Christmas 2017

[buc_fan33]

With every due respect:

I am sorry, but how can we have a moral obligation to observe a particular feast when that is exactly not (as we all acknowledge) what the law says?

It is even possible to have no opportunity to observe a particular feast. For instance, I live in a diocese which maintains the Solemnity of the Ascension on Thursday following the 6th Sunday of Easter; A few years ago, my bride had to travel for work to a diocese which observes it on the following Sunday. She was away on Thursday (no observance for her), and had returned by Sunday (still no observance for her). I know the law dismisses the obligation to assist at Mass under such circumstances, and it was not intentional in any way, but she missed the Solemnity of the Ascension completely that year.

Respectfully,
tee
Neither a Canon Lawyer, nor Cleric, nor whatever credential you please

This is a different question. It speaks to the reality that we need to have a consistent policy within the United States regarding the Ascension, precisely so this doesn’t occur. (I’m assuming you’re in the U.S. I don’t know of any other bishop’s conferences that have this particular problem.)

Regardless, to paraphrase Jesus, “The law exists for man, not man for the law.” In other words, we don’t just follow the law for the sake of following the law. Is it good to follow the law? Sure. But are there times when it would be prudent or even immoral not to? Yes. If your pregnant wife is giving birth in your car, you would be well advised not to follow posted speed limits. Nevertheless, under normal circumstances, speed limits are a good thing. They encourage safe driving, which reduces accidents, which reduces injuries, deaths, and insurance premiums for all of us.

Likewise with Canon Law, liturgical law, pretty much every law in the Church. They don’t exist for their own sake. They exist so as to help facilitate man towards deeper communion with the divine. So, let me give you an example. Yesterday, I was preaching, and I noticed a group of young people in the back corner laughing and talking during the entirety of my homily. Now, I don’t take that personally, but my poor preaching aside, they have a moral obligation to actively participate in Mass by being attentive to the readings and preaching. Is that written anywhere? Codified as “law?” Not that I’m aware of. But we all recognize it to be true. Did they meet their canonical obligation by attending Mass? Yes. Do they need to confess not attending Mass yesterday the next time they celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation? No. They attended Mass. They met what the “law” strictly requires of them. However, there is a deeper, frankly more important, law, written on our hearts, and that “law,” if we want to call it that, is to grow in communion with the Lord. So, I would say to these young people that the next time they go to Confession, they ought to confess not paying attention during Mass and distracting others.

“In this is eternal life, that they would know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17: 3). I can’t imagine our Lord saying instead, “In this is eternal life, that they would know and observe everything in Canon Law, and parse out what time evening begins.”

Listen, I don’t fault anyone for answering this question this way. It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. But, rather, it’s a matter of knowing what is really important. So, going back to the “law” written on our hearts. We are to grow in communion with the Lord. St. Ignatius put it this way, “Man is created to know, love, and serve God in this life, and to be happy with Him in the next.” Well, we come to know Him through the Church, and the Church, in her wisdom, has given us different liturgical seasons and different celebrations throughout the year. So, why does the Church require that we attend Mass on the Immaculate Conception (in the Dioceses of the United States anyway)? Because she is our national patroness, because it is one of the four Marian dogmas, and a vital teaching for understanding who Mary is and her particular role in salvation history, etc. We don’t just attend Mass that day for the sake of attending Mass. We attend in order to immerse ourselves in the fullness of the mystery of the IC. You simply can’t do that if you go to the Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Likewise, as it pertains to this thread, you simply can’t enter into the fullness of the mystery of Advent if you “skip” Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent in lieu of attending Mass twice for the Solemnity of the Nativity.

Personally, when a parishioner asks me this, I don’t get too technical. I say, “Go Saturday evening or Sunday morning for Sunday, AND Sunday evening or Monday morning for Christmas.” Simple. If he or she responds by saying, “But, the only time I can get to Mass is Sunday evening, and that’s the Mass of Christmas.” I say, “Fine. It’s not ideal. But, it meets your obligation. Just come Sunday evening and again Monday morning. No big deal.” But, I add, “I would read the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent and spend some time praying with them.”

