Easter Vigil Mass; order from the Vatican?

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Was there some order from the Vatican this year saying all Easter Vigil masses have to happen before 9 p.m.? I’m finding it incredibly frustrating! I work at a motel surrounded by a wildflower super-bloom, and we’re solid booked this weekend. It’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get away to go to Easter vigil mass this year because every single parish in our diocese and the neighboring diocese seems to be doing them before 9 p.m. What happened to 11 p.m. Easter Vigil? I’m in the choir in my parish, the only bass in the choir, and I’m frustrated that I might have to miss tonight. Our Easter Vigil mass is at 7 p.m. We went to Good Friday service last night, and even with telling customers in advance and having a note on the door, someone still called the motel owner to complain! I was gone all of 4 hours (town is an hour away from here) with a note on the door with a cell phone number (for the other manager, who goes to church with me. He drives, and I don’t, so there would be no going without him even if I wanted to.) There is no other staff here. We’re managers, gardeners, maids, and do most of the maintenance work here, so there’s not like there’s anyone to cover. Are any of your parishes doing Easter Vigil mass at 11 p.m. today? I mean, not that I could get to any of them, but just curious if it’s just a local thing or if everyone seems to be having them early this year?
 
Most of ours that I know of begin at 8:30pm. One parish nearby has theirs at midnight.

The only requirement I know of is that the Vigil cannot start until dark.
 
It’s unfortunate that early Vigil Masses are so widespread. I’m blessed to go to a parish where the Mass isn’t until Midnight.
 
I have never seen a late night Easter Vigil Mass in my area. All of the local Masses start at 8:30pm. I am sorry about your problem! I hope that you can make it to one of the Easter Masses.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
I have never seen a late night Easter Vigil Mass in my area. All of the local Masses start at 8:30pm. I am sorry about your problem! I hope that you can make it to one of the Easter Masses.
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Yes same here, 8:30 Masses. I think Paul, you and I are from the same “neck of the woods” in Iowa. Have a blessed Easter to you and all other CAF posters.

Mary.
 
Usually the Bishop informs his Pastors that the Vigil cannot begin before a specific time. No limit is placed on how late they can be (beyond having to end before daybreak) only on how early they can be. Over the years in the various parishes of which I’ve been a member I’ve found that they were celebrated ASAP after nightfall.

This year sunset here is a 8:02, full dark would be at 9. Our Vigil is starting at 9:30.
 
They’re all pretty early this year in my diocese as well. The EF Vigil, which I was unfortunately unable to make, was at an astonishingly early 5:30. I’ve never even seen that for an OF.
 
dshix said:
It’s unfortunate that early Vigil Masses are so widespread. I’m blessed to go to a parish where the Mass isn’t until Midnight.
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Some people, particularly old timers have a hard time staying up that late.

Further, a lot of churches, around here anyhow, were built a hundred years ago, and the communities have really declined. Few, except those that are up to no good, even want to be out very late.

I think each individual situation is considered based upon the needs of the particular church.

I was over at UPMC Mercy Hospital this morning, I passed the chapel and noted that that particular chapel had their Easter Vigil mass at 4 p.m. Apparently, that was a good time for that community with their particular needs.
 
8 p.m. at our parish. We do have a lot of elderly parishioners…😊
 
Kielbasi said:
Some people, particularly old timers have a hard time staying up that late.

Further, a lot of churches, around here anyhow, were built a hundred years ago, and the communities have really declined. Few, except those that are up to no good, even want to be out very late.

I think each individual situation is considered based upon the needs of the particular church.

I was over at UPMC Mercy Hospital this morning, I passed the chapel and noted that that particular chapel had their Easter Vigil mass at 4 p.m. Apparently, that was a good time for that community with their particular needs.
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The document Paschales Solemnitatis decries that, saying:
  1. “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall; it should end before daybreak on Sunday”. (82) This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Sunday Masses. (83)
    Those reasons which have been advanced in some quarters for the anticipation of the Easter Vigil, such as lack of public order, are not put forward in connection with Christmas night, nor other gatherings of various kinds.
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Phemie said:
The document Paschales Solemnitatis decries that, saying:
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Yes, we are aware of the rules. But honestly, it is what it is. There is nothing we can do if that is the time our parish has decided they are having mass. 🤷
 
Jeanne_S said:
Who can stay up that late?:eek:😉
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Apparently a lot of us, since it’s utterly packed every year. 🙂

It actually begins at 10PM; there’s a 2 hour long liturgy before the Mass itself begins, and then 1.5 hour Mass follows.

