Catholic weddings

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IrenkaJMJ

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Does a Catholic wedding on Saturday with a full Mass fulfill one’s Sunday obligation?
 
Nope, it does not.

There is a specific set of readings which must be done at Mass, and very likely not the same ones chosed by the couple getting married.

You should definitely plan to go to Mass on Sunday morning. 🙂

I’m sure there is a better answer than mine, however, so I’ll check back to see what others have to say. I’ve been known to be wrong in the past. 🙂
 
Actually, the Vigil for Sunday begins at 4:00 pm. So you still need to attend Sunday Mass.
 
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IrenkaJMJ:
Does a Catholic wedding on Saturday with a full Mass fulfill one’s Sunday obligation?
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As far as I can tell from the Church documents I have read. It would if it’s after the time specified by the bishop for the Sunday Anticipated Mass (usually 4Pm). I have als been told by a Liturgy expert that in the US it has been specified as not before 4 Pm but that a local Bishop can specify a later time.

Also it must be the Sunday Mass listed on the liturgical calendar, the three readings specified, include the Creed and a Homily.

The Wedding vows can be exchanged at a regular parish Mass after the Homily.

There are certain specific days where a wedding cannot take place, however there are only hand full.
 
Can anyone supply the reference that requires to satisfy the obligation the readings must be those of the Sunday? I hear the claim made frequently but have never seen an official statement to that effect.
 
Joe Kelley:
Can anyone supply the reference that requires to satisfy the obligation the readings must be those of the Sunday? I hear the claim made frequently but have never seen an official statement to that effect.
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#28 Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfil the Sunday Obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully…when celebrated on Saturday this Mass may be celebrated only in the evening, at times determined by the local ordinary.

In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday…

Eucharisticum Mysterium

Which makes sense to me because otherwise it wouldn’t be the Sunday Mass.
  1. Because the faithful are obliged to attend Mass unless there is a grave impediment, pastors have the corresponding duty to offer to everyone the real possibility of fulfilling the precept. The provisions of Church law move in this direction, as for example in the faculty granted to priests, with the prior authorization of the diocesan bishop, to celebrate more than one Mass on Sundays and holy days,(85)** the institution of evening Masses(86) and the provision which allows the obligation to be fulfilled from Saturday evening onward, starting at the time of First Vespers of Sunday.(87) **From a liturgical point of view, in fact, holy days begin with First Vespers.(88) Consequently, the liturgy of what is sometimes called the “Vigil Mass” is in effect the “festive” Mass of Sunday, at which the celebrant is required to preach the homily and recite the Prayer of the Faithful.
  2. Cf. Code of Canon Law, canon 1248, 1; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 881, 2.
Pope John Paul II - Dies Domini
 
I have not ever seen that statement either. Yet I have been at many Saturday evening weddings where the priest told the congregation that they did not have to attend on Sunday.

The Easter Vigil readings are different than the Easter Sunday readings. I love to attend both. (I have also noticed that the Easter Masses have a early morning Gospel and another one)

Years ago before Divine Mercy was noted as a feast in the church, the priest told us if the readings were not the same that we had to attend a Sunday Mass and then could attend the other. (As it turned out the readings were the same)

I have heard many different things about this wedding Mass. I even attended an early Saturday Mass and heard (a very good priest) or what I thought to be one tell the congregation that they were excused from Sunday Mass.

I guess it depends where you are but I love to attend Mass so attend regardless.
 
Br Rich SFO - That seems to oblige the pastor to offer a vigil mass but I see nothing that states another mass will not satisfy the obligation.

Re .(88) Consequently, the liturgy of what is sometimes called the “Vigil Mass” is in effect the “festive” Mass of Sunday, at which the celebrant is required to preach the homily and recite the Prayer of the Faithful. This would seem to forbid the celebration of anything but the Sunday mass at these times. Again, a rule for the pastor, not the attendee.
Note that when a Solemnity displaces the Sunday one gets the Vigil readings, not the daytime readings, at the Saturday mass, but it satisfies the Sunday obligation.

I nitpick at this not to be argumentative, but because I want to be sure that we are properly instructing our catechumens.
 
Joe Kelley:
Br Rich SFO - That seems to oblige the pastor to offer a vigil mass but I see nothing that states another mass will not satisfy the obligation.

Re .(88) Consequently, the liturgy of what is sometimes called the “Vigil Mass” is in effect the “festive” Mass of Sunday, at which the celebrant is required to preach the homily and recite the Prayer of the Faithful. This would seem to forbid the celebration of anything but the Sunday mass at these times. Again, a rule for the pastor, not the attendee.
Note that when a Solemnity displaces the Sunday one gets the Vigil readings, not the daytime readings, at the Saturday mass, but it satisfies the Sunday obligation.

I nitpick at this not to be argumentative, but because I want to be sure that we are properly instructing our catechumens.
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I believe and this is my opinion that looking at the liturgical Calendar and the rules governing it. It makes provision for the Sunday Mass to be replaced with certain Solemnities and other Sundays are fixed and cannot be replaced. Anyway the point that the Mass must take place after a certain time on Saturday to satisfy the obligation is still there, the way I see it. Maybe a wedding Mass that takes place after 4:00 Saturday evening would satisfy the obligation? But I don’t believe so.
 
