Does an Ordination Mass satisfy Sunday Obligation?

[Skeptic92]

I am assisting tomorrow at the Diaconate Ordination Mass for my Diocese, however do I need to attend a Mass for Sunday still, or will the Ordination Mass count?

 

[ConstantineTG]

This should be in the Liturgy and Sacraments section.

Any Mass on a Sunday will satisfy the obligation. So the answer is yes.

 

[beth40n2]

Definately if they are using the normal weekend readings, otherwise it may not.

 

[Phemie]

Definately if they are using the normal weekend readings, otherwise it may not.

ANY Mass on Sunday fulfills your Sunday obligation.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Definately if they are using the normal weekend readings, otherwise it may not.

The readings do not matter. If the Mass is on a Sunday, the obligation is fulfilled. For some reason, this idea persists.

Think of this: everyone at that Mass, including the Bishop and the newly ordained priests would have to attend another Mass that day if the readings mattered.

 

[beth40n2]

Thanks for clarifying, I was looking all over for the answer.

 

[Corki]

The readings do not matter. If the Mass is on a Sunday, the obligation is fulfilled. For some reason, this idea persists.

Repeating for emphasis.

Usually people are looking for ways to make some Mass count for double (like a Saturday morning wedding) but then get hung up on the readings for a Mass that is actually on Sunday.

 

[Phemie]

Thanks for clarifying, I was looking all over for the answer.

This is the relevant canon from the Code of Canon Law
Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at** a Mass** celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

“Evening” was defined in a 1953 document as starting at 4 p.m.

 

[Chatter163]

“Evening” was defined in a 1953 document as starting at 4 p.m.

Which document was that?

 

[Phemie]

Which document was that?

Pius XII’s “Christus Dominus” which gave permission for Evening Masses (prior to that Masses had to be celebrated before noon - except perhaps during the WWII when some European countries had evening Masses by indult) and set the time for their celebration as not before 4 p.m.

Rule VI. If the circumstance calls for it as necessary, We grant to the local Ordinaries the right to permit the celebration of Mass in the evening, as we said, but in such wise that the Mass shall not begin before four o’clock in the afternoon, on holy days of obligation still observed, on those which formerly were observed, on the first Friday of every month, and also on those days on which solemn celebrations are held with a large attendance, and also, in addition to these days, on one day a week; with the requirement that the priest observe a fast of three hours from solid food and alcoholic beverages, and of one hour from non-alcoholic beverages. At these Masses the faithful may approach the Holy Table, observing the same rule as regards the Eucharistic fast, the presumption of Canon 857 remaining in force.

 

[bubbly1]

My parish priest told me that any Mass on a Saturday evening or on a Sunday fulfills the obligation.
God Bless!

 

[Chatter163]

Pius XII’s “Christus Dominus” which gave permission for Evening Masses (prior to that Masses had to be celebrated before noon - except perhaps during the WWII when some European countries had evening Masses by indult) and set the time for their celebration as not before 4 p.m.

Christus Dominus does give permission for evening Masses on Sundays, holy days and special occasions, and says that these must not begin before 4PM–meaning that Mass could be celebrated up until noon, and then again at 4PM or later. Howver, this permission was for Masses of the day, and was unrelated to the practice of anticipated Sunday and holy day Masses–Masses celebrated the evening before–that became common in the 1970s, and to which Can. 1248 §1 of the 1983 Code of Canon law refers.

Evening in the context of anticipated Masses has never been formally defined. Possibly because of Christus Dominus’ use of the 4PM hour in its provisions, it is widely held that Saturday evening Masses anticipated for Sunday must not begin earlier than 4PM, but the Holy See has never specifically stated that.

 

[Phemie]

Christus Dominus does give permission for evening Masses on Sundays, holy days and special occasions, and says that these must not begin before 4PM–meaning that Mass could be celebrated up until noon, and then again at 4PM or later. Howver, this permission was for Masses of the day, and was unrelated to the practice of anticipated Sunday and holy day Masses–Masses celebrated the evening before–that became common in the 1970s, and to which Can. 1248 §1 of the 1983 Code of Canon law refers.

Evening in the context of anticipated Masses has never been formally defined. Possibly because of Christus Dominus’ use of the 4PM hour in its provisions, it is widely held that Saturday evening Masses anticipated for Sunday must not begin earlier than 4PM, but the Holy See has never specifically stated that.

It’s simply the document that I’ve seen quoted in Canon Law commentaries and other documents on the subject of time of anticipated Masses.

 

[Chatter163]

It’s simply the document that I’ve seen quoted in Canon Law commentaries and other documents on the subject of time of anticipated Masses.

I understand that. The point that I am making is that this document has NOTHING whatsoever to do with anticipated Masses. (According to that document, Mass could still not be celebrated in early afternoon, but no one would follow that now.)

 

[ConstantineTG]

Definately if they are using the normal weekend readings, otherwise it may not.

Sorry this is wrong information. There is no precept that a certain reading is needed in the Liturgy to fulfill one’s obligation. For one thing, the Church allows you to fulfill your obligation in another Catholic Rite. The readings in the Divine Liturgy are hardly in sync with the readings in the Latin Rite, even during Easter (we read John 1 rather than any of the Resurrection Gospels. They are read during Matins and Vespers, not during Divine Liturgy). Yes the Church says you fulfilled your obligation by attending the Divine Liturgy which has a completely different reading.

And to be more direct to the point, the canon law only says that you fulfill your obligation by assisting at a Mass, including a Mass/Liturgy of any Catholic Rite. Never says anything about what the reading should be.

Its a common misconception, I wonder where this started. Because even in the Philippines growing up, I was told this. So its pretty widespread around the world.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The readings do not matter. If the Mass is on a Sunday, the obligation is fulfilled. For some reason, this idea persists.

Think of this: everyone at that Mass, including the Bishop and the newly ordained priests would have to attend another Mass that day if the readings mattered.

Or they could do it at home. They don’t really need to look for another scheduled Mass

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I understand that. The point that I am making is that this document has NOTHING whatsoever to do with anticipated Masses. (According to that document, Mass could still not be celebrated in early afternoon, but no one would follow that now.)

Just a point, Saturday evening Masses are not considered “anticipated” Masses. They are rightlt Sunday Masses.

 

[Chatter163]

Just a point, Saturday evening Masses are not considered “anticipated” Masses. They are rightlt Sunday Masses.

That is the correct term for Mass celebrated on the evening before a Sunday or holy day. No one here implied that such Masses were anything less than Masses of the Sunday or holy day.

I used that term instead of the popular term Vigil Mass, as many call Saturday evening Masses. As you know, a Vigil Mass is, historically speaking, a completely different creature.