I hope this answers your question.

 

[FrDavid96]

With every due respect:

I am sorry, but how can we have a moral obligation to observe a particular feast when that is exactly not (as we all acknowledge) what the law says?

No, we’re discussing a situation that the law does not specifically envision.

On the one hand, the law is generous in that a person can satisfy the canonical obligation to attend Mass by attending any Mass on that liturgical day; from the previous evening to Midnight.

The purpose of the law is to release anyone from an unnecessary burden. For example, on a day of obligation, the person does not have to be anxious about what Mass formula is chosen. Or if someone (for whatever reason) attends an Eastern Divine Liturgy, the person does not have to worry about checking the calendar first. There are all kinds of reasons.

We still have a moral obligation to try to observe the feast day.

The way that this matters is when someone is actively manipulating the canon law in order to contrive a situation to avoid observing the feast. For example, the person who knowingly and intentionally attends 2 Sunday Masses on Christmas eve (Dec. 24) one at 4 PM and another at 5 PM in order to actively avoid having to come back to church for a Christmas Mass later that evening or on Mon. Dec. 25.

Now, if circumstances are such that a person has no other options, or there is some other genuine burden, that would be different. But remember I’m writing about someone who is just being lazy and is taking advantage of a situation that the law doesn’t specifically address (2 back to back feasts).

It is even possible to have no opportunity to observe a particular feast. For instance, I live in a diocese which maintains the Solemnity of the Ascension on Thursday following the 6th Sunday of Easter; A few years ago, my bride had to travel for work to a diocese which observes it on the following Sunday. She was away on Thursday (no observance for her), and had returned by Sunday (still no observance for her). I know the law dismisses the obligation to assist at Mass under such circumstances, and it was not intentional in any way, but she missed the Solemnity of the Ascension completely that year.

Respectfully,
tee
Neither a Canon Lawyer, nor Cleric, nor whatever credential you please

Maybe that can help to explain the moral obligation part.
Let’s say that someone lives in a diocese where Ascension Thursday is an obligation, but the next diocese it’s not. That person gets a cheap hotel room a mile away from home, but in the neighboring diocese for no reason other than to avoid the Mass obligation. I think we would all agree that even though, strictly by canon law, the obligation is lifted, there is still a moral element to things. In such a case, the person has manipulated the canons in a way that the law never intended.

 

[FrDavid96]

With every due respect:
I am sorry, but how can we have a moral obligation to observe a particular feast when that is exactly not (as we all acknowledge) what the law says?

…

This is exactly why we have to look at the totality of the law; not just one single canon.

For reference, I’ve posted the relevant chapter at the end.

Canon 1246 speaks about an obligation to observe Sundays and the Holy Days.

So, the obligation of actually observing the feast as such is indeed mentioned in the Code of Canon Law. We must celebrate these days.

Therefore, we do not “all acknowledge” that the law says we do not have a moral obligation to observe a feast day as a day dedicated to that particular theme (Christmas, Immaculate Conception, etc.)–canon 1246 says that we do have that obligation.

Then canon 1247 mentions two obligations for Holy Days: 1 go to Mass 2 rest and avoid obstacles to God.

Finally, canon 1248 speaks about how we fulfill the canonical obligation to attend Mass articulated in 1247, which is itself only one part among several of how we observe the feast days.

Here are the canons from the Vatican website. I’ve fixed a few obvious scanning errors.

Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.

§2. With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.

Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

Can. 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.

§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

This is a different question. It speaks to the reality that we need to have a consistent policy within the United States regarding the Ascension, precisely so this doesn’t occur. (I’m assuming you’re in the U.S. I don’t know of any other bishop’s conferences that have this particular problem.)

