Christmas Vigil removes Christ from xmas?:confused:

[Lionsden1]

Is it me but is the Christmas vigil actually romoving Christ from Christmas day. When I speak to people about what mass they will be attending the explain that they are going to the vigil in order to let their children play with their toys on xmas day. Mass on xmas day interrupts their day!! How do others feel!! Why do we have a vigil. I don’t have a birthday vigil clebration!!

 

[LilyM]

Is it me but is the Christmas vigil actually romoving Christ from Christmas day. When I speak to people about what mass they will be attending the explain that they are going to the vigil in order to let their children play with their toys on xmas day. Mass on xmas day interrupts their day!! How do others feel!! Why do we have a vigil. I don’t have a birthday vigil clebration!!

For one thing - hate to break it to you but I’m afraid you ain’t the Son of God His birthday is well worth celebrating a little early, don’t you think?

For another - each of the important feasts, from Easter on down, and indeed every single Sunday of the year, has its vigil. It comes from the Jewish reckoning of time, where a day begins at sundown rather than midnight.

You wouldn’t want Christmas to be treated in a lesser fashion than an ordinary Sunday and not have its Vigil, would you?

About the vigil being abused - the same argument could be made about every week’s Saturday vigil, since people can go to ‘get it out of the way’ and relax on Sunday.

To say that this is a bad thing is missing two important points. The first is that by going to the vigil people are still putting God first and foremost, and giving Him His due. They’re giving Him the ‘first fruits’ of these feast days and Sabbaths, and spending time in worship of Him - just as much time as you or anyone who attends a different later Mass.

Secondly, the Sabbath was made for REST as well as worship - God Himself rested on the Sabbath. So rest and family time are legitimate ways in which to enjoy a Sunday or a Christmas Day, once one has fulfilled one’s duty to worship, be that on the vigil or the day itself.

 

[NPC]

Wow - that’s not an excuse I’ve heard before! It sounds ridiculous really… While they may be fulfilling the obligation to hear Mass at Christmas, I don’t think they have a valid reason for actually missing Mass on December 25. I do wonder what Christmas means to these people - obviously presents and the joy they give children is lovely at Christmas, but it is, first and foremost, a Christian celebration, and as such, Christ should come first.

There is something very special about going to midnight Mass on Christmas Eve - to be going out in the crisp cold, going into a beautifully decorated Church, singing carols and celebrating Mass…Most people I know who go to Mass on Christmas eve also go on Christmas morning, because it is important to them at this time of year. For those who give the reason of their children playing with their toys as a reason for not going to Mass on Christmas day, I think one would have to question the spirit in which they are celebrating Christmas - if Christ is not central to their Christmas, then they are not really celebrating Christmas. Having said that, if they went to Mass on Christmas day, the children would only have 23 more hours in the day to play with their toys…Heaven forbid…

 

[Phemie]

But to be precise, the Vigil of Christmas is NOT what most people experience when they go to Mass on Christmas Eve. There is a specific Vigil of Christmas – in my 54 years I’ve never experienced it. I’ve never heard those readings in Church.

What we celebrate is an anticipated Christmas Mass, just like most of us have an anticipated Sunday Mass on Saturday evening. I have to admit that when my kids were very little we went to this one (or, if we were visiting my parents they took our kids to that one and we went to Midnight Mass) but in the parish where I am now I stay far, far, far away from what many of us refer to as the zoo Mass, because kids rule at that one and nobody tries to maintain the slightest bit of discipline, decorum or sacredness. Now my non-Catholic hubby and I go to both Midnight Mass and the Day Mass, he sings in our choir and I’m usually reading at the Day Mass.

It should be mentioned that in most parishes I’ve been in the last 30 years, that anticipated Mass on Christmas Eve was considered the ‘Children’s Mass’ with music, homily, etc all chosen with that in mind.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Is it me but is the Christmas vigil actually romoving Christ from Christmas day. When I speak to people about what mass they will be attending the explain that they are going to the vigil in order to let their children play with their toys on xmas day. Mass on xmas day interrupts their day!! How do others feel!! Why do we have a vigil. I don’t have a birthday vigil clebration!!

