Christmas Eve Vigil Mass Liturgical Season

[phj5001]

Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar no.33 says Christmas Time starts at First Vespers of the Nativity.

The Rubrics for the Vigil Mass of Christmas say the Vigil Mass is used on the evening of December 24 either before or after First Vespers.

Therefore, if the Vigil Mass is celebrated before Evening Prayer I, does that mean it is still celebrated in Advent, which ends “before Evening Prayer I of Christmas”(UNLY 40), and with violet vestments? The Gloria is used regardless.

Or am I just splitting hairs?

Thanks!

• John

 

[Fauken]

Therefore, if the Vigil Mass is celebrated before Evening Prayer I, does that mean it is still celebrated in Advent, which ends “before Evening Prayer I of Christmas”(UNLY 40), and with violet vestments? The Gloria is used regardless.

That doesn’t really make sense. It can’t be celebrated before Vespers, because Vespers is prayed in the evening: neither that Mass nor Vespers can be done before evening.

 

[Titivillus]

That doesn’t really make sense.

And yet, @phj5001 accurately reports the rubric from the missal – It may be celebrated before or after Evening Prayer I.

 

[phj5001]

“The Vigil Mass of the Nativity is used on the evening of 24 December, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I)” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar no.34).

 

[Gorgias]

Or am I just splitting hairs?

Yes.

Look at #32:

the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas Time.

The Vigil Mass of the Nativity “takes place in Christmas Time”. Therefore, the Vigil Mass is a Mass of Christmas, and is not in Advent.

 

[Vico]

Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar no.33 says Christmas Time starts at First Vespers of the Nativity.

The Rubrics for the Vigil Mass of Christmas say the Vigil Mass is used on the evening of December 24 either before or after First Vespers.

Therefore, if the Vigil Mass is celebrated before Evening Prayer I, does that mean it is still celebrated in Advent, which ends “before Evening Prayer I of Christmas”(UNLY 40), and with violet vestments? The Gloria is used regardless.

Or am I just splitting hairs?

Thanks!

• John

USCCB Norms:

40. Advent begins with First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Sunday that falls on or closest to November 30 and it ends before First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Christmas.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/advent/liturgical-notes-for-advent.cfm

The Vigil of the Nativity uses white vestments.

USCCB:

The normal liturgical color for Christmas is white, but the General Instruction of the Roman Missal also states in n. 346:

g) On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used even if not of the color of the day.
h) The colors gold or silver may be worn on more solemn occasions in the Dioceses of the United States of America.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/christmas/liturgical-notes-for-christmas.cfm

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Liturgical seasons are not so black and white that they have distinctive lines. There’s much more blurring - so while Parish A may be having Mass and celebrating Christmas, Parish B across town may be in Advent awaiting a later Vespers. One of many possibilities and examples across the year.

 

[TomH1]

Or am I just splitting hairs?

Yes, I’m afraid you are.

I suspect the majority of parishes will have the Vigil Mass and not have First Vespers at all. In such parishes that Mass will mark the start of the Christmas Season.

It is also possible that St. Mary’s Church (just an example) may have that Vigil Mass at 6 pm whilst the neighbouring parish of the Sacred Heart (just another example) has the Vigil Mass at 7 pm.

Another parish, let’s call it Holy Family, may have neither First Vespers nor the Vigil Mass. Its first Christmas liturgy may be the Midnight Mass, which they may have at 11 pm.

There is no precise time for the end or start of liturgical seasons. The first liturgy of any season may vary from place to place.

I cannot prove it, but I wonder if the rubric in GNLYC reflects the rubrics which were immediately in force before them. That was how they used to be expressed. They said things like such and such a season begins with Vespers I or this season ends with None on such a day.