Christms Obligation: I'm.....confused

[Celia]

So Christmas is a holy day of obligation right? And Christmas falls on Sunday this year. Which is also an obligation. So…just so I’m not missing anything…either the vigil mass OR Sunday mass would fulfill BOTH obligations, right? Only one mass needs to be attended?

Also…would midnight mass count as a vigil or a Christmas Day mass, since it technically would be the 25th when it starts? (I guess it doesn’t really matter, if you only need to attend one, but just curious.)

This stuff always confuses me. Sorry.

 

[Della]

Attending either the Vigil Christmas Mass or the Christmas Day Mass fulfills your obligation because Christmas and Sunday are both holy days of obligation. They don’t cancel each other out nor do they have to be divided. They are simply celebrated on the same day.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Celia:

So Christmas is a holy day of obligation right? And Christmas falls on Sunday this year. Which is also an obligation. So…just so I’m not missing anything…either the vigil mass OR Sunday mass would fulfill BOTH obligations, right? Only one mass needs to be attended?

Also…would midnight mass count as a vigil or a Christmas Day mass, since it technically would be the 25th when it starts? (I guess it doesn’t really matter, if you only need to attend one, but just curious.)

This stuff always confuses me. Sorry.

Christmas when it falls on a Sunday replaces the Sunday Mass. There is no “Sunday” obligation technically. Christmas has several different Masses. There is the Vigil, Midnight, Early morning, and Christmas Day Mass. Each has different readings. Any of them qualify for the Holy Day obligation.

 

[Celia]

Cool, thanks guys

 

[Psalm45_9]

The issue last year was that Christmas fell on a Saturday, because of this most churches in my diocese did not have a Sunday Vigil on Christmas evening. Because many people would go to it thinking they were “killing two birds with one stone.” However, the Sunday Vigil would not also fullfill the obligation to attend Mass on Christmas day. The Mass for Christmas durring the Day and the Sunday Vigil Mass are for two different days. This issue will arise again next year when Christmas falls on a Monday. Perhaps there will be no Christmas Vigil Masses that year, but instead Evening Masses on December 25th.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Psalm45:9:

The issue last year was that Christmas fell on a Saturday, because of this most churches in my diocese did not have a Sunday Vigil on Christmas evening. Because many people would go to it thinking they were “killing two birds with one stone.” However, the Sunday Vigil would not also fullfill the obligation to attend Mass on Christmas day. The Mass for Christmas durring the Day and the Sunday Vigil Mass are for two different days. This issue will arise again next year when Christmas falls on a Monday. Perhaps there will be no Christmas Vigil Masses that year, but instead Evening Masses on December 25th.

I don’t think so. But then I don’t make up the rules, I only follow them!

 

[Lorrie]

I don’t mean to be rude Celia, but that pink font kills my eyes!!!

 

[puzzleannie]

Celia:

Also…would midnight mass count as a vigil or a Christmas Day mass, since it technically would be the 25th when it starts? (I guess it doesn’t really matter, if you only need to attend one, but just curious.)

This stuff always confuses me. Sorry.

A Solemnity of the Lord takes precedence over a Sunday celebration so all Masses on Dec. 25 will be Christmas Masses. There is not supposed to be any Christmas Mass before Midnight, but most parishes will have children’s Masses or earlier Christmas eve Masses anyhow. The readings should be those of the Vigil of Christmas, but probably will be the ones for Christmas anyhow. Don’t worry about it, leave that decision to the pastor it’s on his neck. Any Mass you attend Christmas eve or Christmas day which uses the readings for Christmas fulfills your obligation. Your diocese will issue a decision on this matter and hopefully your pastor will follow it, on whether a Christmas eve Mass using the Vigil readings satisfies the obligation.

 

[Celia]

Lorrie:

I don’t mean to be rude Celia, but that pink font kills my eyes!!!

Oh. Sorry. Will the people with the blue screen be able to read this print I wonder? Hope so. Maybe I’ll switch around a little till I find another one. I’m not using black anymore if I can help it. Too boring.

Thanks for your answers everyone. I’m going to be out of town as it is and I have to go to a parish that I’ve never been to before for mass (which I’m a little bummed about, my parish is so beautiful on Christmas…but I know, I know, I’m there for the mass not to look at a pretty church ) and I just want to make sure I go when I’m supposed to. Thanks for your help!!

 

[clarkbmiller]

Psalm45:9:

The issue last year was that Christmas fell on a Saturday, because of this most churches in my diocese did not have a Sunday Vigil on Christmas evening. Because many people would go to it thinking they were “killing two birds with one stone.” However, the Sunday Vigil would not also fullfill the obligation to attend Mass on Christmas day. The Mass for Christmas durring the Day and the Sunday Vigil Mass are for two different days. This issue will arise again next year when Christmas falls on a Monday. Perhaps there will be no Christmas Vigil Masses that year, but instead Evening Masses on December 25th.

Since in the US when a day of obligation falls on a Saturday or Monday than it is commuted to that Sunday - wouldn’t Christmas have been commuted to that Sunday anyway?

Further - If Christmas falls on a Monday and it is indeed commuted to the day before, what happens to the fourth sunday of Advent?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Celia:

Oh. Sorry. Will the people with the blue screen be able to read this print I wonder? Hope so. Maybe I’ll switch around a little till I find another one. I’m not using black anymore if I can help it. Too boring.

Yes we can, or at least I can.

But I agree, the pink hurt my eyes.

 

[clarkbmiller]

clarkbmiller:

Since in the US when a day of obligation falls on a Saturday or Monday than it is commuted to that Sunday - wouldn’t Christmas have been commuted to that Sunday anyway?

Further - If Christmas falls on a Monday and it is indeed commuted to the day before, what happens to the fourth sunday of Advent?

Nevermind! Christmas doesn’t move.

usccb.org/norms/1246.htm

 

[Digitonomy]

puzzleannie:

Your diocese will issue a decision on this matter and hopefully your pastor will follow it, on whether a Christmas eve Mass using the Vigil readings satisfies the obligation.

Why would it not?
Psalm45:9:

This issue will arise again next year when Christmas falls on a Monday. Perhaps there will be no Christmas Vigil Masses that year, but instead Evening Masses on December 25th.

Our neighbors to the North have explained this very well:

When Christmas Is Celebrated on Saturday

It is important to keep the celebration of Christmas and Sunday distinct, and to be mindful of the extra demands which are placed upon priests and other liturgical ministers when Christmas and Sunday are celebrated on consecutive days.

The following recommendations will be helpful.

1. If possible, additional celebrations of the Vigil Mass of Christmas are to be avoided.
2. If necessary, only one anticipated Midnight Mass should be celebrated around 10:00 p.m.
3. The regularly scheduled Saturday evening Mass in anticipation of Sunday should be omitted altogether.

** When Christmas Is Celebrated on Monday**

Sunday is the original and primary feast day for the Christian people, and the heart of the liturgical year. Christmas, the celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God and of his birth as our Savior, is a distinct feast. For this reason, the two celebrations should be kept distinct. It is therefore recommended that no Sunday Mass be celebrated on Sunday evening, in order to avoid any confusion between the two celebrations. If possible, additional Vigil Masses for Christmas should be avoided, and if necessary, only one anticipated Midnight Mass should be celebrated around 10:00 p.m.

Although the readings of the mass may be for Christmas Eve, it seems to me that if the mass is on Sunday, under canon law this would fulfill your Sunday obligation. However, you can’t double-dip: you must then attend a separate Christmas mass.