It’s actuallly best to attend Midnight Mass. To celebrate Mass in the very first hour of the actual Holy Day.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is it me but is the Christmas vigil actually romoving Christ from Christmas day. When I speak to people about what mass they will be attending the explain that they are going to the vigil in order to let their children play with their toys on xmas day. Mass on xmas day interrupts their day!! How do others feel!! Why do we have a vigil. I don’t have a birthday vigil clebration!!

Christmas is one of the holy days that does have a proper vigil, nowdays that Mass is usually celebrated in the morning of Christmas eve, and does not fill the obligation. The anticipated Masses permitted on the evening before holy days or Sundays are just that, NOT vigils, and do fulfil the obligation to assist at Mass. There is no moral or doctrinal reason not to attend any of the Masses that fill the obligation, nor any reason to apologize or justify your decision.

the Mexican custom, and it is strong here, is to celebrate Noche Buena, Christmas begins Christmas eve, anticipated by a novena of posadas and other prayers, culminating in Midnight Mass, and followed by more celebration, and nowdays since it is permitted, earlier Masses Christmas eve (we have four at 6, 8, 10 and midnite). The morning Mass is sparsely attended mostly by Winter Texans.

 

[Phemie]

The morning Mass is sparsely attended mostly by Winter Texans.

I was shocked to go to my first Christmas Day Mass in this parish 9 years ago and to see about 26 people in attendance. Only 2 children at that one and nobody from the choir bothered to attend so we had no music & no singing. A far cry from what I was used to.

Since then a child has been added to our extended family and since they want her to be involved with Mass we all go Christmas morning THEN we go open gifts with her. We’ve also developed a choir that sees singing on Christmas morning as a ministry rather than a chore so more people are showing up. But the fact remains that the biggest attendance at a Christmas Mass in our parish is still at the zoo Mass.

 

[aimee]

I was shocked to go to my first Christmas Day Mass in this parish 9 years ago and to see about 26 people in attendance. Only 2 children at that one and nobody from the choir bothered to attend so we had no music & no singing. A far cry from what I was used to.

Since then a child has been added to our extended family and since they want her to be involved with Mass we all go Christmas morning THEN we go open gifts with her. We’ve also developed a choir that sees singing on Christmas morning as a ministry rather than a chore so more people are showing up. But the fact remains that the biggest attendance at a Christmas Mass in our parish is still at the zoo Mass.

zoo Mass

 

[THurifer2]

I hate to break it to you but people have been going to the Vigil mass for a VERY VERY Long time. its nowhere near anything new. Midn

 

[kentuckyliz]

Growing up, since middle school I had been in the choir, along with my sister and father. We’d sing at the early evening Christmas Eve Mass, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day morning Mass. Our pipes would be pretty strained. But we managed to fit in the spiked cocoa after Midnight Mass, morning formal breakfast, stockings, and presents…can’t remember in what order…but we certainly didn’t run out of time. It was also a very valuable RELIGIOUS celebration of the holiday.

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day in England, and my English parents kept that tradition alive, and we’d throw a tea party and have all our English friends over…so we didn’t get bored at the end of Christmas Day, we were getting ready for the next day’s party. Lots of English food and treats, tea, drinkipoos, and fun.

Since 1994, when we’ve all lived farflung, I’ve traveled to MN to spend Christmas at my brother’s house, since it’s much calmer than my sister’s–her kids are too high strung and Christmas is overdone there, they get upset and stressed. Ick. Brother’s wife is a church music director at an Episcopal church so I have to go to the evening kiddie services and midnight services, can’t receive Holy Communion, and have to be subjected to a priestess. But the people are nice and we usually socialize in between. It’s painful to bear this divided Christianity on such an important holy day, though. A few times I’ve been able to swing going to Midnight Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is FABULOUS. I never get to go to a really beautiful cathedral like that, so it’s a special treat. When Dad used to be able to travel, he’d be in MN too, so we’d go to the Episcopalian Christmas Eve services and then Christmas Day Mass at 10AM. The Episcopalians didn’t do Christmas Day services at all, so SIL was off the hook for church music director duties.

This year, I’m too wiped out from cancer treatment to travel to MN and IA, so I am staying home in KY and it will be the first time I’ll go to my own parish church for Christmas! I am going to the 5 pm Mass on Christmas Eve, because I won’t be able to stay up late, and Christmas Day Mass is in another town far away…we’re a mission parish and our priest is a circuit rider among two parishes.

