Occasionally we hear the question “How much does it cost for: (a wedding, a baptism, a funeral, a house blessing, a molieben, a pannykhida, etc)?”  The answer to this question is “nothing”.  It is a great sin to “sell” or charge for prayers, blessings or sacraments.  They are freely given to the faithful by our Lord and His servants.  Having said that, we must also remember the virtues of hospitality, generosity and thanksgiving.  Even though a priest will never send you a bill for any of these things, it is the common practice to offer him (and those who serve with him) a gift borne out of gratitude and love.  This then brings us back to the original question – how much is an appropriate gift?

This question can only be answered in a very general sense.  In every time and place that answer can be different.  However, in this time and place, here are some examples by which you can make your own decision of how much to offer your priest as a gift.

Baptism, Wedding, Funeral (and other great sacraments) – These major sacramental services require a great deal of time and preparation by the clergy serving them.  Frequently gifts in the range of $100 - $400 are given.

House blessings and other services requiring travel – Here also, time and travel are involved, gifts of $50-$200 are commonly offered along with such things as  providing a meal or some other appropriate form of hospitality.

Moliebens and Pannykhidas (and other special prayers and blessings) – The range varies widely and gifts in the range of $20 - $100 are frequently offered.

Again, these prayers, blessings and sacraments are offered freely and without any charge and so don’t neglect to ask for these prayers just because you “can’t afford it”.  The clergy will gladly come and pray for you and with you without any concern for finances.  Remember, however, the instruction of the Holy Apostle Paul “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” (1 Cor 9:11)