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tonyh12
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Midnight mass and Christmas morning mass love both for different reasons, though of course all masses are special.
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Augustinian
Guest
If the Mass follows the liturgy for a Midnight Mass, what difference does it really make if it starts at 10 p.m.- or 8 p.m. for that matter? Its still dark outside (in the northern hemisphere) and a lot of older people aren’t going to be able to go out at the traditional midnight hour.
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Camehome4john6
Guest
Midnight Mass! So many happy memories of being a child allowed to stay up late, sitting right behind my parents who were singing in the choir, Father carrying the Baby Jesus to the Nativity scene! All the smells and bells and lights and song bring so much back to me but now I’m old enough to begin to comprehend it.
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FrDavid96
Guest
The answer is “it’s a pastoral decision.” If 10 PM works for that parish, then that’s the right time to schedule the Mass. Also, see the paragraph at the end of my post here.
Of course, we all have our personal preferences. As I see it, that’s what the OP is asking here. It’s not a matter of “what should every parish do?” but more of “what is the personal preference of members here?”
My personal favorite is option #3. Midnight Mass that begins at Midnight.
Side note: in the Roman Missal (English language translation), which we’ve been using since about 2011 now, there is no longer a Mass called “Midnight Mass” that was a mis-translation from the Latin. It’s actually called the “Mass in the Night” It’s the same prayers (with the translation corrected, naturally) which the old Sacramentary mis-labeled “Midnight Mass.”
The Lectionary is yet to be updated, and still uses the names that match the Sacramentary, so it still says “Midnight Mass” but it should read “Mass in the Night.” Maybe some publishers have updated this, but as far as I know, they have not.
The question “what difference does it make?” deserves an answer.
The prayers for the Mass in the Night don’t just speak about the birth of Christ in general terms. They have a theme of darkness and light that makes them particularly suited for a Mass that occurs during the night hours. So, while the exact hour of night doesn’t matter, the fact that they are done sometime during the night truly does matter.
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sevenswords
Guest
4 but Midnight Mass is fantastic if your parish allows for one.
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Wendy1989
Guest
I prefer the Mass during the day - Gospel of John really gets me! I see the connection with Genesis. Unfortunately, my pastor decided that all the Masses get the same readings because they use the same cantor for both Mass at midnight (really is midnight - music begins at 11:30 p.m.) I also think he doesn’t want to have different homilies. He does change the preface, though.
I’ve only heard the Gospel of John under our old pastor or at another parish.
I’ve only heard the Gospel of John under our old pastor or at another parish.
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rondirect
Guest
I loved to go to and direct Mass at Midnight. It was a tradition and loved it. However, I am not getting any younger! Getting home at 1:30 am and getting to bed by 2 am, only to get up at 7:30 am to be on time to direct the 9 am Christmas Day Mass ( and the 11 am) was getting old and ended spending most of Christmas Day taking naps missing out on the fun with the family of children and grandchildren.
It’s tough on others in ministry too, especially when there is a shortage of volunteers. I was glad when we changed to 10 pm. At 10 pm, more people started to attend at that time. However, the office still gets calls asking, “at what time is Midnight Mass?” I tell them to correct them on the terminology and Mass During the Night is at 10 pm. I really do not think that the people care about what readings are proclaimed, just that MM is a family custom. Other churches in the area still have a Mass at midnight.
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rondirect
Guest
Using the same cantor should have no bearing on what readings are chosen. Yes, each set has a different Psalm, but just like Father had clarified that readings can be moved around. Actually The Psalm of the Day, “All The Ends of the Earth” is the Common Psalm for the Christmas Season, so it is proper to use at any Christmas Season Mass; not preferred, but OK.
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Wendy1989
Guest
The choir runs the Mass. I’m hoping this won’t be the case again this year. The major holidays of Christmas and Easter, I think my husband and I are going to attend different parishes. We’re fed up with what is done at the Easter Vigil.
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Augustinian
Guest
It was the late 90’s when Pittsburgh moved off of the Midnight start time for Midnight Mass.
In the early and mid 1990’s, I was driving Yellow Cab and was always out driving on Christmas Eve- the Protestant churches were already doing the 10 p.m. services first, so I guess it was something which was working out.
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rondirect
Guest
That begs more information. How does the choir “run” the Mass? There are directives to follow at all Masses including Christmas and the Easter Vigil for the priest, lectors, and music ministry. The EV calls for more singing, e.g. up to 7 Psalms from the OT and then a 3 verse Psalm/Gospel Alleluia, plus songs for baptism and Sprinkling Rite, confirmation and the Litany of the Saints. I suspect the choir is only doing what they are asked to do, as well as the priest and Lector. Please explain.
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Phemie
Guest
It’s full dark here by 4:30 p.m. so the Mass during the Night has been celebrated as early as 5 with another one at some point between 9 and 11, depending on the Pastor.
We haven’t had a Mass at midnight in years. I find that depressing. Not just because it’s my favorite Mass but what does it say about us as humans that we no longer seem to have the stamina to attend that Mass that is celebrated “so late”? That’s why I’m happy to spend Christmas with our daughter and her family. Her parish hasn’t yet figured out that midnight is too late.
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Augustinian
Guest
What it says is that we’re old.
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Phemie
Guest
But the old folk used to come to that Mass when I was growing up. The only way I’m giving up on it is if I get too old to drive and can’t find a way to get there.
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phil19034
Guest
yeah… but how many people who say midnight mass is too late occasionally stay up until 2am to watch a movie?Phemie:
What it says is that we’re old.
I know my Grandmother often did up to her 80s.
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Augustinian
Guest
When I was young I thought a man who was 40 was “old”, so the definition of “old folks” is changing.
In addition, I think back in the old days, the church was a lot closer to home than it is today. I remember hearing the church bells before the start of mass from my living room from 3 different parishes.
In addition, I think back in the old days, the church was a lot closer to home than it is today. I remember hearing the church bells before the start of mass from my living room from 3 different parishes.
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phil19034
Guest
The problem with midnight mass is Santa Claus.
I wish it was still common to fast all day on Dec 24th and then go to Midnight Mass as an extended family. Then right after midnight mass to have a breakfast Christmas feast and celebrate the Lord’s coming all though the night! Finally, going to bed sometime in the morning!
But no, Santa Claus had to come and ruin that
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phil19034
Guest
No… the church was not closer to home… You lived closer to the church!
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Allegra
Guest
There’s something special about it. That’s all I can say. Our parish has many Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They have one at 5PM and 8PM for people who don’t want to wait until later.
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Allegra
Guest
We always went to midnight Mass as a child and Santa Claus had visited while we were gone.
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