Regardless, to paraphrase Jesus, “The law exists for man, not man for the law.” In other words, we don’t just follow the law for the sake of following the law. Is it good to follow the law? Sure. But are there times when it would be prudent or even immoral not to? Yes. If your pregnant wife is giving birth in your car, you would be well advised not to follow posted speed limits. Nevertheless, under normal circumstances, speed limits are a good thing. They encourage safe driving, which reduces accidents, which reduces injuries, deaths, and insurance premiums for all of us.

Likewise with Canon Law, liturgical law, pretty much every law in the Church. They don’t exist for their own sake. They exist so as to help facilitate man towards deeper communion with the divine. So, let me give you an example. Yesterday, I was preaching, and I noticed a group of young people in the back corner laughing and talking during the entirety of my homily. Now, I don’t take that personally, but my poor preaching aside, they have a moral obligation to actively participate in Mass by being attentive to the readings and preaching. Is that written anywhere? Codified as “law?” Not that I’m aware of. But we all recognize it to be true. Did they meet their canonical obligation by attending Mass? Yes. Do they need to confess not attending Mass yesterday the next time they celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation? No. They attended Mass. They met what the “law” strictly requires of them. However, there is a deeper, frankly more important, law, written on our hearts, and that “law,” if we want to call it that, is to grow in communion with the Lord. So, I would say to these young people that the next time they go to Confession, they ought to confess not paying attention during Mass and distracting others.

“In this is eternal life, that they would know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17: 3). I can’t imagine our Lord saying instead, “In this is eternal life, that they would know and observe everything in Canon Law, and parse out what time evening begins.”

Listen, I don’t fault anyone for answering this question this way. It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. But, rather, it’s a matter of knowing what is really important. So, going back to the “law” written on our hearts. We are to grow in communion with the Lord. St. Ignatius put it this way, “Man is created to know, love, and serve God in this life, and to be happy with Him in the next.” Well, we come to know Him through the Church, and the Church, in her wisdom, has given us different liturgical seasons and different celebrations throughout the year. So, why does the Church require that we attend Mass on the Immaculate Conception (in the Dioceses of the United States anyway)? Because she is our national patroness, because it is one of the four Marian dogmas, and a vital teaching for understanding who Mary is and her particular role in salvation history, etc. We don’t just attend Mass that day for the sake of attending Mass. We attend in order to immerse ourselves in the fullness of the mystery of the IC. You simply can’t do that if you go to the Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Likewise, as it pertains to this thread, you simply can’t enter into the fullness of the mystery of Advent if you “skip” Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent in lieu of attending Mass twice for the Solemnity of the Nativity.

Personally, when a parishioner asks me this, I don’t get too technical. I say, “Go Saturday evening or Sunday morning for Sunday, AND Sunday evening or Monday morning for Christmas.” Simple. If he or she responds by saying, “But, the only time I can get to Mass is Sunday evening, and that’s the Mass of Christmas.” I say, “Fine. It’s not ideal. But, it meets your obligation. Just come Sunday evening and again Monday morning. No big deal.” But, I add, “I would read the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent and spend some time praying with them.”

I hope this answers your question.

Your point, Father, was very well taken up by the Council Fathers at Vatican II, specifically in the 11th paragraph of Sacrosanctum Concilium
*11. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain. Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects. *
Indeed, something more is required than mere observation of laws…as you have well said.

 

[zab]

*…Now, if circumstances are such that a person has no other options, or there is some other genuine burden, that would be different. But remember I’m writing about someone who is just being lazy and is taking advantage of a situation that the law doesn’t specifically address (2 back to back feasts)…

I have sometimes wondered that if criminals and thieves put half as much time into doing something legal as they put into their scheming of illegal things, they could be quite successful in living a good life legally. I wouldn’t call them lazy. They work very hard doing what they do. So I guess it is not that unreasonable for some to attempt to avoid fulfilling two obligations by doing what they think is the easy way out. Attending two Masses, back to back. with no time in between for no other reason than to fulfill an obligation would be trying even for the devout But I guess there is always someone who likes to do things the hard way

