Is The Sat. Vigil Mass Just Convenience To You?

[jrabs]

In fact, God may be more pleased when someone who doesn’t want to, goes to Mass out of obedience, than when someone who loves the Mass attends.

This is an outstanding point. Thanks for including this.
Some days, we go to mass because we are doing it out of love for God, but not necessarily because we want to be there.

Some days (most days) my head is so cluttered with the week’s running around and organizing children’s schedules, homework, etc.

I like to go to mass when I feel my head is clear enough to give Him my attention. Sometimes that is on a sat evening, because I know that Sunday’s schedule is already hectic. I have enormous stress in my life being the sole parent and support for my children. God deserves my best and sometimes my best is on Sat evening.

 

[MusicMan]

I’m not pleased about this but there are many families I know that attend the Saturday Vigil Mass because it’s a convenience and they want to have Sunday free–completely free from any obligations.

Our parish music coordinator called me earlier today and asked if my choir would switch Masses with the Contemporary one this weekend. My group was on for 7:45 Sunday morning, and the Contemporary group for the anticipated Mass on Saturday. Would it displease you to learn that I agreed to this switch because it would actually be more convenient for my group to provide music at the anticipated Mass? Would it further displease you to learn that the switch was actually most convenient for all parties involved?

Perhaps I should have said no to the switch, claiming that because it was convenient, it wasn’t correct to make such a switch, and that the anticipated Mass should just go without music.

I wonder how displeased my pastor would be with me… more to the point I wonder how displeased God would be with me for my lack of charity.

 

[TimOliv]

Well, let me clue you in on “why”.

Your original post was not worded as an information-seeking post. It started “I am not pleased…” THAT is not an informational statement, that is a judgmental statement. You personally are unpleased with relatives who choose to go to Saturday Mass out of convenience. THAT is why it struck a nerve.

You have no right to make such a judgment and be “displeased” with *anyone *because it’s none of your business. And, since the *Church *does not require any reason at all to choose that Mass over another so where do you get off making such a statement?

:clapping:

 

[anniemart]

:clapping:

Yes, you are absolutely correct. I don’t fear voicing my beliefs but if my voice had been verbal, it would not have been accusatory. I also opened with the question as to whether or not the Vigil was designed with a purpose. And the effort to clear my confusion was sincere. And yes, many did respond but were themselves judgmental. And no, my opinion hasn’t changed but I neither do I profess to gage the state of any soul attending any mass. But if someone admits to me with nonchalance that they attend the vigil mass with the only purpose being so that Sunday can be free, then I alone will work through my feelings that somehow this is one of the “progressions” our church has taken. And I will continue to pray for my soul before I even consider making the vain attempt at praying for yours or anyone else’s. God Blesses Us All Indeed.

 

[anniemart]

Yes, I believe it is. If you are physically present in Church for the Mass you have met your Sunday obligation. Even if you don’t want to be there. Even if you don’t sing or give the responses. You just have to be there.

In fact, God may be more pleased when someone who doesn’t want to, goes to Mass out of obedience, than when someone who loves the Mass attends.

Let’s not make this harder than it is.

Excellent point, because it’s been my experience that when I assist at Mass after not having felt the desire to be there, I am always glad that I did. I’m sure most others feel this too!

God Bless

 

[anniemart]

Our parish music coordinator called me earlier today and asked if my choir would switch Masses with the Contemporary one this weekend. My group was on for 7:45 Sunday morning, and the Contemporary group for the anticipated Mass on Saturday. Would it displease you to learn that I agreed to this switch because it would actually be more convenient for my group to provide music at the anticipated Mass? Would it further displease you to learn that the switch was actually most convenient for all parties involved?

Perhaps I should have said no to the switch, claiming that because it was convenient, it wasn’t correct to make such a switch, and that the anticipated Mass should just go without music.

I wonder how displeased my pastor would be with me… more to the point I wonder how displeased God would be with me for my lack of charity.

There was no lack of charity in my post…what a gift you have in singing; you must be instrumental in capturing the attention of those who aren’t participating otherwise…

 

[anniemart]

I do think the point must be made that in honesty, any Mass time we choose to attend (assuming that there is genuine choice in the matter), Sunday or not, boils down to convenience.

