Birthday Mass intentions – examples for a birthday, a name day and a first birthday

In brief

A birthday Mass intention asks a priest to offer Holy Mass for the person celebrating – usually in thanksgiving for the gift of life and asking God's blessing on the years ahead. The simplest wording is: “In thanksgiving for … years of life of [name], asking for good health and God's blessing.” A Mass for a name day or a first birthday is requested in the same way. For someone who has died, on their birthday we write: “For the repose of the soul of [first name and surname] on the anniversary of his (her) birth.”

How to put together a birthday intention

A birthday intention usually has three parts: thanksgiving (for the years of life, for graces received), the person's name and a petition (for health, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for Our Lady's protection). You can give the age or leave it out – not everyone celebrating a birthday wants their age read out in church. The general rules – full name, one sentence, no details you would not want announced – are covered in our guide how to word a Mass intention, and the meaning of thanksgiving at Mass in the Mass of thanksgiving. Here we have gathered only examples for birthdays and name days.

Examples by age

A first birthday and the early years

• In thanksgiving for the first year of life of Grace, asking for good health, God's blessing and the protection of her Guardian Angel.
• On Oliver's first birthday – in thanksgiving for his birth and baptism, asking for God's care over him and his parents.
• In thanksgiving for five years of life of Lucy, asking for good health and a happy childhood.

When the child is small, it is good to include the parents and godparents in the intention too, as they are responsible for bringing the child up in the faith.

An 18th birthday

• On Emily's 18th birthday – for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, wise choices and good people along her way.
• In thanksgiving for 18 years of life of Daniel, asking for light in choosing his path in life and for faithfulness to God.
• For God's blessing on Chloe on her eighteenth birthday – from her godparents.

30th, 40th and 50th birthdays

• In thanksgiving for 40 years of life of Martin, asking for good health, strength in his work and harmony in the family.
• On Helen's 50th birthday – in thanksgiving for the graces she has received, asking for God's continued guidance.
• For the intentions of Gregory on his 50th birthday – from his wife and children, with gratitude for his love and hard work.

70th, 80th and 90th birthdays

The Psalmist says: “The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore”, and prays: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps 90:10, 12). An intention for the later years of life usually joins gratitude with a prayer for health and peace of mind.

• In thanksgiving for 70 years of life of Richard, asking for good health and peace of mind.
• On the 80th birthday of our mother, Margaret – in thanksgiving for her life and for the faith she handed on to her children, asking for Our Lady's protection.
• In thanksgiving for 90 years of life of our grandfather, Edward, asking for strength and peace of heart – from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A name day intention

In many Catholic countries people celebrate not only their birthday but also their name day – the feast of the saint whose name they bear. The Catechism reminds us that a Christian receives his or her name in the Church at baptism; it may be the name of a saint who offers an example of love and intercedes for us (CCC 2156). That is why it is fitting to mention the patron in a name day intention – or on the feast of the saint whose name a person was given at baptism or confirmation:

• On Joseph's name day – for God's blessing and the protection of St Joseph for him and the whole family.
• For the intentions of Anne on her name day – in thanksgiving for graces received, through the intercession of St Anne.
• For good health and faithfulness to God for Michael on his name day, through the intercession of St Michael the Archangel.

If you do not know which patron the person chose (St John the Baptist or St John the Apostle, for example), simply write “on his name day” without naming the saint.

Particular situations

• A Mass from several people – “…from his colleagues at work”, “…from her godson, James”. Adding “from…” is a custom, not a requirement.
• The birthday of someone who is ill – “On Thomas's 65th birthday – for health and strength in his illness.” More formulas are given in Mass for the sick and for healing.
• The birthday of someone far from God – “For the grace of faith and God's blessing for Paul on his birthday.” We have devoted a separate article to such intentions: a Mass intention for conversion.
• A birthday and a wedding anniversary at the same time – it is better to choose one main occasion or to request two Masses; examples for wedding anniversaries are on the page wedding anniversary Mass intentions.
• For your own intentions – on your own birthday you can request a Mass for yourself: “On my birthday – in thanksgiving for the gift of life, asking for God's guidance.” Who may request Masses and for whom is explained in who can request a Mass.

A Mass for someone who has died, on their birthday

Many families remember their dead not only on the anniversary of death but also on the day they would have celebrated their birthday or name day. The Mass is then offered for the deceased, so the intention does not speak of health or “the years ahead”, but of eternal life:

• For the repose of the soul of Henry Mitchell on the anniversary of his birth.
• For our late father, Andrew, on the day he would have turned 70 – from his children and grandchildren.
• For the late Veronica on her name day, for the joy of heaven.
• For the late Matthew on what would have been his 25th birthday – for eternal peace for him and consolation for his parents.

How to choose the date and what the liturgical rules say about such Masses is explained in anniversary Masses for the dead – death, birthday and name day. If you would like to surround the deceased with a longer prayer, consider thirty Gregorian Masses – the series can be arranged so that it begins or ends on their birthday. We describe this practice on the page what are Gregorian Masses.

How to request a Mass for a birthday or name day

In the form, choose “Individual Mass intention” and enter the wording of the intention and the date of the birthday or name day. You can also send the intention by e-mail or WhatsApp (details on the contact page). We reply by e-mail with a proposed date – if the day you chose is already taken, we will suggest one as close to it as possible; any other details are agreed in our reply. Once the offering has been made to the parish account, we send a confirmation with the wording of the intention and the date and time of the Mass within two days at the latest. The Masses are celebrated first and foremost at the Shrine of Our Lady of Białynicze. Other forms of prayer – a novena or the Masses to the Heavenly Court – are compared in our guide Mass intentions. When your intention is ready, you can send it through the form straight away.

Sources

• Biblia Tysiąclecia (in Polish) – Ps 90:10, 12
• Catechism of the Catholic Church – no. 2156
• Code of Canon Law (1983) – can. 901