Maundy Thursday Mass... and class

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melvfe

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Hi I have a friend who wants to attend Maundy Thursday Mass and who has to attend class at the same time.

Would like to ask which choice she should take?

She wants to go for the Mass but doesn’t know how to explain to the professor.

Any advice is much appreciated . Thanks
 
As a student, her priority is her classwork. While it’s a beautiful Mass, it is one she’s not required to go to, so she ought to go to class. I would suggest, at most, that she ask the professor if there’s anything critical that day or if she needs to make up for anything ahead of time. But she really ought to go to class.
 
She signed up for a class. Her prime obligation is to attend class. She might mention this to her professor. But she should accept the professor’s decision. She is not obligated to strand Thursday Mass. Class is an obligation. Mass is a want.
 
When I was in college I used to have a good enough relationship with the profs to be able to explain why certain days were very important to me. Not wanting to offend, they always allowed me to make up my class, provided I did a very good job of it. Which I did.
 
Even for a public learning institution, attending religious services is a valid reason for missing class.

…However… that doesn’t mean the professor is expected to go way out of his/her way to accommodate a student. The student should make the effort to get any class notes by asking a fellow student. If there is a test or quiz, then the student needs to make arrangements AHEAD of time to make it up or accept the consequences to her grade. If the school has a limited number of absences (whether excused or unexcused) per term, this will count as one. If there are any assignments due, they need to be turned in ahead of time.

If your friend is an excellent student, has a good relationship with the teacher, and there is nothing planned for this class other than lecture. then perhaps she can skip this class. The way to do this is simply tell the teacher that she has a religious service to attend and that she will work hard to make up for the lost lecture time.

If your friend is a typical student who sometimes does well but occasionally struggles she probably ought to go to class. Hopefully she will have many future opportunities to attend Mass on Holy Thursday. And there is still the rest of the Triduum.
 
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The friend knew that the class met on Thursdays, and knew that Maundy Thursday would be one of the class dates.

Shouldn’t have signed up for it if this was going to be a problem with her.

Its not a mandatory day for mass attendance.
 
You can probably catch the tail end of the mass and the vigil prayer following it.
 
While the Mass on Holy Thursday is beautiful, and the readings particular for that day, the only real differences are the washing of the feet and the procession for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament at the end. If she really is interested in a Mass that is extraordinary, she should attend the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night. With up to 7 Old Testament readings (salvation history), the chanting of the Litany of the Saints, baptism of any catechumens and profession of Faith for those converting from another Protestant denomination, Confirmation of all, and their First Communion, she will experience the highest liturgy of the Church.
 
Fauken said:
I would suggest, at most, that she ask the professor if there’s anything critical that day
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Don’t ever ask a professor this. It’s the same thing as missing class and then asking “Did I miss anything important?” It’s insulting to the professor who works hard to prepare lectures, and students should consider every class important.
 
Holy Thursday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Going to assume she is an adult in college? She should just tell her instructor “I have a religious observation on Thursday evening. What will the assignments be?”
 
After class, go to the altar of repose and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.
 
And watch the Holy Thursday Mass online, the Vatican Mass will be available to watch!
 
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