Is The Sat. Vigil Mass Just Convenience To You?

[lak611]

However, prior to 1964 the Eucharistic fast was from midnight on, therefore there were no Saturday evening Masses as no one could fast the entire day on Saturday, practically speaking. There were also few, if any, Sunday evening Masses for this same reason. Pope Paul VI changed the fast to one hour in 1964.

When fast requirements changed, this enabled more Mass times from a practical standpoint.

Actually, here is an explanation of the changes in the Eucharist fast, with the appropriate Church documents mentioned.

Christus Dominus (Pius XII) in 1953 reduced the fast to 3 hours and excepted water. There was also listed a few cases where priests could fast for 1 hour, I think.

Apostolicae Consitutione in 1964 (January)reduced it for priests and a further decree later in the year (Novemeber) reduced it to the one hour rule.

It was mitigated for the elderly in Immensae Caritatis.

 

[thomasf]

Our church has a sunday evening mass, and I prefer to attend that mass. I like the evening masses, I find that I am more awake, attentive, and able to pay attention/absorb what’s going on. The thing I always hate about morning masses is that I am not a morning person and not with it. I always feel like I’m missing something at a morning mass.

 

[porthos11]

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?

No. One does not require a good reason to attend Satuday vigil Mass. One can attend Saturday evening Mass out of pure preference or convenience if that’s what they so want.

The reason is because observance of Sundays and Solemnities begin with Evening Prayer I of the previous day. So for liturgical purposes, by Saturday evening, the celebrations for Sunday have already begun.

 

[John_Hiner]

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?

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

To mirror my friend:

Yes – the Saturday evening Mass was originally allowed only to those who had some pressing reason for not attending on Sunday. The most recent revision of the Canon Law does not make a distinction between the two as a matter of “obligation,” however, as a matter of honoring the long tradition of the Church one should probably not attend this Mass without some argument that suggests that Saturday evening Mass rather than Sunday Mass serves the precept to keep holy the Lord’s Day. If one is doing it to keep the Lord’s Day for football, laziness, or some other profane activity then one is on the wrong track. (However, if one is attending on Saturday to make Sunday available for praise of God through appreciation of the beauty of creation in nature, or for a chance to visit a distant friend or relative who will feel God’s love in one’s visit, then this may be enough of a reason to justify taking advantage of the option allowed by Canon Law.)

A choice has to be made as to whether one approaches the Faith generously or with an eye to “how little can be done, without being damned.” This second attitude is dangerous, since things being what they are with human nature, we only get about 80% of what we shoot for – if we shoot for the minimum, it is a good bet we will fail.

Besides it hardly lends itself to realizing life “more abundantly.”

If we only do what is required, then we are not acting in Christ.

Pax Christi tecum.

John Hiner

 

[lak611]

If you have any doubts about the validity of the Vigil Mass fulfilling the Sunday obligation, please read this thread from “Ask an Apologist”.

 

[anniemart]

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

To mirror my friend:

Yes – the Saturday evening Mass was originally allowed only to those who had some pressing reason for not attending on Sunday. The most recent revision of the Canon Law does not make a distinction between the two as a matter of “obligation,” however, as a matter of honoring the long tradition of the Church one should probably not attend this Mass without some argument that suggests that Saturday evening Mass rather than Sunday Mass serves the precept to keep holy the Lord’s Day. If one is doing it to keep the Lord’s Day for football, laziness, or some other profane activity then one is on the wrong track. (However, if one is attending on Saturday to make Sunday available for praise of God through appreciation of the beauty of creation in nature, or for a chance to visit a distant friend or relative who will feel God’s love in one’s visit, then this may be enough of a reason to justify taking advantage of the option allowed by Canon Law.)

A choice has to be made as to whether one approaches the Faith generously or with an eye to “how little can be done, without being damned.” This second attitude is dangerous, since things being what they are with human nature, we only get about 80% of what we shoot for – if we shoot for the minimum, it is a good bet we will fail.

Besides it hardly lends itself to realizing life “more abundantly.”

If we only do what is required, then we are not acting in Christ.

Pax Christi tecum.

John Hiner

Dear Lord…thank you for your response. I see, as I sure many of us do, abuses at the expense of our church all too frequently…[A choice has to be made as to whether one approaches the Faith generously or with an eye to “how little can be done, without being damned.”] Your choice to share your wisdom had done me a great service…thanks and God Bless Us All.

 

[anniemart]

Be glad you have a priest to say Mass.

