Daily Mass and Holy Days of Obligation

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Hi all. I’m attending RCIA and end up too nervous to ask questions. So, here I am. 🙂

I am wondering if daily Mass is the same as Sunday Mass or if it’s really just focused on the Eucharist. As I cannot yet receive communion, would it be weird for me to attend a daily Mass? Also, would it be considered ok to bring my infant to a daily Mass? (I have no one to watch her.)

The same question goes for Holy Days of Obligation. Should I go or wait until I can receive communion? And, do churches have more services on those days so you can be sure to attend?

Thank you in advance for any answers!
 
The simple answer is yes, daily Mass is the same as Sunday Mass. There are some minor differences that you will eventually notice but not worth going into detail here.

Itwould not at all be “weird” for you to attend and in fact it would be a good thing. Bringing your infant would be fine and were she to make an extended ruckus you could always step out until she quiets.

Yes, all of the above applies to Mass on Holy Days although it will be more like a Sunday Mass. As yes, most parishes will offer several Masses including the evening before to allow more opportunities to attend.
 
I’m sure you’ve learned this in RCIA, but just to be clear ----- Sunday Mass (or Saturday Vigil Mass) is a Day of Obligation once you become Catholic. Daily Masses are strongly encouraged, but not required as an Obligation as a Catholic. You’ll also notice that the daily Masses are generally shorter, and parts of the Sunday Mass are not included, usually. Glad you want to attend Daily Masses – it’s an excellent habit to develop, and I encourage you to make it a habit as often as you can! Sunday (or Saturday Vigil early evening Mass) will become obligatory once you are received into the Church, although if your infant (or you) are ill, you can be excused from that, without sin. My Parish also has the Rosary once a week after Daily Mass, which is an extra blessing. During Lent, there are also usually daily (or once a week) services which have the Stations of the Cross, usually before Mass, or in the afternoon without Mass. Depends on the size of the Parish, and how many Priests you have. We only have one Priest, who has two Parishes, plus the Parish Center at another location for the handicapped and elderly, so we don’t have daily Rosary or Stations of the Cross. We also have Adoration of the Eucharist prior to afternoon Mass once a week. Your Parish might have that more often.
Welcome to the Forums!! You can learn a lot here, which will help you understand RCIA even better!

👍
 
You and your children are always welcome to attend Mass. Yes, on Holy Days of Obligation, parishes will schedule additional Masses as well as Vigil Masses the evening before. Watch your parish bulletin for times.
 
Yes, a precept of the church is to attend Mass on every Sunday (or vigil), but don’t get too hung up on “obligation”. Instead, attend Mass out of a heartfelt desire rather than merely an obligation!

Peace and all good!
 
In RCIA, they encouraged us to attend Mass as often as we can. I went to my first Daily Mass last week. It was great! Lasted about 30 minutes. I’m planning on going as often as I can. Starting the day with Mass is very spiritually enriching!
 
Lilla321 said:
Also, would it be considered ok to bring my infant to a daily Mass? (I have no one to watch her.)
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I go to a 6:30 am Mass 2-3 times per week. I try to sneak out of the house before the kids are awake, but my 2 year old frequently wakes from my movements. If that happens, I just bring him with me. Babies are as welcome to daily Mass as they are in any Catholic Mass. Daily Masses tend to be quieter, so I’m a bit quicker to remove myself and the baby if he gets noisy than I would be on a Sunday, but definitely bring your baby.
 
Thank you all for your great responses! It is much appreciated. For the first time in life, I feel such a calling to attend church. I want to go all the time! It is such a blessing. And I love that babies and children are welcome. I am so looking forward to Mass tomorrow, but, alas, I am sick in bed. Maybe I can sit in the back and breathe into a scarf so I don’t pass it on. :o I look forward to celebrating the Holy Days of obligation and look forward to the day I can receive communion. And when my daughter is old enough to receive it, that will be a wonderful day for sure! Thanks again!
 
Yes. Yes. Yes. Go and enjoy the daily Masses. I too am in RCIA. Last week I attended three daily Masses and loved every second of it. It’s nice, quiet and peaceful. It’s not as long as a Sunday Mass and my parish does not use any music, have a procession, or even have altar boys during daily Masses. But it is the highlight of my day. Jesus is there. I can’t get enough and I plan on going everyday that I can. I am so looking forward to receiving communion. I don’t have children but there are some babies each day.

