gregorianka.belynichi@gmail.com30 Masses to the Heavenly Court – “Gregorian Masses for the Living”
Thirty Holy Masses offered for a living person through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and all the saints. The faithful call this prayer the “Gregorian Masses for the living”.
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Why “to the Heavenly Court”?
The “Heavenly Court” is an old and beautiful name for heaven: the Holy Trinity, Mary, the angels and all the saints. The Masses to the Heavenly Court are a series of thirty Holy Masses in which each Eucharist is offered for the glory of God and in honour of particular “inhabitants of heaven”, and we ask them to intercede for our intention.
This is a pious tradition that is especially alive in Poland and Belarus. It is not a separate liturgical rite – it is simply thirty Masses for one intention, celebrated day after day.
How does it differ from Gregorian Masses?
According to the Church's norms, Gregorian Masses may be offered only for one deceased person. That is why, for the living, people request the Masses to the Heavenly Court – hence the popular name “Gregorian Masses for the living”. We describe the norms for Gregorian Masses on the Gregorian Masses page.
For what intentions?
- for health in serious illness,
- for the grace of a happy death and reconciliation with God,
- for the conversion of a loved one,
- for God's blessing on a new stage of life.
A couple of doctors requested thirty Masses to the Heavenly Court in Białynicze, asking that at the hour of death they would not turn away from God. Both were gravely ill at the time. They received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and confession, and contrary to the prognosis they recovered. We record such testimonies with gratitude – not as a promise, but as a sign of God's goodness.
How to request
Fill in the form or send an e-mail with the person's name and the intention. We will send a proposed start date and the times of the Masses, and when the series is complete – a confirmation. See also: How to request a Mass, Mass offering.
Questions and answers
Can the Masses to the Heavenly Court be requested for someone who has died?
The Shrine of Our Lady of Białynicze
For centuries Białynicze on the Druts river was one of the most important Marian shrines of the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the “Częstochowa of Belarus”. The Carmelite church with the miraculous image of Our Lady, crowned in 1761, was destroyed in Soviet times.
Today the parish is rebuilding the shrine, and every Mass requested here supports this work.
History of the shrine →Request a Holy Mass
Leave your contact details and intention – we will reply by e-mail with a proposed date.
Thank you! We have received your request and will reply shortly to the e-mail address you gave.