Attending Vespers on Saturday evening

[Monica4316]

I know as Catholics we have the Sunday obligation and need to go to Mass.

In the Eastern tradition, going to Vespers on Saturday evening can be a good preparation for Communion on Sunday.

What happens if someone isn’t able to go to Divine Liturgy on Sunday, and all they can go to is Vespers on Saturday night? I know someone like this… they are actually Eastern Orthodox, not Catholic. They can sometimes go to church on Sunday but not always, because of a difficult situation at work.

As an alternative, what happens if someone IS able to go to church on Sunday but still chooses to ONLY go to Vespers on Saturday? that doesn’t satisfy the Sunday obligation does it? (As I understand it needs to be Divine Liturgy / Mass, yes?).

 

[RyanBlack]

For Eastern Catholics, attending Saturday Vespers satisfies the Sunday obligation.

 

[Neofight]

I’m not sure about the Eastern Rite, or whether you are an Eastern or Roman Catholic (but in the Roman Rite, Vespers, and other public prayers of the Church, or other liturgies, are not the same as a Mass (to my knowledge…I’m sure I’ll be corrected if wrong),

What happens when a person attends Saturday Vespers, but does not participate in a Sunday Mass?

That’s up to that person, and how they resolve the situation with God.

People will stand in line, here, to point out how you could have attended Sunday Mass, or how not doing so was wrong, and lay a liberal helping of guilt on you.

Fear not.

Do what you must do, and what you should do, after the fact and dismiss their comments.

Rejoice in the Lord, Always!

 

[malphono]

From the CCEO (emphasis added):

Canon 881 - §1. The Christian faithful are bound by the obligation to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church sui iuris, in the celebration of the divine praises.

 

[Monica4316]

For Eastern Catholics, attending Saturday Vespers satisfies the Sunday obligation.

I see! I guess it’s different in the East. I heard this before but I wasn’t sure if it’s true.

I’m not sure about the Eastern Rite, or whether you are an Eastern or Roman Catholic (but in the Roman Rite, Vespers, and other public prayers of the Church, or other liturgies, are not the same as a Mass (to my knowledge…I’m sure I’ll be corrected if wrong),

What happens when a person attends Saturday Vespers, but does not participate in a Sunday Mass?

That’s up to that person, and how they resolve the situation with God.

People will stand in line, here, to point out how you could have attended Sunday Mass, or how not doing so was wrong, and lay a liberal helping of guilt on you.

Fear not.

Do what you must do, and what you should do, after the fact and dismiss their comments.

Rejoice in the Lord, Always!

I am asking for another person, not for myself… I do believe God wants us to be obedient to the Church though. I don’t think it’s just between God and ourselves, because He wills for us to follow the Church teachings. I don’t think that’s judgemental, because it’s not commenting on people’s amount of personal culpability. I just thought I’d clarify.

 

[Monica4316]

From the CCEO (emphasis added):

Canon 881 - §1. The Christian faithful are bound by the obligation to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church sui iuris, in the celebration of the divine praises.

Does this refer to services like Vespers? (just making sure I understand!)

 

[RyanBlack]

Does this refer to services like Vespers? (just making sure I understand!)

Yes.

 

[RyanBlack]

I see! I guess it’s different in the East. I heard this before but I wasn’t sure if it’s true.

My previous response wasn’t entirely correct. The particular law of some Eastern Catholic Churches may provide for the Sunday obligation to be satisfied by attendance at Vespers on Saturday evening, or Matins on Sunday morning. This is the case in the Ruthenian Church.

 

[wynd]

What happens if someone isn’t able to go to Divine Liturgy on Sunday, and all they can go to is Vespers on Saturday night? I know someone like this… they are actually Eastern Orthodox, not Catholic. They can sometimes go to church on Sunday but not always, because of a difficult situation at work.

In this case, it would be better for him to attend Vespers and not Liturgy than nothing at all. He should speak with the priest and let him know the situation.