Question for Catholics…I do however go up and receive a Blessing each time I attend a daily Mass and Sunday Mass. Is this okay or should I just sit in the pew during Communion?
 
KimberlyCat said:
Question for Catholics…I do however go up and receive a Blessing each time I attend a daily Mass and Sunday Mass. Is this okay or should I just sit in the pew during Communion?
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I have wondered this too. I do not go up for a blessing. I have seen people who do, but have read that you shouldn’t because the priest blesses everyone at the end. Would be nice to know which is appropriate.
 
According to the Priests I’ve worked with as a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion, all RCIA students may receive the individual Blessing. I have also been taught in the past few months, that when I am distributing Holy Eucharist (the Host), how to give a Blessing, particularly to children and infants. Have also done so to Protestants accompanying their Catholic spouses who are coming forward for Communion. Just cross your arms across your chest, so the Priest or Eucharistic Minister does not hold the Host out for you!. We cannot use the Host to bless anyone!

Cannot use the thumb, (since the ball of my thumb has been touching the Holy Host, but may use the SIDE of my thumb, keeping the other fingers folded in. It’s a blessing to me to give the Blessing to others, especially small children or infants! After all, a spouse or parent, may give a Blessing to their spouse or child when they are leaving home for school or work, so it is also permitted for EMHC’s to do the same, so long as the part of the thumb which has been handling the Holy Eucharist does not touch the forehead of the person who comes forward for a Blessing. My Priest taught this to all of the EMHC’s a couple of months ago, and told us it is permitted, so long as we don’t use the part of the fingertip (thumb) which has touched the Eucharist.

Bishop here told us the same thing.

:)🙂
 
judynurse said:
I have also been taught in the past few months, that when I am distributing Holy Eucharist (the Host), how to give a Blessing, particularly to children and infants.
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Thank you for this information! It would mean a lot to me for my baby girl to receive a blessing at Mass. Perhaps I will just carry her up so she can get blessed.
 
You’re welcome!! Having your baby girl blessed (as well as yourself) at Mass as often as you can attend Mass is a very good idea! The Blessing is approved by the Church, and Our Lord will add His Own!👍
 
How would I let them know that I’m just there for a blessing if I’m carrying the baby and cannot cross my arms? Is there something I could say?
 
If your child is an infant, just cross your other arm over your chest, so the Priest/EMHC knows you are not receiving the Eucharist. If you must use both arms to hold her, just shake your head very slightly, and VERY quietly say: “Please Bless us”. They will understand you do not want to receive the Eucharist. If they have the Host already in their hand, they will replace it in the ciborium, and give a Blessing instead, then pick it up again for the next person. If the Priest knows you and knows you are in RCIA, he would probably do so anyway, but this will “cue” him to give a Blessing. Same with a EMHC.🙂
 
Ok. Thank you very much! I am so excited to be a part of the church and to celebrate Mass. I just always want to be respectful and make sure I approach things appropriately. There’s so much to learn! So, thank you for your help 🙂
 
Daily Mass is more or less the same as normal mass but the Creed and a few other elements of the Mass are missed out as they are purely from Sundays and/or Holy Days of Obligation.

The numbers of Masses held on a Holy Day of Obligation will usually be up to the Diocese to decide but it’s usually the same as a normal Sunday (2 or 3 services on the day)

It’s perfectly normal to go to a Mass and not take Communion so it’s fine to go alone. You may even notice that some Catholics don’t go for Communion so the courtesy would be to remain knelt by your pew.
 
Lilla321 said:
I have wondered this too. I do not go up for a blessing. I have seen people who do, but have read that you shouldn’t because the priest blesses everyone at the end. Would be nice to know which is appropriate.
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It is never wrong to just stay in the pew.

If you really want a blessing then try to get to a benediction if you can. The word benediction means blessing. A benediction is a short ritual where the priest or deacon will expose Jesus in the monstrance, several prayers will be said and the priest will raise the Jesus in the monstrance in a cross shaped motion. You will notice that the priest or deacon will wear a veil over his body and will not touch the monstrance with his hands. This is to signify that it is Jesus himself, exposed in the monstrance, who blesses and not the priest or deacon.

In a benediction it is Jesus himself who blesses you. That’s why I encourage people to go to benediction, especially those entering the Church who cannot yet receive the Eucharist.

You can ask at the parish if they have regular benedictions. You might be able to go to a benediction as part of First Friday devotions on the first Friday of the month. Ask around.

-Tim-
 
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