At what point does Mass actually begin?

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Is it at the start of the opening hymn or when the priest begins with the Sign of the Cross (for English Mass)? I have scruples about being late and missing Mass and arrived today during the opening hymn, but made it into my pew before Father spoke. Was I on time or a few minutes late? Thanks!
 
Some say when the bell rings prior to the procession to the altar, if there is a bell.

A hymn is only an option, as the entrance antiphon is actually prescribed. And that, I believe, is part of the Mass.

There may also be an Asperges Me prior to the start of the Mass proper, the “Sign of the Cross.”
 
Mass begins with the Priest leading the Sign of the Cross, and ends with the Ite Missa Est " The Mass has ended, …" “Thanks be to God”
 
Is it at the start of the opening hymn or when the priest begins with the Sign of the Cross (for English Mass)? I have scruples about being late and missing Mass and arrived today during the opening hymn, but made it into my pew before Father spoke. Was I on time or a few minutes late? Thanks!
At the the entrance procession – chant or hymn. The entrance hymn is first of the four proper hymns.

Entrance antiphon: antiphona ad introitum. In earlier forms of the Mass the choir began the Introit when then celebrant began the first prayers at the foot of the altar. Now it is at the procession.
 
Our pastor once told us: “When you review the readings the day before.”

Probably not mandated by Church Law, but a good practice. 😉
 
At our early Mass (9am), the priest enters saying the Angelus. He then goes straight into the Sign of the Cross. We don’t have a hymn until the very end, when he leaves.

We have other music throughout, which the priest controls with a remote-controlled CD player. 🙂

I would consider the start of the Mass to be the start of the Angelus.
 
At our early Mass (9am), the priest enters saying the Angelus. He then goes straight into the Sign of the Cross. We don’t have a hymn until the very end, when he leaves.

We have other music throughout, which the priest controls with a remote-controlled CD player. 🙂

I would consider the start of the Mass to be the start of the Angelus.
I have seen the Angelus sung for the entrance. Is this the Catholic Anglican Mass?
 
I have seen the Angelus sung for the entrance. Is this the Catholic Anglican Mass?
I’m not quite sure what that is, but I attend a ‘regular’ Catholic church in the UK. The priest also starts each daily Mass (12 noon) with the Angelus. I love it, it’s a very special prayer.
 
This question can be made moot by making sure you get to Mass on time.
 
I’m not quite sure what that is, but I attend a ‘regular’ Catholic church in the UK. The priest also starts each daily Mass (12 noon) with the Angelus. I love it, it’s a very special prayer.
It is a very nice prayer or hymn. So I think you are using the normal Mass then. Now there is another liturgy that was approved by Rome called the Anglican Use, in addition to others.

PDF
google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&sqi=2&ved=0CEQQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anglicanphiladelphia.org%2Farticles%2FMassBook-o.pdf&ei=FDXqVKeyJMu-ggScvIGoCA&usg=AFQjCNFNH-mF54bQAPGiZTrKOVzDq_VlrA&bvm=bv.86475890,d.eXY&cad=rja
 
This question can be made moot by making sure you get to Mass on time.
Well yes… and I will try to be early next Sunday… but since it was not moot for me today there’s nothing wrong with asking, and I’m glad I did as it seems there are a variety of answers. So for now I’ll just assume that arriving in the middle of the opening hymn is a venial sin at most, apologize to God, and try not to do it again.
 
My dad tells a story about my grandfather getting the family to mass late and claiming that as long as he got there before the gospel, ‘it still counts’. He was normally punctual, but, as a convert, I think he liked to tease my grandmother a little. This was before Vatican II.
 
Well yes… and I will try to be early next Sunday… but since it was not moot for me today there’s nothing wrong with asking, and I’m glad I did as it seems there are a variety of answers. So for now I’ll just assume that arriving in the middle of the opening hymn is a venial sin at most, apologize to God, and try not to do it again.
God does not love us with a stopwatch. I read that you are dealing with scrupulosity on this so I know saying “let it go” is both easier said than done and a way overdone phrase (even before Frozen).

