Most parish churches with a resident pastor or priest offer the opportunity for daily Mass. As opposed to Sunday Masses, these weekday Masses are usually a rather quiet ritual attended by few people. Here at SSP, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays our students have the opportunity to not only attend Mass but also serve as ministers of the Word and song.

Historically, we did not always have daily Mass. By the late 4th century it had become popular to celebrate Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, days originally made holy by fasting. Later the practice spread to other days of the week. These weekday Masses often were votive Masses to obtain a special favor or to remember the dead. Centuries would pass before daily Mass became a common tradition.

The custom spread during the Middle Ages. At first these daily Masses were associated with monasteries where there was an abundance of ordained monks. Soon, however, they became a normal practice in parish churches.

These daily Masses were popular because the intention or purpose of the Mass could, in popular thinking, be determined by the offering of an individual parishioner. They became known as private Masses because of this practice of private donation and limited intentions. The donation or gift came to be known as a stipend. These Masses were considered private because of the number of people present and the absence of any participation, such as singing.