Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mass Times

[CatholicZ09]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday? Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

 

[Hatikvah]

It appears that the United States Conference of Bishops did something to it:

On December 13, 1991 the members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of American made the following general decree concerning holy days of obligation for Latin rite Catholics:

In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246, are as follows:

[And the Assumption is obviously included…]

It should be noted that the Ascension is celebrated on Sunday in many dioceses of the US (in accordance with a decision to allow this transfer), reducing the practical number to 5 in many places.

This is the source from EWTN: ewtn.com/expert/answers/holy_days_of_obligation.htm

This is the USCB’s website concerning holy days of obligation: usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-1246.cfm

 

[1ke]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Correct. The Solemnity of the Assumption is not a holy day of obligation this year. It is a feast day, a solemnity, but you are not *obligated *to attend Mass.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday?

You may attend Mass in any Catholic rite on the day itself or the evening preceding. Nothing changes.

Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

Count for what?

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

Don’t confuse the *readings *with the obligation, they are not the same thing.

If you haven’t gone to Mass by 6 p.m. on Sunday, you can still go and it will fulfill your obligation regardless of what readings are read and prayers are said.

The Solemnity outranks a Sunday in ordinary time, so what “should” happen is that the Assumption Vigil readings and prayers should be used at mass after 4 p.m. on Sunday this year.

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

I suggest you get “count” and “not count” out of your head. It doesn’t work that way.

If you attend Mass on Sunday (which goes from midnight to midnight) or the evening of the day before, you have fulfilled the Sunday obligation. Regardless of what readings you hear.

You have no Assumption obligation.

 

[Vico]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday? Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

The rule is from 1983 Canon law CIC for Sundays and all other holy days of obligation:
Canon 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."

I have observed that fulfillment of the Mass obligation, in the United States, per Canon 1248 has been early as 2 p.m…

USCCB States for 2016: “Since the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, falls on a Monday this year, it is not observed as a Holyday of Obligation.”

 

[GoGoDiego]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday? Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

It counts. Solemnities start the Evening before the day itself. The rule applies for Sundays in Ordinary Time and the Christmas Season

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

Yes. Rubric-wise, they should use the formularies of the Solemnity since Solemnities take precedence over Sundays in Ordinary Time.

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

No. It is still technically SUNDAY until midnight although the Solemnity has begun. Anyone attending any Mass on Sunday or Saturday Evening fulfils his obligation.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

I have a question along a similar vein.

Normally, holy days of obligation in my parish have an evening mass on the day itself for people who are working, etc.

A couple of years ago, All Saints Day fell on a Saturday. I was at a Halloween party the night before til all hours, so I decided to go to the evening mass. However, because it was a Saturday, they decided to skip the Holy Day evening mass and just had the Sunday vigil a couple of hours later. I attended this vigil, plus Sunday mass the next day.

Does this mean I fulfilled the obligation? I felt guilty about technically getting two Sunday masses instead of a Holy Day mass and a Sunday mass.

 

[1ke]

Does this mean I fulfilled the obligation?

Yes.

I felt guilty about technically getting two Sunday masses instead of a Holy Day mass and a Sunday mass.

You have nothing to feel guilty about. You didn’t “get” two Sunday masses. You “got” a holy day mass and a Sunday mass.

You fulfilled your obligation. Obligation to attend Mass on the evening before or the day of, and what readings you hear, are two different things. You could attend any Catholic rite and any Catholic mass.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

Yes.

You have nothing to feel guilty about. You didn’t “get” two Sunday masses. You “got” a holy day mass and a Sunday mass.

You fulfilled your obligation. Obligation to attend Mass on the evening before or the day of, and what readings you hear, are two different things. You could attend any Catholic rite and any Catholic mass.

Thanks

 

[SanctusMarcus]

I am lucky that I am English, because in England the Solemnity of the Assumption is being celebrated on Sunday 14th August this year. The English Bishops moved it a day forward.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

It galls me to no end that Catholic faithful can be so niggardly about going to Mass. So what if this solemnity falls on a Monday? GO TO MASS ON AUGUST 15 AND WORSHIP WITH LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND AWE.

My comment is not directed at anyone on this thread but the ire is for the attitude of many Catholics which has forced the bishops to make this policy. We can find time to go to Mass on a holy day.

 

[Vico]

I am lucky that I am English, because in England the Solemnity of the Assumption is being celebrated on Sunday 14th August this year. The English Bishops moved it a day forward.

That seem to be very strange thing to do since it is a Solemnity but not of the Lord. The liturgical norms state:

1. Because of its special importance, the celebration of Sunday gives way only to
   Solemnities and Feasts of the Lord; indeed, the Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter have
   precedence over all Feasts of the Lord and over all Solemnities. In fact, Solemnities
   occurring on these Sundays are transferred to the following Monday unless they occur
   on Palm Sunday or on Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection.
2. Where the Solemnities of the Epiphany, the Ascension and the Most Holy Body
   and Blood of Christ are not observed as Holydays of Obligation, they should be assigned
   to a Sunday as their proper day in this manner:
   a. the Epiphany is assigned to the Sunday that falls between 2 January and 8
   January;
   b. the Ascension to the Seventh Sunday of Easter;
   c. the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ to the Sunday after
   Trinity Sunday

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday.

