Christmas Eve Vigil and Christmas Day Mass

[jfz178]

With all due respect, that is pretty lame. Where in Church teaching does it say you are exempt from Mass because you have a hard time getting dressed and you don’t like crowds?

I suffer from chronic, clinically diagnosed depression and I meet both of those criteria and I still go. Even though I hate crowds, as a music minister, I look right into the faces of hundreds of people during Mass every weekend.

 

[Gorgias]

So yes, people who write or edit parish bulletins should either make that distinction or avoid implying that the text of the Mass (not the time) fulfills the obligation.

Here’s the thing, though – if you really wanted to be accurate, the parish bulletin should say:

Your obligation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent can be met by attending Mass Saturday evening the 23rd or any time on Sunday the 24th.

Your obligation for Christmas can be met by attending Mass Sunday evening the 24th or Monday the 25th.

You may not attend one Mass in order to fulfill two obligations.

But, then people would come up to you (and to everyone who works for the parish, including the secretary and CCD director who don’t know Canon Law and who tend to get details wrong) and ask, “if I go to Mass on Christmas eve, does it fulfill my Sunday obligation?” and then “does Christmas eve Mass fulfill my Christmas obligation?”. And there you have it: mass confusion.

Simpler – even if it’s not technically correct – to say “Sunday obligation is met Saturday evening or Sunday morning, and Christmas obligation is met Sunday evening or Monday.”

 

[Gorgias]

Wait… what?

They’re conflating the obligations for the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas with the (lack of) obligation for Mary, Mother of God?!?

Or are they trying to say that there’s an obligation to attend every day of the Octave?

January 1st is not a holy day of obligation this year in the U.S. …

sigh No wonder there’s so much confusion out there…

 

[Gorgias]

Also, I write the pulpit announcements. We’ve been informing the people of the 2 obligations for a couple of weeks. They get it.

Our pastor announced the “two obligations” thing at all Masses last weekend. Monday morning, the receptionist was on the phone with a guy who – after three attempts to have it explained to him – didn’t “get it.” Trust me… if you think all your parishioners “get it”, you’re mistaken…

 

[Gertabelle]

But statistically that should even out. There should either be be a similar number of people absent as there are visiting at any given parish, or there should be some churches almost empty while others are packed. But I have been in about 20 parishes in my life and I hardly recall ever seeing anything but packed houses at Masses on Christmas or Easter.

But if some of us clogging your parking lots and pews are faithful Catholics from other areas (local or distant), and some of us clogging your parking lots and pews only attend mass once or twice a year – how are you going to know which is which?

How are you going to know which of us to be angry and annoyed with?

Or are you gonna just be irritated with us all?

 

[TheLittleLady]

But, then people would come up to you (and to everyone who works for the parish, including the secretary and CCD director who don’t know Canon Law and who tend to get details wrong)

Your disparaging comment does not apply to the secretary and Faith Formation director at my parish and at many parishes I know. We are professionals.

 

[FrDavid96]

But if some of us clogging your parking lots and pews are faithful Catholics from other areas (local or distant), and some of us clogging your parking lots and pews only attend mass once or twice a year – how are you going to know which is which?

Oh. That one is easy. Real easy. Simple, in fact.

When I say “The Lord be with you”

Those who attend Mass regularly respond “And with your spirit.”

Those who only attend on Christmas and Easter respond “And also with you.”

Easy as asparagus.

 

[Gertabelle]

Oh. That one is easy. Real easy. Simple, in fact.

When I say “The Lord be with you”

Those who attend Mass regularly respond “And with your spirit.”

Those who only attend on Christmas as Easter respond “And also with you.”

Easy as asparagus.

So that’s why the words at mass were changed, eh?

 

[Gorgias]

Your disparaging comment does not apply to the secretary and Faith Formation director at my parish and at many parishes I know. We are professionals.

I’m glad it doesn’t apply to you.

Even professionals get it wrong, as @(name removed by moderator)'s graphic demonstrates. Don’t take it personally…

On the other hand, since you assert that it applies only “at many parishes”, then even you admit that many do not get it right. That’s not “disparaging”, it’s just a statement of fact.

 

[Gorgias]

No problems. I’m still confused what the author of the graphic was really attempting to say, other than noting that there’s something fishy in Denmark…

 

[brian_custer]

OK; time to s**t, shower and shave; on my way to the Sunday vigil

the “flurry of envelopes in the basket” begins

 

[brian_custer]

i’m going to be a night-stalker; saturday night, then sunday night

see you again in 11 years

 

[GoGoDiego]

In the Archdiocese of Manila, a circular came out decreeing that those who will attend the Mass during the Night of Christmas fulfills both Sunday and Christmas obligation. Does this matter apply only for the Archdiocese itself or the Archdiocese and its suffragan dioceses?