And then a bunch of gleeful parishioners hang out with hot drinks outside for about another hour. 😃

Yeah, we’re hardcore. 😛
 
dshix said:
Apparently a lot of us, since it’s utterly packed every year. 🙂

It actually begins at 10PM; there’s a 2 hour long liturgy before the Mass itself begins, and then 1.5 hour Mass follows.

And then a bunch of gleeful parishioners hang out with hot drinks outside for about another hour. 😃

Yeah, we’re hardcore. 😛
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I guess you are:pEither that or you are still young…😉
I go to bed at 9:30 every night!:o
 
newcalling said:
Was there some order from the Vatican this year saying all Easter Vigil masses have to happen before 9 p.m.? I’m finding it incredibly frustrating! I work at a motel surrounded by a wildflower super-bloom, and we’re solid booked this weekend. It’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get away to go to Easter vigil mass this year because every single parish in our diocese and the neighboring diocese seems to be doing them before 9 p.m. What happened to 11 p.m. Easter Vigil? I’m in the choir in my parish, the only bass in the choir, and I’m frustrated that I might have to miss tonight. Our Easter Vigil mass is at 7 p.m. We went to Good Friday service last night, and even with telling customers in advance and having a note on the door, someone still called the motel owner to complain! I was gone all of 4 hours (town is an hour away from here) with a note on the door with a cell phone number (for the other manager, who goes to church with me. He drives, and I don’t, so there would be no going without him even if I wanted to.) There is no other staff here. We’re managers, gardeners, maids, and do most of the maintenance work here, so there’s not like there’s anyone to cover. Are any of your parishes doing Easter Vigil mass at 11 p.m. today? I mean, not that I could get to any of them, but just curious if it’s just a local thing or if everyone seems to be having them early this year?
Click to expand...
 
pensmama87 said:
Most of ours that I know of begin at 8:30pm. One parish nearby has theirs at midnight.

The only requirement I know of is that the Vigil cannot start until dark.
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I’ve never heard of one starting at 11 pm! Ours in Utah can begin as early as 8:30 but no earlier tben tnat! I think your local diocese determines the time but I don’t think it can begin at daylight. 7 in California seems a little bit early inless it has some type of special dispensation.
 
Kielbasi said:
Some people, particularly old timers have a hard time staying up that late.

Further, a lot of churches, around here anyhow, were built a hundred years ago, and the communities have really declined. Few, except those that are up to no good, even want to be out very late.

I think each individual situation is considered based upon the needs of the particular church.

I was over at UPMC Mercy Hospital this morning, I passed the chapel and noted that that particular chapel had their Easter Vigil mass at 4 p.m. Apparently, that was a good time for that community with their particular needs.
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Either they received particular permission (possibly because of their being a hospital), or they are disobeying the Bishop. In the Diocese of Pittsburgh the Vigil Mass was not permitted before 8:30pm today.

ETA: Actually it occurs to me that 4pm may be their typical Saturday evening Mass, and the sign may not have been updated or ambiguous about tonight, as well.
 
Ours seems late this year and it starts at 7:30. Our Easter Vigil service generally lasts 3 1/2 - 4 hours. There are babies and small children being baptized. How can they be expected to attend a long service that starts anywhere from 9pm to midnight?
 
7_Sorrows said:
Ours seems late this year and it starts at 7:30. Our Easter Vigil service generally lasts 3 1/2 - 4 hours. There are babies and small children being baptized. How can they be expected to attend a long service that starts anywhere from 9pm to midnight?
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Really? If they can cope with being at Mass for 3.5-4 hours in the first place it shouldn’t make much difference if it ends at 11 p.m. or at 12 a.m. I honestly don’t see that as justification for starting the Vigil before full dark.
 
Phemie said:
Really? If they can cope with being at Mass for 3.5-4 hours in the first place it shouldn’t make much difference if it ends at 11 p.m. or at 12 a.m. I honestly don’t see that as justification for starting the Vigil before full dark.
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Where I live it was dark at 7:30. Most children are in bed at a certain hour. We had one baby and about 12 kids baptized tonight. Our service ended around 10:20.
 
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