Or the Bishop? Since it is a Confirmation Mass, could the bishop allow the Mass to fulfill the obligation?
Something tells me the late Pontiff tried to clarify that a while back, but I can’t put my hand on it at the moment. Anyway, I believe the standard for “the Vespers hour” is considered to be 16h00 (4:00pm) local. However, (and if IIRC) there are some exceptions. Las Vegas is (or at least, was) one where, I think, the bishop set the time earlier to accommodate casino workers.
In your example, you should go to the Sunday Mass also. The Confirmation Mass that you are attending on Saturday at 2 PM is not counted as the Sunday Mass.
Unless there was a very good reason to do so (what, I don’t know), I would think such would just be encouraging the laziness of other people who want to make sure they don’t go to church too much. I remember the weekend of my friend’s ordination. A 3 hour ordination Mass on Friday night, followed by his first Mass Saturday Morning, and then still having to attend Mass on Sunday. Despite being a daily Mass-goer, I was left quite drained after it. I liken it to my introverted disposition and having to be “actively participating” so much, whereas I’m used to being able to spend Mass in quiet meditation.
It isn’t my place to tell the bishop what to do. It is totally up to him.
It is generally after 4PM in most places and you don’t need a special reason to attend it. It fulfills your Sunday obligation just as well as attending on Sunday, no exceptions. It is the same as the Sunday Mass. That is the teaching of the Church.
The problem is not with the fact that it’s a Confirmation Mass, but the time; in most places, 4 pm is considered the earliest a Saturday Mass can fulfill the Sunday obligation. There are occasional exceptions, as in Las Vegas, where I guess they’re glad to get folks to Mass at any time.
The readings are not what dictates fulfillment of the obligation, but rather the time of the Mass:
I said it was a clue. It boils sown to the intent of the Priest (Celebrant). Quoting Canon law is of no benefit in this matter.
On the contrary. However the Latin is authoritative, not the English translation.
“Intent of the Priest” has nothing to do with it. Canon Law indeed does.
Canon Law doesn’t give a ‘time’, except ‘evening before’. The 4 p.m. time comes from a document from 1953, ‘Christus Dominus’ which first allowed ‘evening Masses’ and dictated that they couldn’t start before 4 p.m.