Can the Saturday Mass become your Sunday Mass

[ByzCathCantor]

I know in Jewish theology the creation story states, “and the evening and the morning were the first day” and so on.

Taken from the fifth line of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible

[BIBLEDRB]Gen 1:5[/BIBLEDRB]

 

[Corki]

I think the early 1960s date was when Saturday evening masses could first be routinely offered. However, I think that permission suggested that the masses were for those who were unable to attend on Sunday. In other words, people were “supposed” to attend on Sunday if they could rather than Saturday. That changed with the 1983 CIC, or possibly sooner.

I experienced my first Saturday night Mass in anticiption of Sunday in 1964 or 1965. Our parish had grown too big and they needed to add Masses. One of the Masses they added was Saturday night. People from one side of the parish boundries were actually encouraged to go to that Mass since the plan was to split the parish into two and they wanted to start building a community.

I have no idea if this was some kind of exception or if the Bishop could use Saturday for practical reasons.

 

[ProVobis]

I know in Jewish theology the creation story states, “and the evening and the morning were the first day” and so on. Jewish theology states this proves that God considers the evening the next day and since we’re all from Jewish origins that is where that comes from so you are not technically at Mass on Saturday but on Sunday if it is the vigil mass. That’s also why all Jewish holidays begin the sundown before the date. If it’s an early Saturday morning mass then that doesn’t suffice.

I guess I never noticed this before.

It appears that society has somewhat compromised this by starting a new day a second after midnight.

 

[Phemie]

I experienced my first Saturday night Mass in anticipation of Sunday in 1964 or 1965. Our parish had grown too big and they needed to add Masses. One of the Masses they added was Saturday night. People from one side of the parish boundaries were actually encouraged to go to that Mass since the plan was to split the parish into two and they wanted to start building a community.

I have no idea if this was some kind of exception or if the Bishop could use Saturday for practical reasons.

Well, the 1967 document quoted in post #38 which says, “Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening…” shows that it was not permitted across the board. I suspect that since the number of priests had already started to drop (that started before Vatican II) and because of the spread out populations, the Vatican would have granted such a permission to North & South American Conferences of Bishops. I wonder if such a permission was granted to Ireland or Italy.

 

[Filii_Dei]

While it is canonically legal to celebrate Sunday Mass on Saturday evening (or Sunday evening), I find it a much richer experience to attend Mass on Sunday morning, as the Mass was meant to be linked to sunrise and the coming of Christ (which is also why our churches are meant to be oriented to the East).

Simply put, if you have been attending Sunday morning Mass all your life, I believe you should try to continue doing so, unless there is some new reason that makes it inconvenient for you or somehow compromises your experience. If you have been attending Saturday evening Mass all your life, however, do give Sunday morning a try. You’ll find that the morning sun (especially if your church has glass windows behind the altar) can make it feel a bit more special.

 

[Phemie]

While it is canonically legal to celebrate Sunday Mass on Saturday evening (or Sunday evening), I find it a much richer experience to attend Mass on Sunday morning, as the Mass was meant to be linked to sunrise and the coming of Christ (which is also why our churches are meant to be oriented to the East).

Simply put, if you have been attending Sunday morning Mass all your life, I believe you should try to continue doing so, unless there is some new reason that makes it less convenient for you. If you have been attending Saturday evening Mass all your life, however, do give Sunday morning a try. You’ll find that the morning sun (especially if your church has glass windows behind the altar) can make it feel a bit more special.

I usually attend Saturday because I’m a reader and there are not many of us who volunteer for that Mass. I’m on the Baptism Preparation team so I also attend on Sunday if there is a Baptism because I have to set up, particularly if the family has opted for immersion instead of pouring. And sometimes I go Sunday just because. I have to admit that I prefer Saturday because then I don’t have to deal with the choices made by the choir.

 

[Digitonomy]

I think that if you looked at old Breviaries you’d find that on Saturday evening they prayed “Sunday Evening Prayer I” and on Sunday they prayed “Sunday Evening Prayer II” as they do today.

Here is an old breviary from 1828. I’m afraid that my breviary skills are not up to the task of finding the details we are discussing.

Phemie:

Evening Masses were not even allowed until the 1953 Apostolic Constitution “CHRISTUS DOMINUS”. …Before that Mass couldn’t be celebrated after noon.

