It means “Mass for the Dead” or “Mass for the deceased.”

Basic meaning

  • Missa = Mass (the Catholic liturgy of the Eucharist).
  • pro = for.
  • defunctis = the deceased / the dead.

So Missa pro Defunctis is the traditional Latin phrase for a funeral or requiem Mass offered for those who have died.

In religious context

In Catholic usage today, Missa pro Defunctis refers to:

  1. A liturgical Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul(s) of the dead.
  1. A musical Requiem composed for that Mass (for example, by Mozart, Verdi, or Fauré).

A simple, clear English rendering is “Mass for the Dead” or “Mass for the deceased.”

TL;DR: Missa pro Defunctis in Latin means “Mass for the Dead” / “Mass for the deceased” in English, and it usually refers to a funeral or requiem Mass.

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