I am absolutely blessed to live near a parish that has ELEVEN different Masses available on Sunday - and two other parishes that have convenient times in addition to those. So I can attend at 7am because it’s ‘convenient’ and leaves the rest of the day free for me, or at 8pm for the same reason, or basically any hour and many half-hours in between. How is my choice of time on a Sunday in this case any different to choosing Saturday night?

Remember too, that the catechism refers to sanctifying the Lord’s day by setting it apart for relaxation and family activities - as well as church attendance. We are to rest as God rested on that first Sabbath.

And it is out of line, considering how hard most people work the other six days of the week, to assume resting on the Sabbath equates to laziness or a lack of recognition of the importance of the Mass.

There was a time in history when foregoing the easy in order to choose the difficult was customary. There was nothing out of line in my post.

 

[JW10631]

I am grateful for the Saturday evening Mass.

My wife is not a morning person by any stretch. In many Latin American parishes, there is a 1PM Sunday Mass (my wife is from Colombia).

Currently, Señora JW10631 is 11 weeks pregnant and mornings are very difficult for her. Therefore the Saturday evening Mass is an extra-special gift from God.

 

[chicago]

In many Latin American parishes, there is a 1PM Sunday Mass (my wife is from Colombia).

I have noticed this, also. Is there some sort of reason for the early afternoon Masses which relates to the culture or is it simply a matter of parishes “adding one on” in Spanish at the end of the existing schedule?

Frankly, I wish that a few more parishes offerred Mass at, say 1:30 or 2 PM in English.

 

[Little_Mary]

I’m not pleased about this but there are many families I know that attend the Saturday Vigil Mass because it’s a convenience and they want to have Sunday free–completely free from any obligations. Wasn’t this mass created for those who otherwise were unable to attend Sunday mass because of work?

OK anniemart, I’ve read several posts of yours defending your original post about lack of charity - so I went back and read your original post. You are right about one thing at least - much is lost in a post - tone of voice, body language, etc.

I think I can see where might have been simply asking the question about convenience; maybe you know some families who look upon going to Mass as a chore that they hate and that would be a shame but there are so many millions who just don’t go to church - any church - at all.

I actually know of one family who claim that Sunday is their only day to sleep in and that’s why they don’t go to any church at all (of course I countered that with " join us Catholics, there’s a Saturday vigil you can hit when you’re already up and dressed and out of the house, and then you can sleep Sundays away" ) -

— however, the fact remains that many parishes do have several Mass times each weekend and there is a choice. Why is that? Even without a Saturday Vigil, you can go to Mass on Sundays at my parish 8:30AM, 10AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM. Those who attend the Vigil Mass for whatever reason are certainly not any less Catholic or religious or spiritual or whatever you want to call it than the Sunday attendees are.

If I choose to attend the 11:30 Mass in order to sleep as late as possible, why would that be wrong? If I choose to attend 8:30 Mass so my day isn’t chopped up, why would that be wrong?

Should we all don our sack cloth and ashes and make a concerted effort to attend the least desirable Mass time in order to make a point?

In a perfect world, we should all be beating down the doors of our Catholic churches in order to spend every available precious moment in His presence - 24/7!!! But in reality, we must all attend to our life obligations as well, and because we are human, we require some down time too. Not to mention the hundreds of moments throughout the day when we draw on our religious education and self control to deal with whatever the day throws at us. Every decision we make, every person we meet, what we say, what we do, what we give, we try to live our faith. The Mass is only a part - a BIG part - of all of that.

I have to believe that God understands that.

So sorry to be rambling on like this - but I hope you see that comments about our original post are valid as well.

 

[Little_Mary]

And I will continue to pray for my soul before I even consider making the vain attempt at praying for yours or anyone else’s.

Um… … …go for it?..

 

[LilyM]

There was a time in history when foregoing the easy in order to choose the difficult was customary. There was nothing out of line in my post.

There was never a time in history when people didn’t do what was necessary for them. Some workers need rest on Sunday. Simple as that.

 

[anniemart]

OK anniemart, I’ve read several posts of yours defending your original post about lack of charity - so I went back and read your original post. You are right about one thing at least - much is lost in a post - tone of voice, body language, etc.

I think I can see where might have been simply asking the question about convenience; maybe you know some families who look upon going to Mass as a chore that they hate and that would be a shame but there are so many millions who just don’t go to church - any church - at all.