One question at a time.

How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday?

It varies. It depends on precisely which Solemnity we’re discussing. For example, in the U.S., there would be different answers for the Assumption than for Christmas. I’ll limit my answers to the Assumption (this year) for this thread.

Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

There is no obligation this year for Assumption, since the US bishops have lifted it.
(The followup to that is the response to your last question.)

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

It fulfills the Sunday obligation. Remember, that’s the only obligation this year/this week.

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

Only the Sunday obligation exists (this year), and that obligation can be fulfilled by attending any Mass on Sunday evening; therefore anyone who attends such a Mass is fulfilling the Sunday obligation.

 

[Vico]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday? Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

Suppose it was Christmas on Monday.

These options are available:

**SatSundayMonday
EveDayEveDayEve
.……
.……
.…
………
………
…….
………
…….
**

Also rest on those two holy days.

Catechism
2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124​

 

[GoGoDiego]

On a side note:

The Diocese where my school is under will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of their Cathedral.

I will quote the letter, from the Liturgy Office of that Diocese (of Cubao)

"August 14 is a feast proper to the local Church of Cubao. It is the anniversary of the Dedication of the Mother Church of the Diocese of Cubao, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The Cathedral itself observes the anniversary of its dedication as a SOLEMNITY and it is observed as a FEAST in the rest of the diocese. This year August 14 falls on the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. By precedence, this Sunday in Ordinary Time is not celebrated both in the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Rather, we are to celebrate the Anniversary of the Dedication. The formularies for the Mass presidential prayer (collect, prayer over the gifts and prayer after communion), are found on pages 830-832 of the Philippine Edition of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal in English, and the scriptural readings (old testament and new testament, gospel and responsorial psalm) will be from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.

All the Evening Masses of August 13 and Morning, Noon & Midafternoon Masses on August 14 will celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Cathedral. For the 5 o’clock in the afternoon Masses onwards, you are to celebrate the Vigil Mass and First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Lady; but for the Cathedral it will still use the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Cathedral. The formularies for the Mass of the Vigil of the Assumption is found on pages 739-740 of the Philippine Edition of the Sacramentary and the Liturgy of the Word will be from the Sanctoral or Proper of Saints in the Lectionary."

Thus, in the Cathedral, the Solemnity of the Assumption will not be celebrated until August 15 itself.

 

[agapewolf]

It galls me to no end that Catholic faithful can be so niggardly about going to Mass. So what if this solemnity falls on a Monday? GO TO MASS ON AUGUST 15 AND WORSHIP WITH LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND AWE.

My comment is not directed at anyone on this thread but the ire is for the attitude of many Catholics which has forced the bishops to make this policy. We can find time to go to Mass on a holy day.

A holy day of obligation is also obligatory to take a day of rest. It’s not entirely the attitude of Catholics attending mass that brought this on, but many other factors regarding work obligations and inability to take vacation days.

 

[FrDavid96]

On a side note:

The Diocese where my school is under will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of their Cathedral.

I will quote the letter, from the Liturgy Office of that Diocese (of Cubao)

"August 14 is a feast proper to the local Church of Cubao. It is the anniversary of the Dedication of the Mother Church of the Diocese of Cubao, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The Cathedral itself observes the anniversary of its dedication as a SOLEMNITY and it is observed as a FEAST in the rest of the diocese. This year August 14 falls on the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. By precedence, this Sunday in Ordinary Time is not celebrated both in the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Rather, we are to celebrate the Anniversary of the Dedication. The formularies for the Mass presidential prayer (collect, prayer over the gifts and prayer after communion), are found on pages 830-832 of the Philippine Edition of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal in English, and the scriptural readings (old testament and new testament, gospel and responsorial psalm) will be from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.

All the Evening Masses of August 13 and Morning, Noon & Midafternoon Masses on August 14 will celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Cathedral. For the 5 o’clock in the afternoon Masses onwards, you are to celebrate the Vigil Mass and First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Lady; but for the Cathedral it will still use the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Cathedral. The formularies for the Mass of the Vigil of the Assumption is found on pages 739-740 of the Philippine Edition of the Sacramentary and the Liturgy of the Word will be from the Sanctoral or Proper of Saints in the Lectionary."

Thus, in the Cathedral, the Solemnity of the Assumption will not be celebrated until August 15 itself.

The Holy See issued a Notice (decades ago) that when 2 major feasts “overlap” the issue is to be resolved by the local bishop. In similar circumstances, a different diocese might resolve the issue a different way. In other words, in a situation like this, there is no single correct solution.

 

[babochka]

":

Originally Posted by Boy Wonder View Post
It galls me to no end that Catholic faithful can be so niggardly about going to Mass. So what if this solemnity falls on a Monday? GO TO MASS ON AUGUST 15 AND WORSHIP WITH LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND AWE.

My comment is not directed at anyone on this thread but the ire is for the attitude of many Catholics which has forced the bishops to make this policy. We can find time to go to Mass on a holy day.