This question has been definitively addressed in the thread Does Saturday Mass count toward Sunday obligation? in the next to the last post by Catholic Answers’ Apologist Michelle Arnold. In part:
Any eucharistic liturgy that is offered according to a Catholic rite – and this includes Eastern Catholic liturgies – that takes place on Saturday afternoon or evening counts toward Sunday. The readings of the Mass do not matter. An afternoon wedding Mass would count. A Saturday vigil Mass would count. The Church, to date, has not been as specific as we might like about the timing of vigil Masses. Unless or until Rome is more specific, a general rule of thumb is that anything in the afternoon and/or evening of the previous Saturday will fulfill the Sunday obligation.
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Catholic2003:
This question has been definitively addressed in the thread Does Saturday Mass count toward Sunday obligation? in the next to the last post by Catholic Answers’ Apologist Michelle Arnold. In part:
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Michelle has offered her opinion and interpretation of Canon Law. Which I do not agree with. However until a canon lawyer or Bishop posts an answer the question, it has not been “definitively addressed”.

I respect Michelle’s opinion but also stand by my opinion based on my reading and interpretation of the documents as well as discussions with others who are farther up the “food chain” than me.
 
Here is what the New CLSA Commentary (2000) says for canon 1248 §1:
The obligation to participate in the Mass may be satisfied at any time during the twenty-four hours of the feast day itself, or on the evening before it. “Evening” should be understood as anytime from 4:00 PM onward. The legislator uses the word “evening” (vesper), not “afternoon” (post meridiem); in keeping with the proper meaning of the word (cf. c. 17), an afternoon Mass before 4:00 is not an evening Mass and does not satisfy the obligation. The precept may be satisfied at any Catholic Mass, i.e., not only when the texts are those of the Sunday or holy day. For example, attendance at a wedding Mass after 4:00 on a Saturday fulfills the Sunday obligation. The Mass must be celebrated in a Catholic rite, i.e., in the liturgical rite of any Catholic church sui juris, but not in a church which is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, although using a Catholic liturgical rite. The former Ecumenical Directory of 1967 granted a privilege permitting Catholics to fulfill their Sunday and holy day obligation at the divine liturgy of a separated Eastern church. This privilege was suppressed in the 1993 Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms on Ecumenism.
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Catholic2003:
Here is what the New CLSA Commentary (2000) says for canon 1248 §1:
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CLSA

“The obligation to participate in the Mass may be satisfied at any time during the twenty-four hours of the feast day itself, or on the evening before it. “Evening” should be understood as anytime from 4:00 PM onward. The legislator uses the word “evening” (vesper), not “afternoon” (post meridiem); in keeping with the proper meaning of the word (cf. c. 17), an afternoon Mass before 4:00 is not an evening Mass and does not satisfy the obligation.”

Therefore my answer above #10 :

“Anyway the point that the Mass must take place after a certain time on Saturday to satisfy the obligation is still there, the way I see it. Maybe a wedding Mass that takes place after 4:00 Saturday evening would satisfy the obligation? But I don’t believe so.

Should read :

“Anyway the point that the Mass must take place after a certain time on Saturday to satisfy the obligation is still there, the way I see it. A wedding or funeral Mass that takes place after 4:00pm Saturday evening would satisfy the obligation!”

And my post #5:

“As far as I can tell from the Church documents I have read. It would if it’s after the time specified by the bishop for the Sunday Anticipated Mass (usually 4Pm). I have also been told by a Liturgy expert that in the US it has been specified as not before 4 Pm but that a local Bishop can specify a later time.”
Is in accordance with the CLSA.

CLSA

“ The precept may be satisfied at any Catholic Mass, i.e., not only when the texts are those of the Sunday or holy day. For example, attendance at a wedding Mass after 4:00 on a Saturday fulfills the Sunday obligation. The Mass must be celebrated in a Catholic rite, i.e., in the liturgical rite of any Catholic church sui juris, but not in a church which is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, although using a Catholic liturgical rite. The former Ecumenical Directory of 1967 granted a privilege permitting Catholics to fulfill their Sunday and holy day obligation at the divine liturgy of a separated Eastern church. This privilege was suppressed in the 1993 Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms on Ecumenism.”

Therefore my comment also in #5:

“Also it must be the Sunday Mass listed on the liturgical calendar, the three readings specified, include the Creed and a Homily.”

Would be incorrect.

I’ll let Michelle Arnold address her posted answer in light of the CLSA commentary.

“Any eucharistic liturgy that is offered according to a Catholic rite – and this includes Eastern Catholic liturgies – that takes place on Saturday afternoon or evening counts toward Sunday. The readings of the Mass do not matter. An afternoon wedding Mass would count. A Saturday vigil Mass would count. The Church, to date, has not been as specific as we might like about the timing of vigil Masses. Unless or until Rome is more specific, a general rule of thumb is that anything in the afternoon and/or evening of the previous Saturday will fulfill the Sunday obligation.”
 
Does anyone have a good read on the 4pm requirement? Can the local bishop override it.

I ask because I think we are about to encounter an effort to have Christmas vigil masses at 2 or 3 pm to permit more masses on Christmas Eve.
 
Joe Kelley:
Does anyone have a good read on the 4pm requirement? Can the local bishop override it.

I ask because I think we are about to encounter an effort to have Christmas vigil masses at 2 or 3 pm to permit more masses on Christmas Eve.
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Actually there is two different questions.

The normal Saturday and Holy day (which would include Christmas) “evening” Mass is not to be before 4 pm but it may be extended out by the local Bishop (4:30 or 5 pm etc.). I’m reading the Vatican Documents and CCL/CLSA saying not berfore first Vespers (4pm).

There is even a tighter restriction on the Easter Vigil which cannot start before sundown local time. I also understand Christmas Midnight Mass means Midnight.

What is wrong with 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm Vigil, and then Midnight, Gota accommodate those Christmas and Easter Catholics!
 
Joe Kelley:
Does anyone have a good read on the 4pm requirement? Can the local bishop override it.
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Yes, the actual time a Vigil Mass might start on is most commonly set by concensus within a Province. An Ordinary may set a different time based on the Pastorial needs of his diocese.

I had heard that the time may be no earlier that 2:00pm, but I can find no ‘official’ info to that effect.
 
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