The sanctity of the Mass card is to be preserved in future by the banning of pre-signed versions in the Republic.

Catholic Church leaders believe that the pre-signed cards are costing clergymen millions of euro every year because the money is going to companies, or even out of Ireland to foreign religious orders.

In future, Mass cards will generally have to be signed by a priest in the company of those who request them.

They can only be pre-sold by a “recognised person”, such as a Catholic bishop or provincial of a Catholic religious order.

The move is likely to make getting a Mass card more intimidating for people who do not see themselves as churchgoers.

However, bishops believe it is the best way of ensuring that a Mass for the person named on the card is actually said.

The business had become a profitable one in recent years with a number of enterprises supplying shops around the country with cards for sale between €5 and €10.

The concern was that the person buying the card had no idea who the signing priest was, or where they came from.

One example provided by the clergy was in Cork where shops were selling cards signed by ‘Fr Joe Carroll’.

The priest in question was Jose Carolo, an Italian priest who worked in Quito, Ecuador, and who had died two years previously. But some retailers maintain that by importing cards they were providing money to some of the world's poorest regions.

Many cards came from priests in developing countries.

However, the Irish government has agreed that a return to the traditional system of getting a local priest to sign the card is the way forward. They have enshrined the idea in new Charities Act 2009 which is due to come into effect.

The Republic’s junior minister John Curran, who is in charge of charity regulation, has said that it is important that the good faith of people is not taken for granted.

Mr Curran said: “A Mass card is purchased in good faith, and often at times of great sorrow.

“It is an inherently decent act. I believe people in such circumstances should have no doubt that a Mass will be offered.”