in your spiritual life --loitering around with the unpleasantness of the past.
You can not help the lost find the path if you're not already walking down it. If you want to do good for others focus on strengthening yourself first.

[St.Justin]

Heresy is a sin, a heretic is a sinner, we must pray for sinners - that includes ourselves. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is far and away the best possible remedy and yes of course, can be offered for the conversion of heretics.

I was taught that you can't have public Masses said but private ones are OK.

[JeanVianney]

[quote author=dellery link=topic=22770.msg483454#msg483454 date=1570665908After having read a few of your posts, it's safe to say you seriously need to find a priest to mentor you.
Since you have to drive a long distance to your chapel, start exchanging emails, or better yet written letters, on a weekly basis. In the mean time, pick up a Baltimore Catechism, study it, and live by it. You place too much emphasis on being a former protestant. It looks as if you're getting bogged down and not pushing forward in your spiritual life --loitering around with the unpleasantness of the past.
You can not help the lost find the path if you're not already walking down it. If you want to do good for others focus on strengthening yourself first.
[/quote]
I mean you are right. I ask him. But I do not know if there is time for the priest. The problem for me is I would like to have a profound knowledge of theology like my priest. I mean it has someting to do with my protestant friends and being worried about their salvarion mainly of my former misussed girlfriend. But I should FIRSTLY focus on sanctification of myself. I come to conclusion I have tu study catechisms for now and then begin with reall theology. I have found letters of PADRE PIO in italian on the internet. I mean I should read some of them for my sanctification. He is my favorite saint too.

[Gardener]

Knowledge is only useful so far as it pushes us to holiness.

You might listen and follow along with these catechism lessons from a very learned, and if I dare say holy, priest, Fr. James Jackson of the FSSP:

https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/audio_catechism

He also has a series on the Beatitudes:
https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/the_eight_beatitudes

A retreat talk (series) given at a Carmel:

https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/st._teresa_of_avila_and_the_woman_at_the_well

And for some other sermons by him and also by Fr. Daniel Nolan:
https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/audio

[Non Nobis]

After having read a few of your posts, it's safe to say you seriously need to find a priest to mentor you.
Since you have to drive a long distance to your chapel, start exchanging emails, or better yet written letters, on a weekly basis. In the mean time, pick up a Baltimore Catechism, study it, and live by it. You place too much emphasis on being a former protestant. It looks as if you're getting bogged down and not pushing forward in your spiritual life --loitering around with the unpleasantness of the past.
You can not help the lost find the path if you're not already walking down it. If you want to do good for others focus on strengthening yourself first.

I mean you are right. I ask him. But I do not know if there is time for the priest. The problem for me is I would like to have a profound knowledge of theology like my priest. I mean it has someting to do with my protestant friends and being worried about their salvarion mainly of my former misussed girlfriend. But I should FIRSTLY focus on sanctification of myself. I come to conclusion I have tu study catechisms for now and then begin with reall theology. I have found letters of PADRE PIO in italian on the internet. I mean I should read some of them for my sanctification. He is my favorite saint too.

Sanctification does not come from profound knowledge, but from loving God and doing His will.  God wills for all to obtain greater knowledge of Him and His Church, but not for all to become profound scholars.  What is most essential is to PRAY, and to make use of the Sacraments. Make time for the priest for the Sacraments and to learn what you need to know. PRAY for your own holiness, and for your friends' conversion: that is what is most powerful.  Profound knowledge obtained through study  is excellent, and since you are so eager to obtain it,  it may be God's will for you: e.g. if you have a vocation to be a priest, or a great scholar.  But many of the greatest Catholics (including Padre Pio) did not have "profound knowledge" obtained through great study - and yet I'm sure they made many converts.

Helping your Lutheran friends even through study may not require the depth of knowledge that you think.  Read good apologetics books or sites (maybe others can recommend some).

But first of all learn the basics (see Gardener's post),  receive the Sacraments frequently, and PRAY.

[JeanVianney]

Knowledge is only useful so far as it pushes us to holiness.

You might listen and follow along with these catechism lessons from a very learned, and if I dare say holy, priest, Fr. James Jackson of the FSSP:

https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/audio_catechism

He also has a series on the Beatitudes:
https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/the_eight_beatitudes

A retreat talk (series) given at a Carmel:

https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/post/st._teresa_of_avila_and_the_woman_at_the_well

And for some other sermons by him and also by Fr. Daniel Nolan:
https://www.olmcfssp.org/index.php/olmc/audio

Thanks for that. It s a great stuff. I am listening to this sermons.

[Stubborn]

Heresy is a sin, a heretic is a sinner, we must pray for sinners - that includes ourselves. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is far and away the best possible remedy and yes of course, can be offered for the conversion of heretics.

I was taught that you can't have public Masses said but private ones are OK.

I believe the private Masses are only for those deceased who died outside of the Church, but for what JV is talking about, he certainly can have Masses offered for the conversion of his non-Catholic ("heretic" for short) friends and relatives.