All Saints Day Holy Day of Obligation Question

[SACREDHEART]

I am unable to attend Mass at my Parish at the times that they have but I did find a Parish that has a Mass tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.that I could make, and forgive my ignorance but my question is does that Mass count for the obligation since it is so late in the day? Its confusing to me because sometimes I attend 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday that counts for Sundays obligation. Also I have a delima because I was invited to my parish at 6:00p.m.tomorrow to meet the new RCIA members. If I attend that I will never make it to the 7:00 p.m. Mass across town. So many obligations! I don’t want to miss the only Mass I can make(if it counts) but I was personaly sent an invitation for the RCIA meeting. Don’t want to be in confession having to explain missing All Saints Day.Thanks.

 

[Dropper]

I am unable to attend Mass at my Parish at the times that they have but I did find a Parish that has a Mass tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.that I could make, and forgive my ignorance but my question is does that Mass count for the obligation since it is so late in the day? Its confusing to me because sometimes I attend 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday that counts for Sundays obligation. Also I have a delima because I was invited to my parish at 6:00p.m.tomorrow to meet the new RCIA members. If I attend that I will never make it to the 7:00 p.m. Mass across town. So many obligations! I don’t want to miss the only Mass I can make(if it counts) but I was personaly sent an invitation for the RCIA meeting. Don’t want to be in confession having to explain missing All Saints Day.Thanks.

The 7:00 Mass counts. The reason that a vigil Mass on Saturday works is because the Mass is the same as the one on Sunday (ie, same readings…).

Hope this helps.

Oh, and for what it’s worth… I would skip the RCIA get together. It seems to me that our obligation is far more important than any meeting…

 

[mercygate]

I am unable to attend Mass at my Parish at the times that they have but I did find a Parish that has a Mass tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.that I could make, and forgive my ignorance but my question is does that Mass count for the obligation since it is so late in the day? Its confusing to me because sometimes I attend 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday that counts for Sundays obligation. Also I have a delima because I was invited to my parish at 6:00p.m.tomorrow to meet the new RCIA members. If I attend that I will never make it to the 7:00 p.m. Mass across town. So many obligations! I don’t want to miss the only Mass I can make(if it counts) but I was personaly sent an invitation for the RCIA meeting. Don’t want to be in confession having to explain missing All Saints Day.Thanks.

The best lesson you can give your RCIA group is the message that you will not be with them because you are fulfilling your Obligation.

 

[asquared]

the various times the 3 parishes here are having a Holy Day Mass are 5:30 pm Tuesday, 6 pm Tuesday, 7 pm Tuesday, 7 am Wed, 8:15 am Wed, Noon Wed., 5:30 pm Wed, 7 pm Wed. All Souls Masses are at all those times (among the various parishes, not at each parish). So nobody really has an excuse. This parish has no Mass Wed eve. because pastor has Mass obligation elsewhere. The Holy Day Masses all count and all will use the readings for the feast. All Souls will probably be better attended, I doubt many families will come tonight (trick or treat in our town is from 5-8 pm).

 

[SACREDHEART]

Thank you for the replies. Its been a great help!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am unable to attend Mass at my Parish at the times that they have but I did find a Parish that has a Mass tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.that I could make, and forgive my ignorance but my question is does that Mass count for the obligation since it is so late in the day? Its confusing to me because sometimes I attend 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday that counts for Sundays obligation. Also I have a delima because I was invited to my parish at 6:00p.m.tomorrow to meet the new RCIA members. If I attend that I will never make it to the 7:00 p.m. Mass across town. So many obligations! I don’t want to miss the only Mass I can make(if it counts) but I was personaly sent an invitation for the RCIA meeting. Don’t want to be in confession having to explain missing All Saints Day.Thanks.

Yes it counts and if this is the only Mass that you can make, then you have an obligation to attend. Forget about the other stuff. You will be teaching a very valuable lesson to the RCIA by attending Mass instead of the RCIA meeting.

 

[Digitonomy]

The reason that a vigil Mass on Saturday works is because the Mass is the same as the one on Sunday (ie, same readings…)

The readings have nothing to do with it. From the Code of Canon Law,

Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

Despite the imprecise wording, it is likewise true that anyone who participates at (attends) a mass on a feast day or the evening before satisfies their holy day obligation.

Similarly, you may attend a funeral mass, or a wedding mass, or a mass of an overlapping saint’s day, on the feast day and still fulfill your obligation.

More discussion in my 2-year old thread:
When does Sunday begin and end?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The readings have nothing to do with it. From the Code of Canon Law,Despite the imprecise wording, it is likewise true that anyone who participates at (attends) a mass on a feast day or the evening before satisfies their holy day obligation.

Similarly, you may attend a funeral mass, or a wedding mass, or a mass of an overlapping saint’s day, on the feast day and still fulfill your obligation.

More discussion in my 2-year old thread:
When does Sunday begin and end?

In order for it to be a proper vigil Mass the readings must be for that vigil Mass or feast day. Generally speaking there would not be a funeral or wedding after 4:30 PM on the day before a Holy Day or on the Holy Day. The only Mass that would take place tomorrow whould be the Mass for the Holy Day of All Saints.

 

[Digitonomy]

In order for it to be a proper vigil Mass the readings must be for that vigil Mass or feast day.

This is well and good, but to satisfy your obligation you need not attend a mass for that holy day, merely a mass on that day or the evening before.

I’ll again give the example of a noon mass on the holy day celebrated instead for an overlapping solemnity or what have you. I seem to remember this happening 3 or 4 years ago for the Assumption(?) or more likely Corpus Christi or another movable feast.