 

[pianistclare]

Well, I personally celebrated all four Christmas Masses this year. I can’t speak for other priests, but I celebrate the appropriate Mass for each time. My schedule was as follows:

5:00 P.M. Vigil
11:00 P.M. Mass during the night
7:00 A.M. Mass at dawn
11:00 A.M. Mass during the day

And I realize this wasn’t the OP’s question, but I see this answered this way on these boards all the time. People always quote the canon that a Catholic can satisfy his or her obligation at “any Mass in any Catholic rite, celebrated on Sunday, or the preceding evening.” Fine. No one disputes that. But, Fr. David is absolutely correct. We have a moral obligation to consider, not merely a canonical obligation. When Immaculate Conception, for instance, falls on a Saturday, Mass that evening will be the anticipatory Mass of the Second Sunday in Advent. Could one satisfy the obligation for the Immaculate Conception at such a Mass? I suppose (though I’ve asked other canonists–people who have earned PhDs in this field–who have responded by asking why someone would even consider that…in other words, there are a wide variety of opinions on this, even among professional canonists). But it’s not just about satisfying an obligation. It’s about entering into the liturgical life of the Church in order to deepen our spirituality and devotion to the Lord and to his mother.

The fact of the matter is that if one goes to two Masses for the Second Sunday of Advent, or two Masses for Christmas, then that person will simply not have entered into the liturgical reality of the Immaculate Conception or the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

So, while yes, the readings don’t matter, per se, they really do, because they mean the person isn’t merely just going to Mass to meet a requirement, but desiring to enter into the whole liturgical life of the Church.

Thanks Father. Nice post, very clear.

 

[hcruz402]

I know that I am late on this, but allow me to clarify how this goes (I am going to make an assumption that the OP is a Latin Rite Catholic of the United States):

First of all, yes. This year, Christmas remains a Holy Day of Obligation, even though December 25 falls on a Monday. In general, Christmas is ALWAYS a Holy Day of Obligation, REGARDLESS of which day of the week that it falls on.

The Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent start on the evening of Saturday, December 23 at 4 p.m., and then they end on the evening of Sunday, December 24, at 4 p.m., at which point, the Masses for Christmas begin (because Christmas takes liturgical precedence over the Fourth Sunday of Advent), and they (i.e., the Masses for Christmas) run from there, all the way through the whole day, on Monday, December 25, until midnight.

If the first Mass that one attends is a Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 24 (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)), then one can use that Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation to attend Mass (for the Fourth Sunday of Advent), even though the readings and propers of that Mass would be for Christmas (and NOT for the Fourth Sunday of Advent). HOWEVER, that person is obligated to attend another Mass, either later on, that evening, or some time, the following day, in order to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day (i.e., Christmas).

To sum it up, these are the ways that one may fulfill both obligations to attend Mass (For the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as well as for Christmas):

Option #1: Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Sunday evening

Option #2: Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Monday

Option #3: Mass on Sunday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Sunday evening (at 4 p.m. or after)

Option #4: Mass on Sunday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Monday

Option #5: Mass on Sunday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Another Mass on Sunday evening (after the first Sunday evening Mass that they attended)

Option #6: Mass on Sunday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Mass on Monday

NOTE: The Midnight Mass for Christmas counts as a Mass on Monday (Christmas Day).

NOTE: Options #5 and #6 fulfill both obligations to attend Mass, according to Canon Law, albeit in a minimalistic manner.

This year, we do NOT get a “two-for-one”/“two-fer.” We are obligated to attend TWO SEPARATE MASSES for TWO DISTINCT OBLIGATIONS.

One CANNOT fulfill both obligations, at once, by ONLY attending ONE Mass.

On a separate note, as far as Monday, January 1, 2018, is concerned, in 2018, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation, because January 1 falls on a Monday.

