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danielkennedyjr
Guest
I (a non-Catholic) am going to go to Mass this Saturday morning. Is Mass the same throughout the week? How is Sunday Mass different (other than being compulsory)?
Thanks!
~Dan
Thanks!
~Dan
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
Mass on Sunday is a little different from daily Masses.
Part of the difference has to do with the readings. During the week there is one reading (usually Old Testament but not always), a Psalm, and the Gospel. On Sunday you have an additional reading from one of the Epistles.
Sunday Mass includes the Gloria and the Creed which are not usually said during the week.
Sunday Mass usually has more music. There may be a choir, there may be hymns, some of the prayers may be chanted, and the Psalm is usually sung. Weekday Masses are a little more low key with little singing (and if there is, it may be chant or a capella singing rather than the choir and organ).
Usually attendance at a weekday Mass is pretty small. If the parish has a chapel it might be used during the week so that people aren’t spread throughout a large church.
Part of the difference has to do with the readings. During the week there is one reading (usually Old Testament but not always), a Psalm, and the Gospel. On Sunday you have an additional reading from one of the Epistles.
Sunday Mass includes the Gloria and the Creed which are not usually said during the week.
Sunday Mass usually has more music. There may be a choir, there may be hymns, some of the prayers may be chanted, and the Psalm is usually sung. Weekday Masses are a little more low key with little singing (and if there is, it may be chant or a capella singing rather than the choir and organ).
Usually attendance at a weekday Mass is pretty small. If the parish has a chapel it might be used during the week so that people aren’t spread throughout a large church.
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diggerdomer
Guest
Most of the Mass is the same regardless of the day.
Saturday morning and other weekday Masses only have two readings (plus the psalm) as opposed to three readings (plus the psalm).
Sundays, as the primary (essential) day of Christian worship usually have more music, options for incense, solemnity, etc.
Not sure if this helps, let us know. I would also recommend, if you have the time and interest, to read Pope John Paul II’s "Dies Domini:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_en.html
It’s long, but so valuable.
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danielkennedyjr
Guest
Thank you.
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5Loaves
Guest
Since this Saturday is a first Saturday of the month. It’s possible the parish you are planning to attend might have something different. In my parish there is anointing of the sick in the morning Mass every first Saturday. They may have their weekly bulletin posted on their website with such information in it.
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danielkennedyjr
Guest
Well, after meeting with the deacon on Friday, he suggested that I go to the 4:00 mass instead. I did and I have to say that even though it was more “contemporary” than I have experienced before, it was at the same time also very familiar.
It felt wonderful to receive a blessing - I really needed it.
It felt wonderful to receive a blessing - I really needed it.
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dnar
Guest
The Saturday morning mass is just like a weekday mass, however the Saturday Vigil mass which is what happens Saturday night is just like the Sunday mass. The readings from the Vigil are also taken from Sunday.
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ricmat
Guest
I’ll be the contrary one here.
I always suggest to those investigating Catholicism that they attend a daily Mass to check things out, instead of a Sunday Mass.
Sunday Masses generally have more distractions. And some of the Mass prayers are inaudible because singing is going on at the same time.
Daily Mass (usually) offers an opportunity to hear all the prayers, and focus on what is happening instead of the kids doing gymnastics in the pew ahead of you.
Go to at least one daily Mass - my recommendation.
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danielkennedyjr
Guest
I look forward to attending a Daily Mass soon (this week). I didn’t mind some of the gymnastics, by the way - I oftentimes get a kick out of watching the little ones.
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diggerdomer
Guest
Disagree. Sunday Mass is what Catholics are obligated to attend. It’s the highest form of worship. Sunday is THE day of worship for Christians. Daily Masses are “abbreviated” forms. They are of course wonderful, but not essential to the Catholic way of life as Sunday Mass is. Why settle for a partial form when you can have the fullness?
What distractions do you mean (though it’s probably off topic, feel free to start a new thread).
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GwenL
Guest
As one who started RCIA recently, I agree that an inquirer should go to Sunday mass and to weekday mass. I would not say weekday “instead” of Sunday. Nor would I say “Sunday only.” Go to at least one weekday mass.
