Easter Vigil vs. Easter Sunday

[suko]

I love the Easter Vigil - the Exsultet, the Gloria, the journey through Salvation History in the readings, the Litany of the Saints. Its just beautiful.

 

[DAML72]

Easter vigil - it’s so beautiful. And last year, since my kids weren’t at the vigil, I took them Easter morning and because of the crowds we ended up in the overflow Mass in a basement cafeteria with no music on Easter morning. Ugh! I don’t know why I like going to church better in the evening than in the morning, but I just do.

 

[catholictiger]

It is wrong because it leads to such posts as # 38 which says : " I prefer the Easter Vigil Mass because from what I understand, it’s the holiest Mass of the year. "

That is an appalling thing to say about the Sacrifice of the Mass .

I don’t know if holiest is the best word to use there but the Easter Vigil is the highest Solemnity of the year. No other day in the Church holds more importance. I know it sounds wrong to say the holiest mass of the year but the Church actually agrees with that view.

from the Roman Missal.

Of this night’s Vigil, which is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities

The Church doesn’t use holiest mass but it is the greatest and most noble so that sounds like holiest.

 

[catholictiger]

I guess that might be part of my problem with it. “On the third day, He rose again,” not the evening before. I would actually prefer to attend an Easter Day Mass at dawn, but good luck finding one of those these days…

All I can say is that every time I’ve gone to the Vigil, I couldn’t wait for it to end.

I’m pretty sure for jews the day is sunset to sunset and no midnight to midnight. I may be wrong but the tradition of the Church has always celebrated a Vigil Mass for the Lord’s resurrection. It may not make sense that Jesus rose the evening before the third day but the Church has celebrated it like that for a long time. (edited to avoid opening can of worms lol)

 

[suko]

I don’t know if holiest is the best word to use there but the Easter Vigil is the highest Solemnity of the year. No other day in the Church holds more importance. I know it sounds wrong to say the holiest mass of the year but the Church actually agrees with that view.

from the Roman Missal.

The Church doesn’t use holiest mass but it is the greatest and most noble so that sounds like holiest.

It depends on what a person means when they say “holiest”. From my understanding, arkwright does have a point, that no mass has more intrinsic value than another, since it is the same Jesus being offered to the Father, which is of infinite worth/value. However, I don’t think the OP is asking which one is of more intrinsic value, since that’s not up for debate, but which one is more preferred due to the effect it may have on a person who’s assisting at it, and I think that is an OK question to ask on these forums.

 

[catholictiger]

It depends on what a person means when they say “holiest”. From my understanding, arkwright does have a point, that no mass has more intrinsic value than another, since it is the same Jesus being offered to the Father, which is of infinite worth/value. However, I don’t think the OP is asking which one is of more intrinsic value, since that’s not up for debate, but which one is more preferred due to the effect it may have on a person who’s assisting at it, and I think that is an OK question to ask on these forums.

I guess you could say that but holy simply means set apart, the Easter Vigil is set apart from all other Days in the Church so in theory the Easter Vigil is the holiest Mass of the year because it is the most set apart. I guess I see what he is getting at but his reaction was not called for, there is nothing wrong in saying that the Easter Vigil is the holiest mass of the year because the Church says it is the highest solemnity of the year.

 

[Wendy1989]

I prefer the Vigil Mass.

I was absolutely mesmerized watching the Solemn Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s growing up. I wasn’t Catholic at that time, much less anything. Gotta love the way the Holy Spirit works! I was watching the Easter Vigil Mass being celebrated by a future Saint Twenty-five years ago, I was received into the Catholic Church at the Vigil. I was a newlywed and this was more important than my own wedding. I’m home.

Everything about the Easter Vigil Mass says everything about being Catholic - about being a Christian - about our salvation on the Cross! And yes, I bring a box of tissue and I don’t wear eye make-up. I start to cry at the reading of Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning…”

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I don’t know if holiest is the best word to use there but the Easter Vigil is the highest Solemnity of the year. No other day in the Church holds more importance. I know it sounds wrong to say the holiest mass of the year but the Church actually agrees with that view.

from the Roman Missal.

The Church doesn’t use holiest mass but it is the greatest and most noble so that sounds like holiest.

But the thing is that the Church doesn’t use the term “holiest.” If they meant to convey that thought, I would think they’d have used it specifically. “Greatest” and “most noble” ≠ “holiest.”

I’m pretty sure for jews the day is sunset to sunset and no midnight to midnight. I may be wrong but the tradition of the Church has always celebrated a Vigil Mass for the Lord’s resurrection. It may not make sense that Jesus rose the evening before the third day but the Church has celebrated it like that for a long time. (edited to avoid opening can of worms lol)

No worries In fact, I already addressed this in post 37.

In order to be clear, I have no problems with the existence of an Easter Vigil nor with those who prefer to attend it over going to Mass on Easter Sunday. I just don’t happen to be one of those people.

It depends on what a person means when they say “holiest”. From my understanding, arkwright does have a point, that no mass has more intrinsic value than another, since it is the same Jesus being offered to the Father, which is of infinite worth/value. However, I don’t think the OP is asking which one is of more intrinsic value, since that’s not up for debate, but which one is more preferred due to the effect it may have on a person who’s assisting at it, and I think that is an OK question to ask on these forums.

I understood the OP as asking which Mass others preferred for any reason, not specifically one of effect on the person assisting. Am I missing something?

Regardless, I also think it’s fine to ask this.