The readings and propers for the Masses on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after) will continue to be for the Holy Family (as it would be on the evening of Saturday, December 30 (at 4 p.m. or after), as well as during the day (i.e., before 4 p.m.), on Sunday, December 31), and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God since the obligation to attend Mass, for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, and that factors into what readings would be heard, on that evening.

I hope that this helps.

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz

 

[Vico]

I know that I am late on this, but allow me to clarify how this goes (I am going to make an assumption that the OP is a Latin Rite Catholic of the United States):

First of all, yes. This year, Christmas remains a Holy Day of Obligation, even though December 25 falls on a Monday. In general, Christmas is ALWAYS a Holy Day of Obligation, REGARDLESS of which day of the week that it falls on.

The Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent start on the evening of Saturday, December 23 at 4 p.m., and then they end on the evening of Sunday, December 24, at 4 p.m., at which point, the Masses for Christmas begin (because Christmas takes liturgical precedence over the Fourth Sunday of Advent), and they (i.e., the Masses for Christmas) run from there, all the way through the whole day, on Monday, December 25, until midnight.

If the first Mass that one attends is a Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 24 (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)), then one can use that Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation to attend Mass (for the Fourth Sunday of Advent), even though the readings and propers of that Mass would be for Christmas (and NOT for the Fourth Sunday of Advent). HOWEVER, that person is obligated to attend another Mass, either later on, that evening, or some time, the following day, in order to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day (i.e., Christmas).

To sum it up, these are the ways that one may fulfill both obligations to attend Mass (For the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as well as for Christmas):

Option #1: Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Sunday evening

Option #2: Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Monday

Option #3: Mass on Sunday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Sunday evening (at 4 p.m. or after)

Option #4: Mass on Sunday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Monday

Option #5: Mass on Sunday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Another Mass on Sunday evening (after the first Sunday evening Mass that they attended)

Option #6: Mass on Sunday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Mass on Monday

NOTE: The Midnight Mass for Christmas counts as a Mass on Monday (Christmas Day).

NOTE: Options #5 and #6 fulfill both obligations to attend Mass, according to Canon Law, albeit in a minimalistic manner.

This year, we do NOT get a “two-for-one”/“two-fer.” We are obligated to attend TWO SEPARATE MASSES for TWO DISTINCT OBLIGATIONS.

One CANNOT fulfill both obligations, at once, by ONLY attending ONE Mass.

On a separate note, as far as Monday, January 1, 2018, is concerned, in 2018, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation, because January 1 falls on a Monday.

The readings and propers for the Masses on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after) will continue to be for the Holy Family (as it would be on the evening of Saturday, December 30 (at 4 p.m. or after), as well as during the day (i.e., before 4 p.m.), on Sunday, December 31), and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God since the obligation to attend Mass, for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, and that factors into what readings would be heard, on that evening.

I hope that this helps.

Pax Vobiscum,
Herbert Cruz

And for the readings at the Masses, the GENERAL NORMS FOR THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND THE CALENDAR – 14 FEBRUARY 1969 Congregation for Divine Worship

1. The Mass of the vigil of Christmas is used in the evening of 24 December, either before or after evening prayer I.

On Christmas itself, following an ancient tradition of Rome, three Masses may be celebrated: namely, the Mass at Midnight, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass during the Day.

So for #5 it is a Sunday afternoon Mass, for the Sunday obligation, and a Mass of the vigil of Christmas on the evening of 24 December for the Christmas obligation.

And for #6 it is a Mass of the vigil of Christmas on the evening of 24 December for the Sunday Obligation and Midnight, Dawn, or Day Christmas Mass for the Christmas obligation.

 

[tee_eff_em]

On a separate note, as far as Monday, January 1, 2018, is concerned, in 2018, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation

[in the United States]

, because January 1 falls on a Monday.

The readings and propers for the Masses on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after) will continue to be for the Holy Family (as it would be on the evening of Saturday, December 30 (at 4 p.m. or after), as well as during the day (i.e., before 4 p.m.), on Sunday, December 31), and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God since the obligation to attend Mass, for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, and that factors into what readings would be heard, on that evening.

