Midnight mass

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Chuck1

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Hi I was wondering is midnight mass instead of going to mass on Christmas day or vice versa ? Is it the same every year ?
Thanks
 
HI Chuck,

Yes Midnight Mass is the same liturgy as going to Mass on Christmas day. 🙂
 
Okay thanks so what would forfill the obligation going to the midnight mass or ordinary ? What do most of the congregation go to ?
Is it the same mass every year ?
 
Chuck1 said:
Hi I was wondering is midnight mass instead of going to mass on Christmas day or vice versa ? Is it the same every year ?
Thanks
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yes. Midnight Mass is the principal celebration for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Masses are offered during the day on Christmas (and sometimes earlier on Christmas eve, depending on local custom) so everyone has a chance to attend Mass, and they all fill the obligation for the Holy Day.
 
Okay thanks I see what you mean ,so is the mass the same every year because of the missil / same format ?
 
Chuck1 said:
Okay thanks I see what you mean ,so is the mass the same every year because of the missil / same format ?
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Yes. The Feastday Mass is repeated each year on that Feastday. Readings are the same, year to year; prayers are the same, year to year.
 
Oh thanks for clearing that up , but doesn’t that get boring repeating the same thing
Every year ? I suppose the homily changes tho ?
 
Also the same format as normal mass as well as the above If you see what I mean ?
 
I see you have dropped the ‘Baptist’ description now, Chuck, and have put Roman Catholic for your religion.

Does that mean you are now in RCIA? If so, congratulations and welcome.
 
Well I went my first mass today which was good bit confusing though , why are so many things repeated in mass and why are the masses repeated year after year ?
Its to late to join rcia there already started etc but I will next time anyway any amswers to questions wud be help thanks 🙂
 
Chuck1 said:
Well I went my first mass today which was good bit confusing though , why are so many things repeated in mass and why are the masses repeated year after year ?
Its to late to join rcia there already started etc but I will next time anyway any amswers to questions wud be help thanks 🙂
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I’m delighted that you are attending Mass, and if I can help in any way, I will, gladly. (You are not anywhere near Liverpool, I suppose?).

The pattern of Mass stays broadly the same because we always need to express our sorrow for sin, to proclaim what we believe, to give God glory, and to carry out the command of Jesus to ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’. There are small variations - the readings change each day but are repeated over a three-year cycle - but the basic pattern is what God, through His church, has decided is the best way to worship and to unite Catholics all over the world. It’s not dependent on our emotions or the personal tastes of the priest, you see.
 
No not near Liverpool , I live in Dorset , does it get boring doing the same thing everytime? And I don’t remember all that going on in the mass ? When do we do that ?
 
paperwight66 said:
I’m delighted that you are attending Mass, and if I can help in any way, I will, gladly. (You are not anywhere near Liverpool, I suppose?).

The pattern of Mass stays broadly the same because we always need to express our sorrow for sin, to proclaim what we believe, to give God glory, and to carry out the command of Jesus to ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’. There are small variations - the readings change each day but are repeated over a three-year cycle - but the basic pattern is what God, through His church, has decided is the best way to worship and to unite Catholics all over the world. It’s not dependent on our emotions or the personal tastes of the priest, you see.
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Where do you express sorry for sin and proclaim what we believe etc can u explain to me where this is in the mass ? I don’t really get all of it and there so many people how am I going to get to know everyone if they all leave after ? I really want to learn and to feel like I can get used to mass if u know wot I mean
 
We express sorrow for sin right at the beginning, either by saying a long prayer which begins ‘I confess…’, or else by saying/singing ‘Kyrie Eleison’, which means Lord have mercy. We glorify God when we say or sing a long prayer which begins ‘Glory to God in the highest’. After the readings and homily, we say what we believe in the Creed, which begins ‘I believe’.

Don’t worry, Chuck, a few more visits to Mass, and you’ll be familiar with the structure. Why not do some research? Try googling for the Catholic bishops of England and Wales website, www.catholic-ew.org.uk I think.

Or have a look in the church porch where you are, and see if there’s any lost-property missals that nobody wants, if you don’t feel confident enough just to ask someone to help you.
 
Okay now I remember 🙂 I get it now thank you , I feel a lot more confidant now I hope it goes well next week ! 🙂
 
Marie5890 said:
HI Chuck,

Yes Midnight Mass is the same liturgy as going to Mass on Christmas day. 🙂
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Not quite; Midnight Mass of course fulfills one’s obligation to attend Mass on Christmas day, however, the liturgies of the Vigil Mass, the Midnight Mass, the Mass at sunrise and the Christmas day Mass are different; different Propers and readings.
 
OraLabora said:
Not quite; Midnight Mass of course fulfills one’s obligation to attend Mass on Christmas day, however, the liturgies of the Vigil Mass, the Midnight Mass, the Mass at sunrise and the Christmas day Mass are different; different Propers and readings.
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While they have different Propers and readings, often the same Readings are licitly proclaimed at all the Christmas Masses.

I also must admit that I have never experienced a Vigil of Christmas Mass. In all the parishes where I’ve worshipped, at all the Christmas Eve Masses that I’ve attended, the Midnight Mass was celebrated, not the Christmas Vigil Mass. In fact, I was told not to be so foolish when I asked if we were going to be using the Vigil Mass one year when I was on the Liturgy Committee. “Who ever heard of using the Vigil Mass at the 6 p.m. ‘Family’ Mass?!”
 
Phemie said:
While they have different Propers and readings, often the same Readings are licitly proclaimed at all the Christmas Masses.

I also must admit that I have never experienced a Vigil of Christmas Mass. In all the parishes where I’ve worshipped, at all the Christmas Eve Masses that I’ve attended, the Midnight Mass was celebrated, not the Christmas Vigil Mass. In fact, I was told not to be so foolish when I asked if we were going to be using the Vigil Mass one year when I was on the Liturgy Committee. “Who ever heard of using the Vigil Mass at the 6 p.m. ‘Family’ Mass?!”
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Did they use the Midnight Mass at 6 pm?
 
Phemie said:
Yes. They use the Midnight Mass Readings for all Masses and the Midnight Mass Propers for the 6 pm & 10 pm Masses (we haven’t had a ‘Midnight’ Mass for the last 7 years).
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That’s unfortunate; same issue here. One of my fondest memories is being taken to Midnight Mass with my parents as a toddler. I remember going in a blizzard in my dad’s 1964 Chevrolet and falling asleep in the car on the short drive home. Interestingly my dad was Anglican but always came to midnight Mass with myself and my mother and her visiting relatives.

Now to get a “true” midnight Mass I have to drive to the local Benedictine abbey; but I’m treated to Vigils before the Mass, and the Mass is beautifully sung in Gregorian chant. But it’s doable if there’s no blizzard, 35 min. drive.
 
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