History of time of day Mass could be celebrated

[Bran_Stark]

As I understand it, the ancient and mediæval Church did sometimes celebrate the Eucharist in the afternoon or evening. As the name Lord’s Supper might indicate… But this practice gradually fell out of favour and by the time of the Council of Trent the time for Mass was restricted to the morning, which lasted until Pius XII permitted evening Mass in the 1950s. My question is, how did this work out in cathedral churches and monastic communities where a daily Mass was integrated into a daily celebration of the Divine Office? The old Catholic Encyclopedia article on “Chapter and Conventual Mass” tells me that

On doubles, semi-doubles Sundays, and during octaves, the conventual Mass is said after Terce, on simples and ferias after Sext, on ferias of Advent and Lent, on Vigils and Ember days after None.

which means that None would have to be said some three hours before its proper time of 3:00 p.m., and Terce and Sext similarly moved back, or awkwardly stuffed together. I know that the secular clergy were infamous for anticipating and aggregating their Hours at odd times in private recitation, but it seems to me that such an early None would wreak havoc with the schedule of prayer, work, and study laid out in the Rule of St. Benedict.

I’ve seen a lot written on how the Easter Vigil service migrated to the morning despite all its language of night and darkness, but I’m hoping someone can give some information on how daily liturgical schedules in general were affected by the insistence on morning Masses.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I don’t know, but when I saw the title of this it made me think of Time travel. Not trying to be a smart mouth or anything.

 

[thistle]

As I understand it, the ancient and mediæval Church did sometimes celebrate the Eucharist in the afternoon or evening. As the name Lord’s Supper might indicate… But this practice gradually fell out of favour and by the time of the Council of Trent the time for Mass was restricted to the morning, which lasted until Pius XII permitted evening Mass in the 1950s. My question is, how did this work out in cathedral churches and monastic communities where a daily Mass was integrated into a daily celebration of the Divine Office? The old Catholic Encyclopedia article on “Chapter and Conventual Mass” tells me that

which means that None would have to be said some three hours before its proper time of 3:00 p.m., and Terce and Sext similarly moved back, or awkwardly stuffed together. I know that the secular clergy were infamous for anticipating and aggregating their Hours at odd times in private recitation, but it seems to me that such an early None would wreak havoc with the schedule of prayer, work, and study laid out in the Rule of St. Benedict.

I’ve seen a lot written on how the Easter Vigil service migrated to the morning despite all its language of night and darkness, but I’m hoping someone can give some information on how daily liturgical schedules in general were affected by the insistence on morning Masses.

The time of day does not matter as this is a point of discipline and not doctrine. The Mass can be at anytime.

 

[Bran_Stark]

The time of day does not matter as this is a point of discipline and not doctrine. The Mass can be at anytime.

I’ve never heard of anyone claiming that the time of day is a matter of doctrine. Perhaps Jehovah’s Witnesses, with their annual “Lord’s Evening Meal,” but I doubt there would be any Catholics.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I knew that, prior to Pius XII, Mass could begin an hour before sunrise at the earliest, and at 1PM at the latest. Evening and Vigil Masses proved to be popular in many places.