Illicit Mass or Just Skip It?

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Hey Guys!

I’ve got an opinion question for you: If you have the opportunity to attend a SECOND Mass on Sunday (as in: you’ve already fulfilled your Sunday Obligation), but you know that that Mass will be illicit (i.e. no gloria, no creed, wrong vestments, etc.), is it better to GO for the Graces still recieved, or should you just be happy with having been able to go once already and sit this Mass out?

~JWalker
 
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JWalker:
Hey Guys!

I’ve got an opinion question for you: If you have the opportunity to attend a SECOND Mass on Sunday (as in: you’ve already fulfilled your Sunday Obligation), but you know that that Mass will be illicit (i.e. no gloria, no creed, wrong vestments, etc.), is it better to GO for the Graces still recieved, or should you just be happy with having been able to go once already and sit this Mass out?

~JWalker
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Go to one indult TLM, and relax! And, you’ll save on Excedrin.
 
Let me see if I understand you correctly?

If you have already attended mass, but want to attend another one that is illicit should you?
  • or -
If you went to a mass that you fear was illicit can, or should, you go to another mass that is licit?

I’m sorry I was confused by your question.

Suffice to say that you should try to attend a licit mass … whether that be the Novus Ordo Missae or an indult TLM or an Eastern Catholic Mass/Divine Liturgy.
 
This is an interesting question. During Lent, I had gone to mass in the morning at my parish then attended a retreat talk at my mom’s parish. After the retreat talk, the priest spontaneously said the Eucharistic prayer and the consecration. I was in shock over all of this :crying: and even experienced an angina attack (my spray was in the car…sheeshhhh…)😦 . I did go to communion but there was no Jesus. I went because I did not want to single myself out…my mom was standing beside me…

If I would’ve known this I would not have gone…:nope:

Christ is risen, truly He is risen!
Shoshana
 
Ok, first, I’m not looking for the TLM, and please don’t turn this into a thread of NO vs. TLM. 🙂
To clarify: I’ve already attended a completely licit (and valid, might I mention) Novos Ordo Mass on Sunday Morning. Then, I have an opportunity to attend Mass Sunday evening at another Parish. I know that this second Mass is illicit (but NOT invalid). If I want to go to Mass again, should I go to the illicit Mass, or just not go?

Does that make it more clear?
 
I would suggest finding a parish with perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and spending the hour there, instead.

That is, unless at this Mass you will be given the opportunity to educate some people about the illicit practicies that are taking place.
 
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JWalker:
Ok, first, I’m not looking for the TLM, and please don’t turn this into a thread of NO vs. TLM. 🙂
To clarify: I’ve already attended a completely licit (and valid, might I mention) Novos Ordo Mass on Sunday Morning. Then, I have an opportunity to attend Mass Sunday evening at another Parish. I know that this second Mass is illicit (but NOT invalid). If I want to go to Mass again, should I go to the illicit Mass, or just not go?

Does that make it more clear?
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A would see no reason. An Illicit Mass provides NO graces to you. It would be a Spiritually Sterile act in that sense.
 
See, I was thinking along the lines of msproule.

The illicit Mass takes place at a Campus Newman Center (surprise surprise) and there are a number of us that are trying to “change” things there for the better, but we think they’d be more apt to change if they saw us as one of their own, you know? Someone tried approaching them once and they replied with something along the lines of “you don’t even come here, why should you care?” or “what do you know?”.

It’s more for the potential positive effect that we might be able to have on them, indirectly at first, and then more directly.

Thanks!
JWalker
 
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JWalker:
It’s more for the potential positive effect that we might be able to have on them, indirectly at first, and then more directly.
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Make your case early. I would not want to suffer through such an ordeal too long on my own. If they do not respond, follow through with your rights as outlined in Redemptionis Sacramentum.
 
Avoid the illicit mass and seek out an Eucharistic Adoration, Catholic Bible Study, or other such prayer service group. I would avoid the illicit mass all together.
 
I suppose one would have to ask themselves why they are attending the illicit Mass. Frankly, most Masses nowadays are in some way at least minorly illicit. For example, this past evening I attended a Mass for the Annunciation celebrated by one of our auxiliary bishops. Great guy. He’s known for being pretty traditional and strong on the importance of liturgy being done right. But he forgot the creed. That equals illicit Mass, even though everything else was very excellent. Ok, so that’s not the norm. Maybe we are talking about some more serious matters done regularly which are predictable. How serious are they? Why are you going? If one has a good reason to attend and it helps you, great. If, on the other hand, it’s just ticking you off, then perhaps it would be more prudent to avoid it. Of course, perhaps even the difficulties provide us an opportunity to offer it up for betterment of the Mass as well as dealing with our own struggles.
 
I could be wrong as I have been before…but isn’t illicit and invalid one in the same??? Why should you want to attend an invalid Mass? WHy are you dumbfounded over illicit and invalid?
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JWalker:
I know that this second Mass is illicit (but NOT invalid). If I want to go to Mass again, should I go to the illicit Mass, or just not go?

Does that make it more clear?
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dumspirospero wrote:
I could be wrong as I have been before…but isn’t illicit and invalid one in the same??? Why should you want to attend an invalid Mass? WHy are you dumbfounded over illicit and invalid?
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There definitely ARE differences between “illicit” and “invalid”!

“Illicit” means unlawful.
“Valid” means the Sacrament is confected; done.

Example: The Masses of the SSPX are “illicit” because
  1. Archbishop Lefebvre and his “validly” ordained priests were {i]suspended a divinis{/i} - which means that they were stripped of their right to perform ecclesial acts - such as saying Mass, hearing Confessions, etc. Furthermore,
  2. there have incurred additional penalties for having initiated (in the cases of Lefebvre, de Castro Mayer and the four “validly” ordained Bishops, and the priests and lay persons who have adhered to the schism. I was one of those lay persons until 1997.
Hope that helps.
 
No, illicit and invalid are *not *the same thing.

Illicit means something is done correctly, but it’s still a Mass.

Invalid means that the Eucharist was not confected (I.E. improper matter or improper formula) and therefore the service is NOT a Mass.

Like someone said, many Masses could be considered “illicit”. I think it’s VERY different though if a celebrant forgets to do the Creed or something once. I don’t think we should look down on anyone for honest mistakes, which quite frankly, might be what’s going on at my Newman Center as well… maybe they just don’t know any better.

I’m really more concerned about the hundreds of college students with weak faith that attend these watered-down Masses and even approach losing the faith. It’s no secret that the college years can make or break a good Catholic, so if no one tries to correct the abuses that the pastor staff engages in, how is anyone going to know to change them?

Again, I’m not so much concerned about myself, spiritually, as the Newman center Mass is typically my SECOND of the day IF I go at all. The Eucharist IS truly confected there, as well, so I can’t imagine that the Mass is entirely spiritually sterile, is it?

Again, just looking for some opinions…
 
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