Your post shows a serious lack of charity. There are those of us out in rural America who would *love *a choice of Masses. We share a priest with two other parishes and there is one Mass per weekeend at each parish.

We rotate on a three year schedule, so for a whole year Saturday evening is our ONLY Mass.

No. Sunday has always been recognized as beginning the evning before.

However, prior to 1964 the Eucharistic fast was from midnight on, therefore there were no Saturday evening Masses as no one could fast the entire day on Saturday, practically speaking. There were also few, if any, Sunday evening Masses for this same reason. Pope Paul VI changed the fast to one hour in 1964.

When fast requirements changed, this enabled more Mass times from a practical standpoint.

Believe me, I know that we are blessed to have not just the Vigil, but also four masses on Sunday with a mass held every day Monday through Friday…my post was directed at those families I spoke of because I know for a fact that prefer to have Sundays free for reasons other than to worship. If they see my post as uncharitable; so be it. As a matter of fact, one of these families is the “finance committee” for the parish. They want to move the vigil up to 4 pm in order to have our annual Fall festival start at an earlier date (more hours of operation=more $$). And no, I am not popular with this group because I am dead set against changing the Vigil period. I will count my blessings and pray for those brothers and sisters who reside in rural areas.

 

[lak611]

Believe me, I know that we are blessed to have not just the Vigil, but also four masses on Sunday with a mass held every day Monday through Friday…my post was directed at those families I spoke of because I know for a fact that prefer to have Sundays free for reasons other than to worship.

Canon Law does not require any reason to be given for assisting at the Vigil Mass on Saturday instead of at a Sunday Mass. Regardless of what reason one has to attend the Vigil Mass, his obligation is fulfilled. Furthermore, he does not need to explain his reason.

 

[anniemart]

Canon Law does not require any reason to be given for assisting at the Vigil Mass on Saturday instead of at a Sunday Mass. Regardless of what reason one has to attend the Vigil Mass, his obligation is fulfilled. Furthermore, he does not need to explain his reason.

No…God alone decide what suffices and what doesn’t…however, obligation isn’t defined by one’s physcial presence in the church alone is it?

 

[lak611]

No…God alone decide what suffices and what doesn’t…however, obligation isn’t defined by one’s physcial presence in the church alone is it?

Are you suggesting that the Code of Canon Law is unsatisfactory to God? As Catholics, we must follow the Magisterium, who gave us the Code of Canon Law and the precepts of the Church.

 

[anniemart]

Are you suggesting that the Code of Canon Law is unsatisfactory to God? As Catholics, we must follow the Magisterium, who gave us the Code of Canon Law and the precepts of the Church.

no…I meant that God alone knows the state of our soul at every given moment…including the masses we attend regardless of the days and times…my original post was intended as a learning opportunity for myself…it’s obviously struck a nerve in some people. and only they know why. Keep in mind that forums are read and not verbal. You might just interject a tone of hostility or judgment in an otherwise tone of peaceful intent in one brother or sister to another…Under the spirit; not the law…

 

[lak611]

no…I meant that God alone knows the state of our soul at every given moment…including the masses we attend regardless of the days and times…my original post was intended as a learning opportunity for myself…it’s obviously struck a nerve in some people. and only they know why. Keep in mind that forums are read and not verbal. You might just interject a tone of hostility or judgment in an otherwise tone of peaceful intent in one brother or sister to another…Under the spirit; not the law…

What you have said here is true. All of us have probably gone to Mass grudgingly, without the proper intention at one time or another. Still, if we make the effort and go to Mass, we are still doing what God wants us to do. From the Douay-Rheims:

Mat 21:28 But what think you? A certain man had two sons: and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29 And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went.
Mat 21:30 And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering said: I go, Sir. And he went not.
Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the father’s will? They say to him: The first.

 

[anniemart]

What you have said here is true. All of us have probably gone to Mass grudgingly, without the proper intention at one time or another. Still, if we make the effort and go to Mass, we are still doing what God wants us to do. From the Douay-Rheims:

Amen…Amen…God Bless Us All

 

[John_Hiner]

While the Jewish sabbath starts at sundown, I’m afraid the rest of your statement is incorrect. The Saturday evening Mass is not a carryover from that tradition.

Originally, only Sunday Mass met the Sunday obligation. However, much much later, our Holy Church decided that attending Mass on Saturday evening would meet the Sunday obligation to accommodate those who were impeded from attending Sunday Mass.