Does the …um…Solemnity… of Mary, the Holy Mother of God cease to be a Solemnity when it falls on a Monday? And in particular, a "Solemnit[y] of … the Blessed Virgin Mary", which by my reading should take precedence over a “Feast of the Lord”?)

Or are only obligatory days celebrated on the preceding evening?
What about, eg, the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, which is a universal Holy Day of Obligation, but is suppressed in the United States, and which has a proper Vigil Mass?
What about the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is generally not a Holy Day of Obligation, but which nevertheless has a proper Vigil Mass?



Genuinely curious,
tee
Armchair Liturgical Calendar Nerd

 

[buc_fan33]

Classifying whether a particular celebration is a solemnity, feast, obligatory memorial, or optional memorial has no bearing on whether the day is a Holy Day of Obligation. All HDOs are solemnities, but not all solemnities are HDOs. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God will always be a solemnity, independent of whether or not is also and HDO in a given year.

 

[hcruz402]

[in the United States]

Does the …um…Solemnity… of Mary, the Holy Mother of God cease to be a Solemnity when it falls on a Monday? And in particular, a "Solemnit[y] of … the Blessed Virgin Mary", which by my reading should take precedence over a “Feast of the Lord”?)

Or are only obligatory days celebrated on the preceding evening?
What about, eg, the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul, which is a universal Holy Day of Obligation, but is suppressed in the United States, and which has a proper Vigil Mass?
What about the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is generally not a Holy Day of Obligation, but which nevertheless has a proper Vigil Mass?



Genuinely curious,
tee
Armchair Liturgical Calendar Nerd

Yes, for Catholics of the Latin Rite, in the United States, there are three Holy Days of Obligation, where the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day is lifted, when the day falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday:

January 1 (The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God), August 15 (The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and November 1 (The Solemnity of All Saints).

In 2018, since January 1 falls on a Monday, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. Since the obligation to attend Mass for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, in 2018, that factors into which readings and propers will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after).

Typically, the Solemnity of Mary would take liturgical precedence over the Feast of the Holy Family. However, what happens when consecutive celebrations occur, as in this particular situation, the one that has an obligation attached to it has priority (if both have an obligation attached to it, then the one that ranks higher (liturgically) is the one that is celebrated).

The Feast of the Holy Family, being on a Sunday, has an obligation to attend Mass attached to it. The Solemnity of Mary, on the other hand, has its obligation to attend Mass lifted, in 2018, due to January 1 falling on a Monday (i.e., there is no obligation to attend Mass, that is attached to this Holy Day). Therefore, the Masses (Hence, the readings and propers) that will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after), will be Masses for the Holy Family, and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

For the other ones that you address, further research on my end, will need to be done on that.

 

[Vico]

Yes, for Catholics of the Latin Rite, in the United States, there are three Holy Days of Obligation, where the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day is lifted, when the day falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday:

January 1 (The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God), August 15 (The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and November 1 (The Solemnity of All Saints).

In 2018, since January 1 falls on a Monday, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. Since the obligation to attend Mass for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, in 2018, that factors into which readings and propers will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after).

Typically, the Solemnity of Mary would take liturgical precedence over the Feast of the Holy Family. However, what happens when consecutive celebrations occur, as in this particular situation, the one that has an obligation attached to it has priority (if both have an obligation attached to it, then the one that ranks higher (liturgically) is the one that is celebrated).

The Feast of the Holy Family, being on a Sunday, has an obligation to attend Mass attached to it. The Solemnity of Mary, on the other hand, has its obligation to attend Mass lifted, in 2018, due to January 1 falling on a Monday (i.e., there is no obligation to attend Mass, that is attached to this Holy Day). Therefore, the Masses (Hence, the readings and propers) that will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after), will be Masses for the Holy Family, and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

For the other ones that you address, further research on my end, will need to be done on that.

Only the Easter Vigil is not an option.