So were Catholic weddings typically celebrated before noon, or without an accompanying mass after noon?

 

[Irishgal49]

I usually attend Saturday because I’m a reader and there are not many of us who volunteer for that Mass. I’m on the Baptism Preparation team so I also attend on Sunday if there is a Baptism because I have to set up, particularly if the family has opted for immersion instead of pouring. And sometimes I go Sunday just because. I have to admit that I prefer Saturday because then I don’t have to deal with the choices made by the choir.

I too attend on Saturday evening. I have very severe sleep problems and I use Sunday morning to sleep in. I volunteer as a lector on Saturday evenings and I am not fond of the choir selections. We have a male soloist who has the most AMAZING voice and he always sings on Sat evening. His solo “Ave Maria” one week gave me chills. It was amazing and so beautiful. I just like the people who serve and my spiritual advisor also attends that Mass.

 

[Irishgal49]

Here is an old breviary from 1828. I’m afraid that my breviary skills are not up to the task of finding the details we are discussing.
So were Catholic weddings typically celebrated before noon, or without an accompanying mass after noon?

No that is not correct. Weddings can have a Mass if deemed appropriate. Obviously there are cases where Mass is not celebrated (if a Catholic is marrying a non-Catholic, etc)

A Mass on Saturday cannot be considered satisfying the Sunday obligation if it’s before a certain time. I’m not sure who sets that time but I remember reading 4 pm for my Diocese so I will look into where I found that. So the earliest you see a Sunday “vigil” Mass on Saturday in our Diocese is 4:30 pm on Saturday. I always go then because I have health issues that make it difficult for me to get up early and because I love the Mass. I do have 2 churches I am involved in so I sometimes go to one on Saturday evening and the other on Sunday morning if I’m feeling well and get enough sleep. Lately I haven’t felt as well so I went last night.

Lorrie

 

[Phemie]

Here is an old breviary from 1828. I’m afraid that my breviary skills are not up to the task of finding the details we are discussing.
So were Catholic weddings typically celebrated before noon, or without an accompanying mass after noon?

My Latin knowledge is pretty much limited to “Carpe diem” and some of the Mass responses so I’m totally lost in the Breviary.

As for weddings, remember that that 1953 document was primarily issued to reduce the Communion fast from ‘fasting since midnight’ to 'fasting for three hours. So, yes, weddings were in the morning, particularly if the Nuptial Mass was being celebrated.

 

[Seeker1961]

It is for me. My work schedule fluctuates like crazy, and Saturday night is most often the best time for me to attend.

 

[Digitonomy]

As for weddings, remember that that 1953 document was primarily issued to reduce the Communion fast from ‘fasting since midnight’ to 'fasting for three hours. So, yes, weddings were in the morning, particularly if the Nuptial Mass was being celebrated.

Did fasting rules also apply to weddings? If not, what was the obstacle to afternoon weddings, so long as there was no mass?

 

[Irishgal49]

Did fasting rules also apply to weddings? If not, what was the obstacle to afternoon weddings, so long as there was no mass?

I’m going to have to check into this. We have weddings with Mass at 2 or 3 pm. But not after the 4:00 PM time so maybe that’s why they have them early in the afternoon. I guess I’d have a Friday evening wedding. I don’t like afternoon weddings–but that’s my preference. I guess that explains the 2 pm Sat weddings.

 

[Phemie]

Did fasting rules also apply to weddings? If not, what was the obstacle to afternoon weddings, so long as there was no mass?

No, the fasting rule applied to Communion, not weddings, but in those days I think most Catholic couples had a Nuptial Mass and it would have been inconceivable for the bride and groom not to receive Communion at that Mass.

You have to remember that that was also a time when mixed marriages were celebrated outside the church proper, either in the parish office or the sacristy. That could happen at any time, well, except in those countries where weddings could only be celebrated between X a.m. and Y p.m.

 

[Filii_Dei]

I usually attend Saturday because I’m a reader and there are not many of us who volunteer for that Mass. I’m on the Baptism Preparation team so I also attend on Sunday if there is a Baptism because I have to set up, particularly if the family has opted for immersion instead of pouring. And sometimes I go Sunday just because. I have to admit that I prefer Saturday because then I don’t have to deal with the choices made by the choir.

Ah, now that is something I can empathise with.