Is this a valid reason to miss a holy day of obligation?

[LilyM]

I have the same problem and I know what my pastor would say. (no)

I am currently looking for a Friday night Mass that we can go to without arriving too late at a friends house warming. Then we will be going Sat. night to Mass for Sunday since if we advance, we will get back too late for Sunday evening Mass.

If that doesn’t work, I will look for a Mass in the town where the tournament is. It’s complicated but well worth it. Here in Texas, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception gets a little overlooked because it is so close to OL of Guadalupe. The largest parish on this side of town isn’t even having any extra Masses for the Holy Day. They sure don’t make it easy.

A real friend would and could understand that you had to go to Mass and have obligations to your son - and wouldn’t mind that you were late (even very late) to their housewarming!

 

[Corki]

A real friend would and could understand that you had to go to Mass and have obligations to your son - and wouldn’t mind that you were late (even very late) to their housewarming!

LOL - most of MY friends would probably be at Mass with me. But this is one of my husband’s work friends. We’ll just get there when we get there.

 

[benedictgal]

I don’t think that’s quite accurate with Christmas and Easter - they each have what is called an ‘octave’, but that’s not the same as meaning the eight days are one day. Not like the readings are the same on all the days for one thing, for another other feasts and solemnities such as Mary Mother of God happen DURING the Christmas Octave - that DEFINITELY isn’t the same day.

Lily, you aren’t reading this the way the Church reads it. One day, in an octave, is stretched to eight days according to the Church’s tradition. January 1st ends on the eigth day of Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Recall that the infant Jesus was circumsized on the 8th day after his birth. Therefore, because Easter and Christmas are the Church’s two holiest days, she stretches the celebration for eight days. Remeber, the Gloria is sung from December 25th through January 1st (this includes weekdays). Sts. Stephen and John the Evangelist fall within the octave of Christmas. During Easter, the octave stretches for eight days and the Gloria is sung for these eight days (notice, you don’t sing the Gloria during Easter weekdays -after the octave, unless there is a solemnity in between, like the Ascension of the Lord).

I hope this helps you to better understand the Church’s tradition on this matter.

 

[JRKH]

If I can go to an evening Mass on Sunday to satisfy my Sunday Mass obligation, why can’t I go to an evening Mass on Saturday to satisfy my Saturday Holy Day obligation if I don’t treat it as my Sunday Mass as well? Particularly since I can satisfy my Holy Day obligation by going to Mass in the evening on a Holy Day when it doesn’t fall on a Saturday. Isn’t this a case of straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel?

I agree that this is a bit of hair splitting, but then again the USCCB does have the authority so one needs to try to comply.

However if, after trying every other combination, I was unable to find a solution, Ibelieve I would still use the Saturday vigil and Sunday morning masses. The fact that the readings are different could be resolved by obtaining the readings from the missal or internet and reading them seperate.
Granted this is not the ideal solution, but it would serve (IMHO) since our Lord knows that you have made a sincere attempt to keep the Solemnity and if it is deficient in some detail it can easily be forgiven.

James

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This Saturday, I have to take my son to an athletic tournament 2 hours away, and we need to be there by 8:00 a.m. The only two masses our parish offers for the holy day of obligation is 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Obviously if I am away at the competition, I won’t be home for mass. Is this a valid reason to miss the masses this Saturday?

Thank you for your help.

There is no parish at the location of the tournament? There should be a vigil Mass Friday evening, for those who have a reason for not being able to attend on the Holy Day. Call and ask the time for the vigil Mass.

 

[puzzleannie]

It would not be a problem here because the only Mass for the Holy Day will be 6:30 pm Friday 5 pm Saturday, which, the bulletin says “counts” for the HOly Day, although we must attend a regular Sunday Mass as well. Call around at neighboring parishes and see what is available.

 

[panther]

My parish does not have a vigil mass for tomorrow night.

There is a church somewhat in the area of the tournament with a mass at 10:00 - I’m hoping it’s not right when my son is competing.

 

[panther]

You guys are not going to believe this!

As we pulled into the school parking lot to meet up with the team and carpool to the tournament this morning, the coach tells us that the location has been changed to another school in another town, and we’ll just follow a caravan to get there. I had no knowledge of the new town or any churches that might have been in the vicinity, so my plans were shot for visiting the one church I did know about in the previous location. I was bummed, and I thought, “That’s it - I’ll have to skip mass.”

When we pulled into the school parking lot, it was DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH! I saw cars going into the church parking lot and looked at my watch - it was 8:24 am. I dashed next door to church just in time for 8:30 mass - I couldn’t believe it!! Doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?!

I celebrated mass with a smile on my face the whole time.

(And my son and his team won )

Thanks for all your support!

 

[JRKH]

You guys are not going to believe this!

As we pulled into the school parking lot to meet up with the team and carpool to the tournament this morning, the coach tells us that the location has been changed to another school in another town, and we’ll just follow a caravan to get there. I had no knowledge of the new town or any churches that might have been in the vicinity, so my plans were shot for visiting the one church I did know about in the previous location. I was bummed, and I thought, “That’s it - I’ll have to skip mass.”

When we pulled into the school parking lot, it was DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH! I saw cars going into the church parking lot and looked at my watch - it was 8:24 am. I dashed next door to church just in time for 8:30 mass - I couldn’t believe it!! Doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?!

I celebrated mass with a smile on my face the whole time.

(And my son and his team won )

Thanks for all your support!

Miracles Happen!!

James

 

[LilyM]

You guys are not going to believe this!

As we pulled into the school parking lot to meet up with the team and carpool to the tournament this morning, the coach tells us that the location has been changed to another school in another town, and we’ll just follow a caravan to get there. I had no knowledge of the new town or any churches that might have been in the vicinity, so my plans were shot for visiting the one church I did know about in the previous location. I was bummed, and I thought, “That’s it - I’ll have to skip mass.”

When we pulled into the school parking lot, it was DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH! I saw cars going into the church parking lot and looked at my watch - it was 8:24 am. I dashed next door to church just in time for 8:30 mass - I couldn’t believe it!! Doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?!

I celebrated mass with a smile on my face the whole time.

(And my son and his team won )

Thanks for all your support!

if that ain’t the darndest thing …

 

[Corki]

You guys are not going to believe this!

When we pulled into the school parking lot, it was DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH!
I celebrated mass with a smile on my face the whole time.

(And my son and his team won )

Thanks for all your support!

Great!!! And I not only found a Friday evening Mass that we could make too but the Sunday game was pushed back so we made the first game this morning before leaving for the game.

 

[mpav]

masstimes.org/dotNet/Default.aspx
Try this link. It provides mass times in various locales for Catholics on the move.

 

[m134e5]

This Saturday, I have to take my son to an athletic tournament 2 hours away, and we need to be there by 8:00 a.m. The only two masses our parish offers for the holy day of obligation is 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Obviously if I am away at the competition, I won’t be home for mass. Is this a valid reason to miss the masses this Saturday?

Thank you for your help.

It’s a little late now since the day has come and gone, but in cases like this, you should ask your pastor for a dispensation from attending Mass. Note that this must be your pastor- you must be a registered member at the parish whose pastor you ask, or you must ask the pastor of the parish you live in if you are not registered anywhere.

This isn’t a good reason to just skip Mass, but may be a good reason to get a dispensation. Many (most?) parishes have vigil Masses for Holy Days of Obligation- that may be an option.

Sometimes these holy days can be very difficult to get to- especially when the only time you can go is Friday night or Saturday morning. I imagine there were many people who didn’t go this year because of when the day fell.