 

[Arkansan]

Only the Archdiocese. Archbishops don’t have the power of dispensation in their suffragan dioceses.

 

[twf]

Our Cathedral bulletin (or maybe it was just the Rector’s announcement) did the same thing… implied that the Sunday obligation was fulfilled at the 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, and 12:30 PM Masses, and that Christmas obligation Masses begin with the 5 PM Mass. Of course I realize in actuality I could hold off until the 8 PM Mass tomorrow, satisfy my Sunday obligation, and then stick around until midnight Mass to satisfy my Christmas obligation.

 

[Vico]

USCCB Liturgical Calendar states:

• Since the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1, 2018 falls on a Monday
  this year, it is not observed as a Holyday of Obligation.

https://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/liturgical-calendar/upload/2018cal.pdf

 

[KMG]

In all this took of “obligation”…which often becomes extremely legalistic (e.g., questions about what something “counts for” if it starts at 11:45pm, etc.)…what is lost is an appreciation of the liturgy.

This isn’t rocket science. A Catholic should ideally want to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and for Christmas. Sure, you could legalistically fulfill your “obligation” by attending a Christmas Vigil Mass at say 5pm Xmas eve, and then a Christmas Day Mass at say…Midnight…but you’ve lost out on the liturgy of the Sunday.

Part of this whole problem is the proliferation of evening Masses (not to mention the highly regrettable decisions about when certain things suddenly aren’t obligatory because they fall on Saturdays or Mondays); the problem didn’t exist before those became so popular. But it would certainly benefit the liturgical life of a parish to emphasize less the almost obsessive legalism of “what counts for what,” and more the splendor of the liturgy, especially on the greater feasts.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Our Cathedral bulletin (or maybe it was just the Rector’s announcement) did the same thing… implied that the Sunday obligation was fulfilled at the 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, and 12:30 PM Masses, and that Christmas obligation Masses begin with the 5 PM Mass.

My local church just went one better than the bulletin and the priest himself announced at the 7 am Sunday Mass that going to the 7 am Sunday Mass did not fulfill your Christmas obligation and you need to attend a second one starting this evening and to check the church website for the start time for the Christmas Masses.

 

[Gertabelle]

In all this took of “obligation”…which often becomes extremely legalistic (e.g., questions about what something “counts for” if it starts at 11:45pm, etc.)…what is lost is an appreciation of the liturgy.

This isn’t rocket science. A Catholic should ideally want to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and for Christmas. Sure, you could legalistically fulfill your “obligation” by attending a Christmas Vigil Mass at say 5pm Xmas eve, and then a Christmas Day Mass at say…Midnight…but you’ve lost out on the liturgy of the Sunday.

Part of this whole problem is the proliferation of evening Masses (not to mention the highly regrettable decisions about when certain things suddenly aren’t obligatory because they fall on Saturdays or Mondays); the problem didn’t exist before those became so popular. But it would certainly benefit the liturgical life of a parish to emphasize less the almost obsessive legalism of “what counts for what,” and more the splendor of the liturgy, especially on the greater feasts.

Couldn’t agree more!

I am blessed to have been able to attend a 4th Sunday of Advent mass last night at which I was just sitting in the pew – no obligations to sing, to play the organ! I could just be immersed in the beauty of the mass.

The next three masses I attend will be the usual shuffling of books and changing of shoes (organ shoes are only worn while playing). Mind you, I can pray through all this, having had years of experience.

But the liturgy! My goodness, I was just taken in by the beauty of it last night.

Of course, the people asking these questions here at CAF may be asking out of concern for “obligations” – but I think answering their questions in the context in which they are asked actually assists in accomplishing the appreciation of the liturgy.

Yeah, some people may attend two masses in a row this evening. But I think it is highly unlikely that many people will. Rather, I think having this discussion may instruct those who were otherwise unaware of the liturgical differences in the mass, and may open the door to deeper understanding of and participation in the mystery of our life in Christ.

And God bless each and every one of you in this holy and blessed season!

 

[Gertabelle]

twf:

Our Cathedral bulletin (or maybe it was just the Rector’s announcement) did the same thing… implied that the Sunday obligation was fulfilled at the 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, and 12:30 PM Masses, and that Christmas obligation Masses begin with the 5 PM Mass.

My local church just went one better than the bulletin and the priest himself announced at the 7 am Sunday Mass that going to the 7 am Sunday Mass did not fulfill your Christmas obligation and you need to attend a second one starting this evening and to check the church website for the start time for the Christmas Masses.

Now see, there’s an excellent way to handle the situation!

I suspect we’ll be hearing the same things at masses this morning.

God bless you!