Has the Church ever studied why so many people attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Easter morning and Christmas morning?

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Exegete

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I’m curious, has the Catholic Church (or diocese or even a large parish) ever actually studied why so many Catholics attend Mass on these days and not others? Serious study including exit polling and statistical analysis, that sort of stuff?

I understand how someone could leave the faith, but I don’t understand how so many could commit 50+ mortal sins/year by missing Mass almost every Sunday and then make the effort to attend on these dates?

Could the catechesis they received have been so abjectly lacking that they actually don’t know they are committing mortal sins (and thus are not) by missing Mass on Sundays? Do they somehow feel that the miracles that take place at these Masses are “better” or “greater” than any other valid Mass?

What drives them to be at these Masses, and if that could be understood, could increased diligence/effort by the Church/dioceses/parishes be used to attract such people to Mass every Sunday?

My small city shrinks every major holiday as it’s a college town, yet Mass attendance for C&E is literally 5+ times what it normally is. Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday are also booming.

How I would LOVE to hear/see a pastor warmly welcome everyone to Mass, and then make a passionate plea for them in spend 2 minutes filling out a card they could then throw in the collection basket elucidating what attracted them to Mass on that day, but not on others?

Is anyone doing this?
 
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I’m not familiar with any such studies. But it’s very possible that many who only attend on the days you mention are culturally tied to the Church more than spiritually. I was like that for many years. Perhaps some also struggle with the post-VII liturgical calendar. I mention it because I do. Ordinary time is difficult for me. Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter are defined sacrificial and celebratory times – we know what to do during these seasons. In comparison, ordinary time can feel like an unguided free for all. I do better when I use the 1962 calendar. Mostly, though, as secularization has increased, I think this kind of sporadic Mass attendance should be expected. Actually I’d expect NO Mass attendance.
 
gracepoole said:
Mostly, though, as secularization has increased, I think this kind of sporadic Mass attendance should be expected.
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I wouldn’t…
gracepoole said:
Actually I’d expect NO Mass attendance.
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Yes, that’s what I would expect. None at all. These folks (and they are legion where I live) either “get something special” out of Mass on those days, or they must feel attending on those days is expiation for their weekly sin for missing Mass, or possibly it’s something altogether different?

Whatever the case, it would seem like great effort should be put into understanding what drives these people.
 
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I think it’s likely something else. Many have cultural and family memories attached to Ash Wednesday, Midnight Mass, etc. Participating in these events likely feels superficially soothing. I seriously doubt the majority are concerned with the mortal sins they’re committing. Just my guess.

Yes, it would be interesting to study.
 
gracepoole said:
Participating in these events likely feels superficially soothing.
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Yeah, that’s good insight. I suspect for some, that’s indeed the case. I really wonder if anyone in the Church is measuring/analyzing the reasons why?
 
Pope Benedict XVI, while he was cardinal, addressed the phenomenon in a book-length interview by Peter Seewald. In the book, titled “God and the World,” the future pope said this: “I have nothing against it, then, if people who all year long never visit a church go there at least on Christmas night or New Year’s Eve or on special occasions, because this is another way of belonging to the blessing of the sacred, to the light. There have to be various forms of participation and association; the Church has to be inwardly open”

 
We have more creasters ( Catholics who turn up to church for Christmas and easter) beacuse alot of the time they are putting on a show for there family and extended family and if they are visiting family who still attend mass they are often dragged along with them. Sometimes they go to make a good impression I must admit I do not make it to mass every Sunday but I do try ( normally I will go to a Saturday night mass if I know I will miss the Sunday although this is not always the case especially if we visit my family who live 2 hours away and an hour away from the nearest catholic church) there are Sundays where it’s just not possible
 
I find Ash Wednesday crowds particularly surprising. I think it’s a cultural Catholic thing, as grace poole said. More to do with getting the ashes than attending mass.
 
I can’t speak for everyone, but I grew up in what you might call a ‘cafeteria Catholic’ family that was bordering on closet atheist. In my family’s case we went to Mass on Christmas and most Easters, mainly to appease my devout Catholic grandmother. Same reason my dad sent us to Catholic school- because his mother wanted us to be raised in the faith. I feel sorry for her now haha. Especially considering the school could barely be considered Catholic. Luckily for me, and for my grandma, I had a conversion of sorts in high school 😄😄
 
That’s it. At the school I work at most of the kids and their families don’t go to mass every single week
 
I don’t know. Superstition? Tradition? Identifying yourself as Catholic for cultural reasons? No idea.
 
It means (to me anyway) someone who might come from a strong Catholic background (like maybe a large Italian family). They strongly identify with some Catholic traditions for whatever reason, might have a rosary hanging from the car rearview mirror, but won’t go to mass on Sunday if they don’t feel like it.
 
Not where I live my church is always full on Sunday people even have to stand at the back because there aren’t any seats
 
ShrodingersCat said:
It means (to me anyway) someone who might come from a strong Catholic background (like maybe a large Italian family). They strongly identify with some Catholic traditions for whatever reason, might have a rosary hanging from the car rearview mirror, but won’t go to mass on Sunday if they don’t feel like it.
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Correct. Many religions have cultural members; it’s by no means confined to Catholicism.
 
Because many people travel on these holidays, so, you will see many new faces.

The fact that a non-practicing or non-Catholic is drawn to these masses is a thing to celebrate!

Have you read Sherry Waddell’s book “Forming Intentional Disciples”? Yes, parishes and we the people who make up these parishes need to work harder to reach people who are curious. It is not just the priest’s job, it is my job.
 
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