While the original intent of this permission was to accommodate those who could not attend Sunday Mass, the Church has never placed a condition upon attending Saturday Evening Mass. It was never established as something that could be done, but only under certain circumstances. It was a general permission by the Church.

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

As an historical point, I am not sure this is true. I think I have seen evidence that before the revision of the Canon Law there was an explicit condition placed on the Saturday evening Mass.

Can anyone confirm this? What did the canon say before the revision by John Paul II?

Pax Christi nobiscum.

John Hiner

 

[John_Hiner]

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

When considering the Canon Law one should remember that it is a code of discipline, not of best practices. The code, because of its very nature as a disciplinary code outlines the necessary and minimum requirements – the standards below which one cannot go without risking specific punishment.

By implication, this character of the Code invites members of the Church to seek more generous practices exceeding these minimum requirements. To do that, one needs to consider the meaning and history of various practices. One needs to consider other sources of guidance as to the best way to live and even as to how to comport oneself with other members of the Church.

This principle is suggested in the Preface to the Latin Edition of the Code of Canon Law (1983). This is part of the description of the principles used to revise the Code:

To foster the pastoral care of souls as much as possible, the new law, besides the virtue of justice, is to take cognizance of charity, temperance, humaneness and moderation, whereby equity is to be pursued not only in the application of the laws by pastors of souls but also in the legislation itself.

Hence unduly rigid norms are to be set aside and rather **recourse is to be taken to exhortations and persuasions where there is no need of a strict observance of the law **on account of the public good and general ecclesiastical discipline. (Emphasis added.)

This suggests that the proper approach to the Canon Law is to make sure to meet it, lest the Church be compelled to discipline you, but realize that exceeding its requirements is the goal of a good Catholic. After all, there is no Canon explicitly requiring love of the Lord God or forbidding one to covet a neighbor’s goods; the Church will not punish you for failing these things as a matter of Church discipline. Nevertheless, these Divine laws are binding under the law of love – which the Code explicitly makes superior to the Code – and under threat of Divine retribution, beyond Ecclesial discipline.

I suggest that the original poster’s question constitutes just such an “exhortation and persuasion” as the introduction to the Code foresees. We should heed such calls to holiness as our individual circumstances suggest will be most conducive to sanctity. After all the Faith is about the freedom of sons, not the slavishness of law.

Pax Christi nobiscum.

John Hiner

 

[TimOliv]

The Saturday evening Mass is a carryover from the Jewish faith where the sabbath starts at sundown.

I think that is a beautiful way to remember our Jewish roots.

What’s the problem?

no…I meant that God alone knows the state of our soul at every given moment…including the masses we attend regardless of the days and times…my original post was intended as a learning opportunity for myself…it’s obviously struck a nerve in some people. and only they know why. Keep in mind that forums are read and not verbal. You might just interject a tone of hostility or judgment in an otherwise tone of peaceful intent in one brother or sister to another…Under the spirit; not the law…

While I understand what you are saying, the same argument could be made for every Mass regardless of time or day. To meet our Sunday obligation, more is required than just our physical presence in a church building (tell that to the ushers at some churches who chat in the vestibule during Mass). However, I think one might infer from your original post (whether intended or not) that going to the Vigil Mass as a matter of convenience was less than sincere or in some way an abuse.

However, because the Church permits us to meet our Sunday obligation at the Vigil unconditionally, there is no abuse. This reminds me greatly of a certain few in my area who insist that eating meat on Fridays (outside of Lent) is a mortal sin. While the Church had a long standing tradition of not eating meat on any Friday, the Church also tells us that we are only required to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. Therefore, if I eat meat today, am I committing an abuse?

Going to a Mass as a matter of convenience neither constitutes abuse nor does it make a statement about the person’s level of devotion. We all go to Mass when it is convenient for us. That is the reason why we choose to go to 11:30 Mass instead of 8 AM.

 

[1ke]

my original post was intended as a learning opportunity for myself…it’s obviously struck a nerve in some people. and only they know why.

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?

 

[bilop]

No…God alone decide what suffices and what doesn’t…however, obligation isn’t defined by one’s physcial presence in the church alone is it?

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.

God Bless

 

[kim3260]

So the OP is not pleased well we aren’t here to please you are we
No matter what Mass a person attends for what reason that is between that person and God.
We have but 2 Masses (in English) one on Saturday Evening and one at 10AM, also a 1PM in Spanish, that I attended more then once because of a sick child or oops “over slept”

 

[LilyM]

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.