Ascension Day on Sunday

[raalongi]

What does everyone think about Ascension Day celebrated on a Sunday?? I do not like that idea very much. I feel that Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days later and that is that; not 43 days. Keep holy days where they are supposed to be please don’t change them. Also, if they are changed, don’t change them for some regions but not all. Change them for all or none. I live in the Allentown, PA Diocese, Philadelphia region and fortunately here it is still celebrated on Thursday.

So how does everyone feel about this change?? I honestly do not care for it. What is everyone else’s opinion?? Thanks.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I liked it better on the former Thursday date because it set it apart and made it special. I didn’t think the reasons for changing it to a Sunday were all that compelling. But I will accept it in obedience for now. Who knows, maybe it will get changed back someday.

 

[otjm]

Well, I don’t like being reminded that we are in large part a bunch of weak sucks.

Society has become more and more secular. Once upon a time at least in some parts of the US, holy days were days off (perhaps not all, but certainly some). As society has become more and more secular, and as more and more people have fallen away from faith (and I include a whole lot of Protestants in this too), it has become harder and harder to get people to come to Mass during the week (and while the Protestants don’t by and large go to Mass during the week, their fall-off in weekly church attendance parallels Catholics).

When 25% (give or take a few points) goes to Mass even weekly, and attendance on holy days is even more abysmal, the Church in its wisdom has seen fit to move the feast days to Sunday, so that a larger number of people may be celebrating them.

It is not a bad thing for the Church to try to get more people celebrating the holy days. What is bad is the abysmal attendance rate of people for whom the pull of the world is far greater than the pull of faith.

If and when we see Mass attendance rising, we may see the holy days go back to their usual calendar; and likely not until then.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I remember when my ex-boyfriend who had returned to Sunday Mass attendance but not really formally returned to the Church (long story) was always resisting going to holyday Mass and how that used to bug me so badly to have to be the “nag”!

 

[pnewton]

I am happy either way. I see pros and cons for both dates, neither all that critical.

 

[Big_Feet]

What does everyone think about Ascension Day celebrated on a Sunday?? I do not like that idea very much. I feel that Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days later and that is that; not 43 days. Keep holy days where they are supposed to be please don’t change them. Also, if they are changed, don’t change them for some regions but not all. Change them for all or none. I live in the Allentown, PA Diocese, Philadelphia region and fortunately here it is still celebrated on Thursday.

So how does everyone feel about this change?? I honestly do not care for it. What is everyone else’s opinion?? Thanks.

My opinion is that I will celebrate the feast on the day that my bishop says I will celebrate it. If that means it is on a Sunday (or Thursday) so be it. That is the rule of law for my diocese.

 

[quiet52]

My understanding of the reason for moving the liturgical celebration of Jesus’ Ascension is a practical one. Too many Catholics would simply be unable to attend Mass on Thursday, even the evening Mass, because of work and family needs (kids have to complete homework and get to bed on time - it’s a school night.
And the celebration is simply too important to not keep it a holy day of obligation and for Catholics not to be able to celebrate it.

In the dioceses which don’t move the feast day – I wonder how many extra Masses the parishes are being asked to schedule.

My parish offers five Sunday Masses – but either one or two on holy days of obligation.

I know that for the feast of Immaculate Conception, it only offered its regular 6:30 a.m. Mass last time (it was on a Saturday). I attended a vigil Mass (Friday night) at a different parish. Other years, when that feast is on a week day, my parish only has its regular early morning Mass (which most Catholics cannot attend because they’re getting ready for work and getting their kids ready for school) – and one evening Mass, which is sparsely attended. Catholics never hear from the pulpit that it is a mortal sin to not at least try to attend Mass on a holy day, so how can Catholics be expected to take them seriously?