Vigil Masses (Ordinary Form) in the Roman Calendar:

• Nativity of the Lord *
• Easter (on Holy Saturday after nightfall)
• Epiphany (Missale Romanum 3rd ed. - 2002) **
• Ascension (Missale Romanum 3rd ed. - 2002) **
• Pentecost *
• Nativity of St. John the Baptist *
• Saints Peter and Paul *
• Assumption *
• Optional evening Mass, since 1969
  ** Optional evening Mass, since 2002

 

[WilliamE]

As a non-Catholic who attends weekly Mass with my Catholic wife…y’all make my head hurt. :whacky:

 

[Phemie]

Yes, for Catholics of the Latin Rite, in the United States, there are three Holy Days of Obligation, where the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day is lifted, when the day falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday:

January 1 (The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God), August 15 (The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and November 1 (The Solemnity of All Saints).

In 2018, since January 1 falls on a Monday, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. Since the obligation to attend Mass for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is lifted, in 2018, that factors into which readings and propers will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after).

Typically, the Solemnity of Mary would take liturgical precedence over the Feast of the Holy Family. However, what happens when consecutive celebrations occur, as in this particular situation, the one that has an obligation attached to it has priority (if both have an obligation attached to it, then the one that ranks higher (liturgically) is the one that is celebrated).

The Feast of the Holy Family, being on a Sunday, has an obligation to attend Mass attached to it. The Solemnity of Mary, on the other hand, has its obligation to attend Mass lifted, in 2018, due to January 1 falling on a Monday (i.e., there is no obligation to attend Mass, that is attached to this Holy Day). Therefore, the Masses (Hence, the readings and propers) that will be heard at Mass on the evening of Sunday, December 31 (at 4 p.m. or after), will be Masses for the Holy Family, and NOT for Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

For the other ones that you address, further research on my end, will need to be done on that.

 

[PacificNorthwes]

Speaking of holy days of obligation, what happens if the pastor acting on his own preferences moves a holy day back to its original day? For example, the Feast of the Ascension has been moved from Thursday to Sunday in our archdiocese but the pastor is celebrating the liturgy for the Ascension on Thursday (and this is not a Tridentine Mass parish). If I am a parishioner there am I obligated to go to the Thursday Mass since the Sunday Mass he is celebrating will be for 7th Sunday of Easter?

 

[Vico]

Speaking of holy days of obligation, what happens if the pastor acting on his own preferences moves a holy day back to its original day? For example, the Feast of the Ascension has been moved from Thursday to Sunday in our archdiocese but the pastor is celebrating the liturgy for the Ascension on Thursday (and this is not a Tridentine Mass parish). If I am a parishioner there am I obligated to go to the Thursday Mass since the Sunday Mass he is celebrating will be for 7th Sunday of Easter?

If the bishops moved it to Sunday for a jurisdiction, then the obligation is just Sunday. Is it a personal parish with changes to holy day obligations approved by the bishop?

 

[FrDavid96]

Speaking of holy days of obligation, what happens if the pastor acting on his own preferences moves a holy day back to its original day? For example, the Feast of the Ascension has been moved from Thursday to Sunday in our archdiocese but the pastor is celebrating the liturgy for the Ascension on Thursday (and this is not a Tridentine Mass parish). If I am a parishioner there am I obligated to go to the Thursday Mass since the Sunday Mass he is celebrating will be for 7th Sunday of Easter?

No, you aren’t obligated.

If the province (ie the bishops of that province) move Ascension Thursday, then it’s moved. Period. The obligation is transferred to that Sunday, and there is no obligation on Thursday itself. A parish pastor cannot impose such an obligation; that’s beyond his competence.

I’m not even sure if a pastor may celebrate Ascension Thursday on Thursday. Maybe he could do it as a Votive Mass? I would have to check if that’s even possible. Yet, that wasn’t your question.

As to your question, no, you are not obligated to attend Mass on Thursday if Ascension is moved in your province. No question about it.