I actually know of one family who claim that Sunday is their only day to sleep in and that’s why they don’t go to any church at all (of course I countered that with " join us Catholics, there’s a Saturday vigil you can hit when you’re already up and dressed and out of the house, and then you can sleep Sundays away" ) -

— however, the fact remains that many parishes do have several Mass times each weekend and there is a choice. Why is that? Even without a Saturday Vigil, you can go to Mass on Sundays at my parish 8:30AM, 10AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM. Those who attend the Vigil Mass for whatever reason are certainly not any less Catholic or religious or spiritual or whatever you want to call it than the Sunday attendees are.

If I choose to attend the 11:30 Mass in order to sleep as late as possible, why would that be wrong? If I choose to attend 8:30 Mass so my day isn’t chopped up, why would that be wrong?

Should we all don our sack cloth and ashes and make a concerted effort to attend the least desirable Mass time in order to make a point?

In a perfect world, we should all be beating down the doors of our Catholic churches in order to spend every available precious moment in His presence - 24/7!!! But in reality, we must all attend to our life obligations as well, and because we are human, we require some down time too. Not to mention the hundreds of moments throughout the day when we draw on our religious education and self control to deal with whatever the day throws at us. Every decision we make, every person we meet, what we say, what we do, what we give, we try to live our faith. The Mass is only a part - a BIG part - of all of that.

I have to believe that God understands that.

So sorry to be rambling on like this - but I hope you see that comments about our original post are valid as well.

where in my post did I ever state that attending the vigil mass was wrong? where did I ever state that anyone’s post was invalid? Yes, I returned a post to mostly everyone I thought might have wanted one but I found every comment was useful nonetheless and read with an open mind and heart I haven’t judged anyone or tried to point a shameful finger in their face…my being “not pleased” was written without a tone of anger or even firmness if that at all matters now… I have tried to go back and see what other verbs I could have used or darn little face thing but I don’t see any that would have conveyed my question more honestly…Insert joking tone here…in a court of law, I would have been tried and found guilty in less than a minute…remove joking tone now …

are you being sarcastic in your second post? if so, believe me (please) that I can’t begin to pray for (and with) my husband and little ones unless I can pray for myself first…

 

[Little_Mary]

Hey anniemart, I guess it’s because your original post started with “I am not please about this…” It sort of made your whole post sound like you were angry about it (to me anyway). No big deal. So you were just asking a question. Sorry if you were made to feel like you were “found guilty”. I don’t think that’s anyone’s intention.

As far as praying for yourself - I was being a little sarcastic but having given it further thought - most people say that you can’t take care of others (or love them) until you take care of yourself first (physically and mentally). I wonder did you mean something along those lines. Just curious.

We actually attend the vigil Mass quite often. As a family it’s a nice way to start out the evening, then have dinner together followed by some sort of family night activity.

If we don’t make the vigil Mass, we hit the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Breakfast together when we get home then everybody goes their separate ways. Either way is nice.

We don’t look at either time as “getting it out of the way” or anything like that. It’s just part of what we are doing that day.

What are your family’s typical habits as far as attending Mass? Again, just curious.

 

[KarenElissa]

Another thought, the Sat. night mass is good for those of us Protestants who are curious about the Catholic faith.

I never would have even thought much about the Catholic church except I was curious about liturgical worship in general and the Catholic church was the only church I could find that had a service I could go to. I was already committed to things all day on Sunday at my own church and couldn’t just not show up some week so I could visit another church.

And I can’t imagine that I’m the only one who has had a similar experience.

 

[Mag_Uidhir]

I’m not pleased about this but there are many families I know that attend the Saturday Vigil Mass because it’s a convenience and they want to have Sunday free–completely free from any obligations. Wasn’t this mass created for those who otherwise were unable to attend Sunday mass because of work?

I only ever go-to it if there is something on Sunday that clashes with Mass that I can’t avoid, which is once in a blue moon.

I don’t care for Sat: night Mass, much prefer the usual Sunday 12.30 Mass.

 

[wanner47]

I’m very grateful to the parish in town that offers a 7:30pm Sunday evening Mass. I work every other weekend from 8am-5pm, and that particular Mass is the only one that I can attend on the weekends I work.

