Easter Vigil vs. Easter Sunday Mass?

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mrsed said:
LindaSK,

As I stated in my first post, it was** ‘according to our pastor’** so, yes, it was our pastor who made the point of the Vigil NOT fulfilling the Sunday obligation.

Your post regarding the term ‘obligation’ is exactly what I was referring to … the term implies that we ‘have to attend Mass’.

I also appreciate the suggestions about bringing up the question to our pastor.

Thanks again.
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Sorry - not sure how I missed that. I am really surprised, though, that nobody questioned it when it was first said. You really need to speak with him. If you get no ‘clarification’, ask someone else who was at the same meeting if they were of the same understanding, and approach him privately together.

God bless
 
mrsed said:
LindaSK,

As I stated in my first post, it was ‘according to our pastor’ so, yes, it was our pastor who made the point of the Vigil NOT fulfilling the Sunday obligation.

Your post regarding the term ‘obligation’ is exactly what I was referring to … the term implies that we ‘have to attend Mass’.

I also appreciate the suggestions about bringing up the question to our pastor.

Thanks again.
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mrsed,

I can’t imagine why a priest would say that the Easter Vigil doesn’t fulfill the Sunday obligation. That’s very puzzling. In fact, it doesn’t make any sense to me at all. The only possibilities I can imagine is that this priest has some strange idea of things, and he wants to impose those ideas onto the parish. The other possibility is much more likely; and that is that something was just misunderstood. Hopefully, you had a chance to talk with him today to get some clarification, and I also hope you don’t mind sharing with us just what that was.
 
mrsed said:
LindaSK,

As I stated in my first post, it was ‘according to our pastor’ so, yes, it was our pastor who made the point of the Vigil NOT fulfilling the Sunday obligation.

Your post regarding the term ‘obligation’ is exactly what I was referring to … the term implies that we ‘have to attend Mass’.

I also appreciate the suggestions about bringing up the question to our pastor.

Thanks again.
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But we do have to attend Mass. It’s not a matter of ‘choice.’
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
But we do have to attend Mass. It’s not a matter of ‘choice.’
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It’s always a matter of choice. Is your church as full every Sunday as it is on Easter or Christmas Eve? Though attending Mass is required, we should primarily be there because we want to be. The word ‘obligation’ covers the ‘have to’ without taking into consideration the ‘want to’. Going to Mass is a privilege, a grace, a blessing that every Catholic is expected to participate in every weekend. Every weekend, every one of us makes the choice to go or not, even though it is an ‘obligation’. It seems there should be more to fulfilling Sunday ‘obligation’ than simply holding down part of the pew only because you have to. God knows where the heart truly is. So, while it is an obligation, it is so much more than that! Can’t we find a word that encompasses both desire **and **obligation? :yup:
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
What’s wrong with the term?

We are OBLIGATED to attend Mass. The Vigil Mass fulfills the obligation, even Easter and Christmas.
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I have split off a thread to address this sub-topic, if anyone is interested.

[thread=452058]**Sunday / Holy Day “Obligation” **[/thread]

:tiphat:
tee
 
Fr.David96

Sorry this has taken me so long to get back to you and this site.

All is well. Today I was able to talk to our pastor. As others have said, Father mentioned that the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses are different. However, the Vigil does satisfy the ‘obligation’.
 
Well, here in the Philippines, the faithful are looking forward to BOTH Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass… The former, because it is a beautiful experience; and the latter because before the Mass, there is this Filipino tradition of “Salubong”, where the faithful process the images of the Risen Lord and the Blessed Virgin from the opposite points of a community toward a single meeting point–specifically, near the church. Then, an “angel”, in which a little girl plays the role, takes the veil out of the Blessed Mother’s face and gets rid of it. After which, the Mass follows.

[SIGN]Maging tunay na Katoliko! Maging tunay na Pilipino! (Be a true Catholic! Be a true Filipino!)[/SIGN]
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
What’s wrong with the term?

We are OBLIGATED to attend Mass. The Vigil Mass fulfills the obligation, even Easter and Christmas.
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The term has the connotation that we are forced to do something regardless if we want to or not.

Edit: I just now realized this is an old thread. sigh
 
ConstantineTG said:
The term has the connotation that we are forced to do something regardless if we want to or not.

Edit: I just now realized this is an old thread. sigh
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It may be an old thread but that is exactly what ‘obligation’ means. Forced whether we want to or not.
 
I totally agree. To many Catholics today do not understand what they are “obligated” to do. In my honest opinion, there needs to be an awakening in the Church as to what it is, and what one needs to do,:clapping::clapping: to honestly call yourself Catholic.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
It may be an old thread but that is exactly what ‘obligation’ means. Forced whether we want to or not.
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Disagree.

The “Church police” do not *force *anyone to attend Mass (whether in accordance or against their wishes). A comparison of the attendance at ChristmasAshWednesdayPalmSundayEaster and any other Sunday should make that plain.

The Church does obligate us to attend Mass on certain days. Whether we want to or not, we may fulfill that obligation or not. And in the latter case, depending on circumstances, we may incur mortal sin, but no one *forces *attendance.
(Edit: Parents of stubborn preschoolers excepted)

tee
 
There is a big difference in be obligated and to be forced. Obligation is fulfilling ones commitment . Those who do not fulfill their commitment are not in communion with the Church. They should not receive Communion without first going to confession. What is the point of being Catholic if you are not going to be in full communion with the Church?
 
But we are obligated under pain of sin. That is why many feel we are forced. “Attend or go to hell.” That is what it looks like to many people.

My wife felt that way for the longest period until our previous pastor had a wonderful Homily on how Liturgy is “food for the soul.” That we wouldn’t go through the day without eating, so why would we go through the week without Liturgy? To her that made more sense and made her want to go to Liturgy more often than being threatened with the fires of hell.
 
It is a choice, not force. You choose to follow God or you don’t. Heaven or Hell. Bottom line: If you are going to be a Catholic, be one. Don’t try to dilute what the Church is to make it more accommodating to your lifestyle. If you can’t or won’t follow the teachings and guidelines of the Church, you are not Catholic. People need to stop pretending to be something they are not. A diluted Church is worthless. The Church needs to take a hardline on this.
 
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