Does attending Low Mass on a Sunday fulfill the Obligation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocky24
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I’m not sure what you mean by those three types. At my parish (and all the parishes around) we have:

Low mass - No music, no incense, 2 candles
High Mass - Sung mass, incense, no deacon or subdeacon, 6 candles
Solemn High Mass - Sung mass, incense, with deacon and subdeacon, 6 candles.
The rubrics describe a missa cantata as being without sacred ministers. It is only a high mass with the addition of sacred ministers.

There is a copy online here you can see :

maternalheart.org/library/1962rubrics.pdf

Rubric 271, page 51

The Codex Rubricarum was promulgated by the motu proprio Rubricarum Instructum and is still in force.
 
The confusion in terminlogy arises because of changes made in the 1960 rubrics. A High Mass can be either a Sung Mass or a Solemn Mass, the differences in which have already been described. The term Solemn High Mass was no longer used, to avoid confusion, only Solemn Mass. The last two editions of Fortescue and O’Connell’s last edition all take note of this.
 
FWIW, from the Baltimore Catechism
Q. 924. Are all Masses of equal value in themselves or do they differ in worth?
A. All Masses are equal in value in themselves and do not differ in worth, but only in the solemnity with which they are celebrated or in the end for which they are offered.
 
This was established above.
Well actually it wasn’t. We are both agreed but others are in disagreement. I was simply providing a source to what I understand to be the authoritative answer.
The confusion in terminlogy arises because of changes made in the 1960 rubrics. A High Mass can be either a Sung Mass or a Solemn Mass, the differences in which have already been described. The term Solemn High Mass was no longer used, to avoid confusion, only Solemn Mass. The last two editions of Fortescue and O’Connell’s last edition all take note of this.
I believe the rubrics are very clear.

"271 Masses are of two kinds: sung Masses (in cantu) and low Masses (Missa lecta).

A Mass is called a sung Mass, when the celebrant actually sings those parts which the rubrics require to be sung; otherwise, it is called a low Mass.

Moreover, a sung Mass, when celebrated with the assistance of sacred ministers, is called a solemn or High Mass (Missa solemnis); when celebrated without sacred ministers, it is called a Missa cantata.

Finally, a solemn Mass celebrated by a bishop, or by others having faculties, with the ceremonies laid down in the liturgical books, is called a Pontificial Mass."
 
Well, yes, but High Mass vs. Low Mass for Sunday obligation? I’m just trying to understand why such a question would even arise.
I would think the confusion could arise from the fact that Extraordinary Form Masses are separated into various types, High, Solemn, Low etc., while Ordinary Form Masses are not. Many places that offer the Extraordinary Form often only offer a High Mass or Solemn Mass or something else along those lines and do not routinely offer Low Mass, especially on Sundays. I can see how someone unfamiliar with the differences might actually wonder if a Low Mass was a Mass at all or merely a Communion Service.

Lets remember, the Extraordinary Form is still virtually unknown to a huge percentage of Catholics worldwide and confusion over the different types of Extraordinary Form Masses could very well be widespread.
 
Thanks for all the help! I apologize if my question came up as being a bit stupid 😊. I’m new to the Traditional Latin Mass and I’m loving every moment of it!
 
I would think the confusion could arise from the fact that Extraordinary Form Masses are separated into various types, High, Solemn, Low etc., while Ordinary Form Masses are not. Many places that offer the Extraordinary Form often only offer a High Mass or Solemn Mass or something else along those lines and do not routinely offer Low Mass, especially on Sundays. I can see how someone unfamiliar with the differences might actually wonder if a Low Mass was a Mass at all or merely a Communion Service.

Lets remember, the Extraordinary Form is still virtually unknown to a huge percentage of Catholics worldwide and confusion over the different types of Extraordinary Form Masses could very well be widespread.
I wouldn’t normally make a point of correcting something like this but it is what has just been discussed on the thread.

High Mass and Solemn Mass are terms for the same thing. A church doesn’t offer one or the other.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top