Christmas Midnight/Shepherd’s Mass Rarely at Midnight?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hi. I’m not sure what corner of the world you are from, but I am guessing Poland. I am a bit confused about the terminology is why I ask. So, apparently in Poland the Shepherds’ Mass or Pasterka is traditionally celebrated at midnight, but it can also be earlier the in evening on Christmas Eve. But from what I have read, the Shepherds’ Mass is the second Mass of Christmas and is supposed to be celebrated at dawn on Christmas Day. This would mean that the Mass at midnight (or earlier on Christmas Eve) would be the first Mass of Christmas, also called the Angels’ Mass. I am wondering whether this is a difference in terminology and/or local custom.

Anyway, I guess it just depends what Masses are available at the churches near you. I am spending Christmas in New York City, where I am originally from, and there are a lot of Catholic churches here. Some have Mass at midnight, others have Mass slightly earlier, e.g. 11 or 11.15 p.m., and some have Mass as early as 4 p.m. and all time in between. It’s complicated further because many parishes offer Mass in several different languages, e.g. there could be a Spanish Mass at 10 p.m. and an English Mass at midnight, or even a Spanish Mass at 8, English Mass at 10, and bilingual Mass at midnight, etc.
 
do_justly_love_mercy said:
Hi. I’m not sure what corner of the world you are from, but I am guessing Poland. I am a bit confused about the terminology is why I ask. So, apparently in Poland the Shepherds’ Mass or Pasterka is
Click to expand...
I heard this terminology while living in Chicago. I guess that’s pretty close to Poland as there are/were lots of parishes with Polish masses. I always thought it meant midnight mass. Don’t know if they still do it at midnight though.
 
Ours will be early. Our parish has many old people. What has been termed the graying of America has affected Church policy. In the fifties it was rare to see someone in their late eighties. Now it is not and the Church is aware of their needs just like it was aware of the needs of baby boomers and their parents when it built so many schools in the fifties and sixties.
 
frarmandofm said:
Midnight Mass being moved earlier in the evening is a sign that we are all getting soft. It’s an abomination and needs to be stopped. Now.

Midnight Mass should be celebrated at midnight. Period.
Click to expand...
Opine much? I am glad the Church is more accommodating to local needs.
 
maryjk said:
For everyone to fit, we will be hanging from the rafters.
Click to expand...
There are two loose pigeons flying around the rafters in our Cathedral. Uncatchable, and have had a few would be pigeon fanciers hanging from rafters trying to get them.
 
Well my cancer has spread to my lung so I cannot handle a midnight mass. I will try to make the 6 pm mass with the help of a friend.
 
As a child I remember it starting at midnight and then it was 11:30pm then 11pm then 10:30pm earlier and earlier now it’s 9pm and always an early afternoon children’s mass around 4pm. I wonder whether it will end up as a morning mass in 30 years time?
 
Last edited:
Mass at my Parish is at 18:30, its a good time for me though as I’m working tomorrow and then planning to spend some time with family so I am aiming to get home, shower and then head to Mass before heading to my parents.
 
Already being discussed in this active thread. 🙂
40.png
Christmas Midnight/Shepherd’s Mass Rarely at Midnight? Liturgy and Sacraments
I was looking around for a midnight mass on Christmas Eve, but most of the churches around me have the mass in the evening. Some as early as 6pm. The latest one I have seen starts at 11:00pm. What happened to midnight? Is it such a hardship for the clergy or the faithful? How is it done in your corner of the world?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
BigRon said:
I wonder whether it will end up as a morning mass in 30 years time?
Click to expand...
No, there’s a limit to this.

My Church, which happens to be the Diocesan Cathedral, has 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, and 12am Christmas Eve Masses.

Not every Parish is so lucky. In my Diocese, most Priests oversee multiple Parishes. Their time is very limited.
 
Last edited:
GordonP said:
I have never heard anyone complain. The holidays can be stressful enough without messing with an event at such a late hour, especially when there is no compelling reason for it.
Click to expand...
So true! We still don’t have our tree up–it’s still sitting in the garage! (The day after we bought it, my father in law had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency heart surgery, and we haven’t had time to do diddly-squat since that day early in December.)

I hate staying up late anytime–it makes me feel like doo doo. I actually throw up if I’m up too late.

I love getting up early. If I had my way, Mass would be at 5:00 a.m. every day! (It’s a good thing I don’t have my way, right?!)
 