A holy day of obligation is also obligatory to take a day of rest. It’s not entirely the attitude of Catholics attending mass that brought this on, but many other factors regarding work obligations and inability to take vacation days.

Thank you for pointing this out, agapewolf. The liturgical calendar is beautiful, formed throughout the centuries and setting a rhythm to our lives. It should not be messed with lightly. Our bishops have a difficult job, trying to figure out how to best adapt the practice of the faith to the needs of modern Americans in a secular culture.

In the Byzantine Church, we don’t move feasts and our bishops have not removed the obligation to attend Divine Liturgy if the feast happens to fall on a Monday. I agree with them and I’m glad that they have not aquiesed to the culture in this way. However…In a Catholic country, Holy Days would also be national holidays, so it would be easy to go to Mass and worship with love, gratitude, awe and joy. But I live in a secular country. On August 15, life will go for most people as it does every day. It’s a big day in my family. In addition to celebrating the feast of the Dormition, my teacher-husband and two of my children must return to school. First day back after summer! For the two kids, it is their first day of attending school ever - they’ve been homeschooled their whole lives. My younger children will still be home all day. With the first day of school comes all sorts of little things to sort out - extra stresses for the day. Divine Liturgy is at 5:30, so that means fighting traffic to get to church, and spend an hour Somehow, I’ll have to figure out how and when we’re going to eat dinner, get to church, and get to bed on time.

The reality is that getting to Divine Liturgy on that day will be a hardship. It will add stress to my day, and it will be difficult to find the time in the day to do necessary things, such as feeding children and ensuring they get adequate sleep. But it is not impossible. We will find a way, and will do so gladly. The day of rest is simply not going to happen. We will celebrate the feast by going to Divine Liturgy. If I remember, we’ll bring flowers to be blessed. But it will not truly be a day to celebrate. By necessity, it will be a day to get to church, in spite of all the other things we have to do.

So let’s pray for our bishops, that they have the wisdom to lead us in this time and in this place, in a way that we can grow in the faith and appreciation for the liturgical cycle that has so shaped our ancestors in the faith, without losing sight of the traditions of the Church.

 

[twf]

The Holy See issued a Notice (decades ago) that when 2 major feasts “overlap” the issue is to be resolved by the local bishop. In similar circumstances, a different diocese might resolve the issue a different way. In other words, in a situation like this, there is no single correct solution.

Father - last year the Assumption fell on a Saturday. I attended Mass at my local parish at 4:30 PM. I was hoping it would be an Assumption Mass, but it was already an anticipated Mass for the Sunday. As the Assumption takes precedence over an ordinary Sunday, this seemed odd to me. In such a situation, I suppose you could go either way? (This isn’t a question of obligations- the Assumption is never an obligation in Canada).

 

[FrDavid96]

Father - last year the Assumption fell on a Saturday. I attended Mass at my local parish at 4:30 PM. I was hoping it would be an Assumption Mass, but it was already an anticipated Mass for the Sunday. As the Assumption takes precedence over an ordinary Sunday, this seemed odd to me. In such a situation, I suppose you could go either way? (This isn’t a question of obligations- the Assumption is never an obligation in Canada).

That depends on what you mean by “you” in your question.

A diocese sets its own local calendar. As a priest, I’m obligated to follow that calendar. Likewise, a priest in a different diocese would be obligated to follow his own diocesan calendar, even if the two provide different answers.

So if the “you” in your question refers to the diocesan bishop, and you’re simply using “you” in a very generic grammatical sense to mean “whoever is competent to decide”, then yes. However, it’s not a matter that is open to the possibility that any pastor (or indeed any celebrating priest) may simply decide for himself.

The priest sill has to follow the ranking of liturgical days. It’s the diocesan bishop who has a certain latitude to derogate from that ranking for practical pastoral reasons, then the priests follow his decision.

 

[Phemie]

I’m a little confused. Monday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM, but it’s not a holy day of obligation in the U.S. since it falls on a Monday.

Now, on a typical Sunday, any Mass on Sunday up until 11:59 p.m. counts for Sunday. How does this work when there is a solemnity on Monday? Does Mass on the evening prior (Sunday evening) count for the Monday holy day?

Say a parish has a 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass each week. Does the 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass on Sunday, August 14th count as the Vigil for the Assumption or for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time?

If the 6:00 p.m. Mass counts for Monday, then those in attendance did not fulfill their Sunday obligation?

Since you’ve got no obligation to attend Mass on Monday, going to Mass on Sunday evening meets your Sunday obligation.

But let’s say there was an obligation to attend Mass on Monday the 15th. In order to meet your obligation to attend both Sunday and Monday, you would have to attend Mass once between Saturday evening and midnight on Sunday and once between Sunday evening and midnight on Monday. In Canada, where “evening” Mass is considered to begin at 4 p.m., you could, if such were offered, attend a Mass at 3 p.m. Sunday and another at 4 p.m. Sunday and meet both obligations. What you can’t do is attend just one Mass to satisfy two obligations.