Through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow.
I’ll be home for Christmas…if only in my dreams!

 

[Sr_Sally]

Your boxing day traditionas sound like great fun!

Growing up we did stockings and a light snack (oj and a pastry) before Christmas morning Mass, then home for the rest of the presents.

We didn’t always get to Midnight Mass, but when we did we still went Christmas Day also.

 

[Jenny_Z]

I love Midnight Mass… something about it is just so moving. If anything, it makes Christ MORE present to me. Maybe it’s the combination of the choir, and the haze of lights in the darkness (our church is usually lit mostly by daylight), the incense, the community… I don’t know, but I can’t wait for it this year

If people are abusing it, sure, that’s a bad thing, but it’s not the fault of the Vigil Mass!!

 

[rothacker]

There is nothing like Midnight Mass. I missed it one year and I felt Christmas just was not the same. My family, myself, my wife and 4 young kids go to Christmas morning mass also. The kids want to go as they realize they have plenty of time for playing the rest of the day.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Vigil Mass for me, places Christ ahead of all the other celebrating that we do, afterwards.

When I played in the folk group, we always played at the Christmas Day Mass, 11AM. It was jammed packed.

Since my retirement, I’ve been going to the vigil Mass.

I can’t stay awake late enough, to make it to the Midnight Mass.

Jim

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

Wow - that’s not an excuse I’ve heard before! It sounds ridiculous really… While they may be fulfilling the obligation to hear Mass at Christmas, I don’t think they have a valid reason for actually missing Mass on December 25. I do wonder what Christmas means to these people - obviously presents and the joy they give children is lovely at Christmas, but it is, first and foremost, a Christian celebration, and as such, Christ should come first.

It is wrong to trust the church when it says to us that attending the vigil mass FULFILLS the requirement for attending on Xmas?

And if it is not wrong to trust this why would someone suggest that also going to mass the next day is wrong in any way?

 

[aurora77]

It’s actuallly best to attend Midnight Mass. To celebrate Mass in the very first hour of the actual Holy Day.

That’s my favorite. We never make it to the Vigil Mass as we’re with my in laws then. Midnight Mass is when DH and I are able to worship together, just the two of us (well, and everyone else who’s there too). There’s something so special about staying up late and then being at Mass on the very first minute of Christmas Day.

It’s all about intent. If a person views going to Mass is a drudgery and just something to be gotten out of the way, God’s going to know that.

 

[orionsbelt]

For those who criticize others who choose “anticipation” Mass or “vigil” Mass - What time is the “best” or most righteous Mass?

What justification do you use to make that particular Mass time any better than any other time.

We all choose the Mass that is best for our lives, including our schedule for relaxation or whatever.

No Mass time is more holy than any other. No reason for choosing a particular Mass time is better than any other.

IMHO, if you are criticizing someone else for choosing a particular Mass time you should examine your own conscience first.

This reminds me of another thread I saw were people where criticizing people who eat 1 hour + 1 minute prior to receiving communion. I asked the same question - what was the optimal fasting period - 3 hours? well then 4 must be better. If you say 4 then 5 must be better still. This could go on until the most righteous among us is the person who never eats.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Is it me but is the Christmas vigil actually romoving Christ from Christmas day. When I speak to people about what mass they will be attending the explain that they are going to the vigil in order to let their children play with their toys on xmas day. Mass on xmas day interrupts their day!! How do others feel!! Why do we have a vigil. I don’t have a birthday vigil clebration!!

Well, personally, (and I don’t mean to offend you), I think you should do what you feel what is right for you as far as attending Mass for Christmas and not judge the motives of others. You really don’t know their interior attitudes toward Christmas, and if they choose to attend a Vigil Mass, for whatever reason, it is perfectly fine with the Church. Have a very blessed Christmas!

 

[MusicMan]

I go to the Christmas Mass that best fits my schedule and spiritual needs. Just like everyone else does! Why should it matter to anyone else if it is at the Vigil, Midnight, Dawn, or during Christmas Day? The Church permits me to assess my needs and worship the newborn Christ at the Mass that best suits me.

If I had a spiritual director or spiritual father, they would have some say in guiding my decision. Beyond that, if I am working within the parameters that the Church has set for me, then it’s simply my call.