Adamek said:
Is it such a hardship for the clergy or the faithful?
Click to expand...
My Church, which happens to be the Diocesan Cathedral, has 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, and 12am Christmas Eve Masses.

Not every Parish is so lucky. In my Diocese, most Priests oversee multiple Parishes. Their time is very limited.
 
Phemie said:
I have to wonder why old people were hardier when I was a kid and Midnight Mass had the church filled to capacity.
Click to expand...
Perhaps because life was simpler and less stressful for many people.

Stores were actually closed on Christmas Eve–almost all stores and gas stations. So no pressure to run out and buy more Christmas stuff!

Decorations were simpler–nowadays, there are whole magazines dedicated to preparing your home, car, workplace, lawn, etc. for the holidays. Back then, it was a tree and a few doo dads–it all fit in a small box in my parents bedroom closet. I still have the doo-dads that my mother used to put up so proudly–along with about a thousand OTHER doo dads, and it takes about ten plastic bins (and more are added every year) to store all those doo- dads!

Food was simpler back then–certain dishes and treats were traditional in every family, but no one felt obligated to comb the magazines and watch the food shows on TV, and come up with a ten course meal that no one should eat because so many Americans are overweight or obese!

School was simpler back then, and pretty much everyone had the same ChRISTMAS VACATION (there was even a movie named Christmas Vacation!), not “Winter Break”.

Often, at least one person in the family didn’t work outside the home, and could keep life saner and on schedule. I work full time and when I come home, I start my SECOND job taking care of my home, and I also have a THIRD job playing piano/organ for multiple parishes and churches–Christmas just add’s a FOURTH job–getting ready for it!

I am off work today (hence my relaxing time here at CAF communicating with all my online pals and mentors!). But I work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and whatever this Friday is called. Sigh. At least I don’t have small children or grandchildren–I remember how my daughters were always so disappointed when I had to work on Christmas.

So i n essence, many people are just running on empty all year round, but even more so at the holidays. I’m willing to bet that many CAF members, especially those who aren’t active at posting, have had at least one crying breakdown since Thanksgiving wondering if they will EVER “get it all done” and thinking seriously about declaring a moratorium on ALL “holiday” activities and preparation!

For us, it’s even worse this year because of my father-in-law’s emergency heart surgery and having my mother-in-law (who has Alzheimer’s) staying with us since she can’t be left alone.
 
It takes a few entrenched parishioners to bug, beg, and pester the priest to move up the Mass times and make other changes. It sounds cynical, but in all reality that’s usually what happens.
 
Last edited:
BigRon said:
As a child I remember it starting at midnight and then it was 11:30pm then 11pm then 10:30pm earlier and earlier now it’s 9pm and always an early afternoon children’s mass around 4pm. I wonder whether it will end up as a morning mass in 30 years time?
Click to expand...
Roman Ritual Christmas Vigil Mass is before or after Vespers until midnight on December 24. Then begins Christmas Night Mass, December 25. I read that some pastors take the Night Mass readings early on December 24.

At my parish (Byzantine Catholic) we have one Vespers with Divine Liturgy (of St. Basil) for the Nativity in the evening of December 24 and one mid-morning Divine Liturgy (of St. John Chrysostom) for the Nativity on December 25.
 
Last edited:
Tolle_Lege said:
It takes a few entrenched parishioners to bug, beg, and pester the priest to move up the Mass times and make other changes. It sounds cynical, but in all reality that’s usually what happens.
Click to expand...
I think it has less to do with “entrenched” parishoners than ageing ones - and ageing, exhausted, and over-stretched priests. We no longer live in a world where Pastor does the Midnight Mass, and has two or three curates - excuse me, parochial vicars - to do all the morning Masses.
 
Last edited:
  1. As someone else posted, we already have a long thread going on this.
  2. It won’t ever move to morning because there is a limit in the afternoon time as to how early such Masses can start on Christmas Eve, and if the Mass is said in the morning of Christmas Day then it would likely need to be the Mass at Dawn or Mass During the Day, not the Mass During the Night.
  3. Plenty of places still have Midnight Mass at actual midnight. It depends largely on the type and number of parishioners who attend, the location of the church, the schedule and workload of the priest, etc. My parish, which has a pretty large population, is having both a 4 pm Mass on Christmas Eve, and a midnight Mass at midnight, and several other Masses on Christmsa Day. I am aware of some churches that have midnight Mass at midnight and others that have moved it up to 7 or 8 pm. You can find Masses at all kinds of hours starting in the afternoon of Christmas Eve and up through about noon Christmas Day.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top