Distractions at Sunday mass? A couple behind me, talking during the consecration. Just chatting away. A teen next to me with his IPhone, checking email, texting, etc. Two younger teens leaving the pews and returning. With a big crowd, a constant hum of people entering and exiting. Perhaps when I am better “formed,” I will be able to concentrate so well that these distractions will fade. Now, I find myself better able to focus, pray, and really immerse myself in the whole liturgy at the weekday mass.
Why else the weekday mass? At this stage, my spirtual foundation is still a bit wobbly. When I’m having doubts and feeling distant, the best thing to do is to get closer. I just can’t wait an entire week; I know that the place I need to be is at a quiet, solemn, but more intense, weekday mass.
The other advantage of a weekday mass is that the priest is not so overwhelmed with parishoners. If you really want to say more than “hi” or “thanks,” the time to catch him is after a weekday mass. (I’m not talking here about anything lengthy which certainly calls for an appointment)
IMO
Gwen
Distractions at Sunday mass? A couple behind me, talking during the consecration. Just chatting away. A teen next to me with his IPhone, checking email, texting, etc. Two younger teens leaving the pews and returning. With a big crowd, a constant hum of people entering and exiting. Perhaps when I am better “formed,” I will be able to concentrate so well that these distractions will fade. Now, I find myself better able to focus, pray, and really immerse myself in the whole liturgy at the weekday mass.
Why else the weekday mass? At this stage, my spirtual foundation is still a bit wobbly. When I’m having doubts and feeling distant, the best thing to do is to get closer. I just can’t wait an entire week; I know that the place I need to be is at a quiet, solemn, but more intense, weekday mass.
The other advantage of a weekday mass is that the priest is not so overwhelmed with parishoners. If you really want to say more than “hi” or “thanks,” the time to catch him is after a weekday mass. (I’m not talking here about anything lengthy which certainly calls for an appointment)
IMO
Gwen
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diggerdomer
Guest
Good points. I would tend to agree in that sense there might be less distractions at a daily Mass because everyone is there because they want to be, meaning, many probably go to Sunday Mass out of a sense of duty/obligation and nothing more, so they are not as focused on it. But…then again…that’s the Church we live in.
The point about the priest is valid too, but then again if one wants to talk with a priest that’s something important separate from liturgy.
Thank you.
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ricmat
Guest
Of course Catholics are obligated to attend Sunday Mass. But it’s not the best place to learn about the Mass IMHO.
“settle for a partial form when you can have the fullness.” I wasn’t recommending never going to Sunday Mass…come on!
Tell me, at Sunday Mass, when is the last time you heard the words "Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation, through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink."
The reason you can’t hear them on Sunday is that the choir is singing (over the words above) some hip-hop 70’s mushy song (if you’re unlucky), or a decent hymn if you are lucky.
At daily Mass I can focus. Of course I go to Sunday Mass too.
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diggerdomer
Guest
I thought you were suggesting daily Mass instead of or in preference to Sunday. Sorry if I misunderstood.
The reason one would not hear the words you cite is because if there is an offertory song, the words should be said inaudibly. Even if there is no song, the rubrics say the priest may say them aloud (but he doesn’t have to, the norm is inaudible).
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ricmat
Guest
Right. Sunday Mass.
“The norm is inaudible” I think you’re reading too much between the lines. I’ve had one priest in my life who was inaudible even with no choir singing. But I’ve also had one priest who (God Bless him) even at Sunday Mass waited for the choir to finish all 18 offertory song stanzas so that he could purposely say them (the prayers I mentioned above) aloud. So that they were audible. So that we could hear them. I guess.
My copy of the rubrics say "If no offertory song is sung, the priest may say the preceding words in an audible voice; then the people may respond: “Blessed be God forever.”
Don’t you like hearing those words? I do. That’s one reason I prefer daily Mass. Of course, you may prefer not to hear them. Which is what you normally get at Sunday Mass.
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diggerdomer
Guest
Personally I really do like that prayer. It has strong Jewish roots. My point about the norm being inaudible because that’s the rubric listed first (no ifs, ands, or buts). What follows is conditional (if no song) and leaves it up to the priest (may, not must). So saying it aloud is an option that can be applied under some circumstances. That’s all I meant by norm.
Some people likely pay closer attention to detailed rubrics than others. Either way is fine with me, I like the prayer.
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