On the weekends I don’t work, we usually go to the 5pm Saturday Mass. My husband is not a morning person and it’s easier on both of us if we go to an evening Mass instead of a morning one. I find it helps me concentrate on and appreciate the Mass more if getting there isn’t a frazzled and hectic process.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

We usually go to the 5 PM Saturday Mass, except in the heat of summer in July and August. Our parish has no a/c, and none of us wants a foretaste of hell during heavenly activity. Those days (tomorrow will be one), we either go to the 8:30 AM Sunday, or the 7:30 AM at a nearby parish which has a/c. Our parish gets our 5% from online banking, and our envelope goes into the other parish’s collection- which is duly noted and forwarded to our parish.

 

[JW10631]

I have noticed this, also. Is there some sort of reason for the early afternoon Masses which relates to the culture or is it simply a matter of parishes “adding one on” in Spanish at the end of the existing schedule?

Frankly, I wish that a few more parishes offered Mass at, say 1:30 or 2 PM in English.

What I was referring to is that in Latin America, you can find many parishes that celebrate Mass at 1PM. I think it is found here in the US in areas with a large Latino population so as to reach out to them and make Mass available at a time that is culturally “in sync” with them. The Spanish language Mass in Pittsburgh used to begin at 1PM, but was moved to 11:30 AM a few years ago.

As are Saturday Vigil Masses, Sunday evening Masses are a godsend. They are not offered everywhere. There is one very close to where I live now.

When I was in college, I had a part time job that required me to work from 12:30 to 7PM every other Saturday and 7AM to 3:30PM the following Sunday. So I missed Mass when I had to work. There may have been a Sunday evening Mass near my home but I did not find one.

 

[anniemart]

Hey anniemart, I guess it’s because your original post started with “I am not please about this…” It sort of made your whole post sound like you were angry about it (to me anyway). No big deal. So you were just asking a question. Sorry if you were made to feel like you were “found guilty”. I don’t think that’s anyone’s intention.

As far as praying for yourself - I was being a little sarcastic but having given it further thought - most people say that you can’t take care of others (or love them) until you take care of yourself first (physically and mentally). I wonder did you mean something along those lines. Just curious.

We actually attend the vigil Mass quite often. As a family it’s a nice way to start out the evening, then have dinner together followed by some sort of family night activity.

If we don’t make the vigil Mass, we hit the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Breakfast together when we get home then everybody goes their separate ways. Either way is nice.

We don’t look at either time as “getting it out of the way” or anything like that. It’s just part of what we are doing that day.

What are your family’s typical habits as far as attending Mass? Again, just curious.

Thank you for your post…last night as I went to bed I felt like I was in grammar school again (last one picked for kickball) but I woke up knowing it would be a better day and your kind words were the cherry on top…my family and I all attend mass every Sunday unless one of us is ill and sometimes we attend more than one mass that day. If I am reading at an early mass then I will go back again later with my family. (My kids are taking advantage of the summer rule that allows them to stay up later than when school is on and so it’s hard to get them up for the 6 or 8 am mass sometimes.) During the week I attend mass at least once a week. During the week we don’t attend mass as a family and I don’t want to force the kids or my husband to so most of the time I go alone.

For a year now our parish has had Eucharistic Adoration every Friday from 3 until 6 in the evening. That I have been able to attend adoration without fail every week except for three times, is divine intervention in my opinion. Our Lord knows I need every bit of help that I can get while I’m still here below. Sometimes I’m the only one there and I feel so ashamed because I am so unworthy and there are so many other souls that I admire that could be there but aren’t because of work. Then I think about how lucky I am to be in His presence and I always leave feeling much better. FYI: I was baptised at 2 years and never again entered a catholic church unless there was a family member’s funeral or wedding. In 2006, I received my sacraments and my husband and I were married in the church. We’d been married by a judge since 1989. This year in May, our oldest was confirmed and received the sacrament of Holy Communion. Our two little ones were baptised and received Holy Communion in May as well. I am so in love with the Lord because of the great mercy he has had on my soul…I greatly lament all the time I did not know him and I will admit that I was a staunch liberal but no longer…my husband on the other hand, could have entered the priesthood but then he met the heathen that I was and we fell in love and married. He never pressured me to go to church but I tell him, half jokingly now, that I wish he’d dragged me to the church kicking and screaming! * I know you didn’t ask for a life story but I couldn’t help myself…*.I will sing His praises from the mountaintop every chance I get…by the way, I going to go the the Saturday vigil next week and we’re looking forward to it. Thanks again for your thought provoking posts.

Have you and your loved ones always been catholic?

God Bless Us All