 

[arkwright]

I guess you could say that but holy simply means set apart, the Easter Vigil is set apart from all other Days in the Church so in theory the Easter Vigil is the holiest Mass of the year because it is the most set apart. I guess I see what he is getting at but his reaction was not called for, there is nothing wrong in saying that the Easter Vigil is the holiest mass of the year because the Church says it is the highest solemnity of the year.

I believe my reaction was called for .

Nowhere does the Magisterium say that the Easter Vigil Mass is the holiest Mass of the year .

We are speaking about the Sacred Mysteries not a beauty contest .

 

[ProVobis]

The Easter Vigil is such a beautiful mass, I love to attend it.

Also, the timing is a little more convenient so that you have Easter Sunday morning free to be with family!

Good to enjoy, I guess. My last Easter with my dad was at the hospital when he was dying.

 

[catholictiger]

I believe my reaction was called for .

Nowhere does the Magisterium say that the Easter Vigil Mass is the holiest Mass of the year .

We are speaking about the Sacred Mysteries not a beauty contest .

did you miss what I quoted from the missal?

The Easter vigil is the highest solemnity of the year. Sure someone could mistakenly say it is the holiest Mass of the year but highest solemnity is regarding that liturgy pretty high.

 

[ProVobis]

did you miss what I quoted from the missal?

The Easter vigil is the highest solemnity of the year. Sure someone could mistakenly say it is the holiest Mass of the year but highest solemnity is regarding that liturgy pretty high.

One can also see it as a shot against the EF, since traditionally the Easter Vigil had been (I believe before 1970) a very special event but it wasn’t considered a Mass which fulfilled the obligation. Just sayin…

 

[catholictiger]

One can also see it as a shot against the EF, since traditionally the Easter Vigil had been (I believe before 1970) a very special event but it wasn’t considered a Mass which fulfilled the obligation. Just sayin…

I’m just saying what the church is saying.

 

[savone]

From a liturgical standpoint, the Easter Vigil is enactment of Salvation History unlike any other Mass. As I see the light come into our presence and illumine the darkness, I think of how often this has taken place in the lives of individuals, families, parishes, and the Church. When the Litany of the Saints is sung, I think of them down through ages who gave their all for the Lord and His Church. I think of more recent times (now, nine years ago) when it was sung at the death of John Paul II and the elevation to the papacy of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. As I listen to the Scriptures, I hear the struggles of humanity and the answer God provides, yet man is unfaithful while the Lord is not.

When I witness the Holy Baptism, the Confirmation, and the receiving of First Holy Communion, I think of how millions have previously preceded them. And, how it is that the Lord unites us as one. When I approach for Holy Communion, all I can think is how beautiful and wonderful thou art (The Lord) and how unworthy I am. For me, it’s not so much of one Mass over the other as it is the fullness of expression of that which God has called into its existence, the life lived under His dominion, and the culmination of Life which awaits us all.

 

[pianistclare]

One can also see it as a shot against the EF, since traditionally the Easter Vigil had been (I believe before 1970) a very special event but it wasn’t considered a Mass which fulfilled the obligation. Just sayin…

Mass attendance should never be “seen as a shot” against anything or anyone.
In 2014 it does fulfill the Easter obligation. That’s what matters. It is glorious Mass.
And the kind of Mass that I would think traditionalists would embrace wholeheartedly.

 

[ProVobis]

I’m just saying what the church is saying.

No need for the smiley. The Church isn’t saying it must be one or the other. Why not both? I refuse to answer to such polls which preclude the “both” or “all” option.

It is glorious Mass…
And the kind of Mass that I would think traditionalists would embrace wholeheartedly.

I didn’t say traditionalists wouldn’t embrace the Easter Vigil. It was always special. In fact the entire Holy Week was. It was a very big deal when the Holy Week changes were made in 1955.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

In earlier years I always went to the Vigil, and would prefer to go now. However, the years have caught up with me, and I can no longer take late hours.

 

[catholictiger]

No need for the smiley. The Church isn’t saying it must be one or the other. Why not both? I refuse to answer to such polls which preclude the “both” or “all” option.

I didn’t say traditionalists wouldn’t embrace the Easter Vigil. It was always special. In fact the entire Holy Week was. It was a very big deal when the Holy Week changes were made in 1955.

I think it was which one do you go to not which one should happen.

 

[grasscutter]

There was a parish in Nova Scotia that used to have their Vigil in the middle of the night. Their “new fire” was actually a bonfire that called the parishioners to the church. When they originally did it the Pastor didn’t expect to have too many at the Vigil but the church was packed. I don’t know if they still do it that way but they had great success in the early years.

My preference would be a middle of the night Vigil, followed by matins at dawn, lauds around 8 am followed by the Easter Day Mass. I’d stay for all 4.

I wonder at what time OraLabora’s Vigil is at the Abbey?

Wow! That sounds wonderful! I love going to Mass on Easter morning because it feels like the right start to the day, however if there was a Mass where I live that started pre-dawn and culminated with the sunrise, I would go to that!

And I think this was an interesting poll idea. Thank you OP.

 

[SnowAngels]

It depends on what a person means when they say “holiest”. From my understanding, arkwright does have a point, that no mass has more intrinsic value than another, since it is the same Jesus being offered to the Father, which is of infinite worth/value. However, I don’t think the OP is asking which one is of more intrinsic value, since that’s not up for debate, but which one is more preferred due to the effect it may have on a person who’s assisting at it, and I think that is an OK question to ask on these forums.

Thank you!