It is more important about why you are late. If you are late because you watched the end of a game or you intentionally dawdled because you did not want to go or because you went to get breakfast first, then the fault and sin, is yours.

If you were late because you hit traffic or could not find your keys or had to handle a last minute emergency, there is no sin. God does not ask us to do the impossible.

Mass is the most glorious feast with my extended family. Our dad is waiting for us to be with Him. He knows why we are there. He knows our hearts. He wants us to be with Him. He does not want us to be anxious over things not under our control and He understands and forgives when we mess up. Do your best to get there on time, and if you are late, know that He smiled when He saw you come in. He loves you.

And by way of full disclosure, this comes from someone who believes that the time you should arrive for anything is 15 minutes before it begins. And who has some family members who think start times are “suggestions”. God also gives us patience and understanding. 😃
 
In the Denver area it appears Mass begins anytime up to and including the Gospel and ends immediately after receiving communion, sadly for a large number of folks.
 
This question can be made moot by making sure you get to Mass on time.
Reality often resists our desire for surety and even the best marksman misses the bullseye once in a while.

I’ve come to expect less than perfection from myself. Life is much more peaceful that way.

-Tim-
 
In the Denver area it appears Mass begins anytime up to and including the Gospel and ends immediately after receiving communion, sadly for a large number of folks.
It really gets bad when the late arrivals are able to get the parking slots vacated by the early leavers. 😃
 
Here is a consideration of the question When Does Mass Begin? from EWTN

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur282.htm

Is there a particular reason you are worried about being late? I realise you have scruples but if you are late through no fault of your own it wouldn’t be a sin. Are you worried about being able to receive the Blessed Sacramemt? In one parish I was in the guidance was that one may receive if you had arrived in time for and heard the Gospel, but not if arriving during or after the Gospel.

Over the years I have lost count of the bewildered looking people who have arrived half way through mass only to realise that they forgot to put their clocks forward! 🙂
 
Here is a consideration of the question When Does Mass Begin? from EWTN

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur282.htm

Is there a particular reason you are worried about being late? I realise you have scruples but if you are late through no fault of your own it wouldn’t be a sin. Are you worried about being able to receive the Blessed Sacramemt? In one parish I was in the guidance was that one may receive if you had arrived in time for and heard the Gospel, but not if arriving during or after the Gospel.

Over the years I have lost count of the bewildered looking people who have arrived half way through mass only to realise that they forgot to put their clocks forward! 🙂
I worry about being late because I want to be sure to fulfill my Sunday obligation. Since there doesn’t seem to be a clear guideline anymore on “how late is too late”, I get anxious if I’m even a minute late through my own fault (and it usually is my fault). In this case I was leaving the baby home with a family member, and he had fallen asleep on his tummy, so I tried to turn him on to his back without waking him up, and ended up leaving a couple minutes late and running into Church. I recognize that part of this is scruples, as the people I was running past made it into Mass after I did and they weren’t worried about it.
 
I’d say ya want to try to make it before the Introductory Rites are over. You at least want to make it before the Liturgy of the Word is over. If you miss some you could catch up with the Missalette. But yeah, you should just pretend mass is 30 minutes earlier than it really is. If your early, no biggie, cause you can prepare yourself in prayer and maybe catch up on some reading. ;). Here’s the order of the mass just for kicks 😛

ORDER OF HOLY MASS

Introductory Rites

  • Entrance
  • Greeting
  • Penitential Act
  • Glory to God
  • Collect
Liturgy of the Word
  • First Reading
  • Responsorial Psalm
  • Second Reading (on Sundays and solemnities)
  • Gospel Acclamation
  • Gospel
  • Homily
  • Profession of Faith (on Sundays, solemnities, and special occasions)
  • Universal Prayer
Liturgy of the Eucharist
  • Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar
  • Prayer over the Offerings
  • Eucharistic Prayer
  • Preface
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • First half of prayer, including Consecration
  • Mystery of Faith
  • Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology
  • The Lord’s Prayer
  • Sign of Peace
  • Lamb of God
  • Communion
  • Prayer after Communion
Concluding Rites
  • Optional announcements
  • Greeting and Blessing
  • Dismissal
 
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