New Year's Eve Midnight Mass and Sunday Obligation

[iwillrisenowinfaith]

Hello,

A question for those of us thinking about going to Midnight Mass on New Year’s Eve (starting at 11 PM or thereabout). Does the Midnight Mass fulfill the Sunday obligation or would we need to go to a Sunday AM or Saturday PM Mass as well?

Thank you and God Bless.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

If the majority of the Mass occurs before 11:59pm, it satisfies the Sunday obligation according to my understanding. In fact, though I may be mistaken, I think as long as the Mass begins on Sunday it counts.

 

[FrDavid96]

If it starts at 11 PM, then (a) it is not a “midnight” Mass, it’s an “eleven o’clock” Mass and (b) yes, it does fulfill the Sunday obligation.

If it is truly a midnight Mass, then it does not fulfill the Sunday obligation.

 

[FrDavid96]

If the majority of the Mass occurs before 11:59pm, it satisfies the Sunday obligation according to my understanding. In fact, though I may be mistaken, I think as long as the Mass begins on Sunday it counts.

I have actually never heard anything official about Masses at the end-of-the-day fulfilling the obligation.

Certainly, if the Mass ends before midnight, then it’s a non-issue.

But how late can the Mass start? What portion of the Mass must occur before midnight? I do not know that the Church has ever actually answered this.

Before the 1983 Code, all Masses had to be celebrated between midnight and noon. Exceptions gradually crept-in over the decades. Still, the only night-time Masses were those celebrated on the evening-before the calendar day, so there was no question of “how late is too late?”

As far as I know, the Church has never provided a definitive answer to this question: how late is too late? (IF the Mass ends after midnight).

 

[FrDavid96]

I would assume the Consecration must occur before midnight in this case.
[/quote]

Assume based on what exactly?

I understand your logic here. At the same time, I can see the logic of other proposed ideas, such as starts before midnight, or Gospel before Midnight, etc.

However, the Church has never answered this question, that I am aware.

 

[Herculees]

Absolutely NOT! Midnight Mass on New Year’s Eve is for either Mary Mother of God (Latin Rite) or Circumcision of Jesus (Eastern Rite Catholics). IF you live in the U.S. and are a Latin Rite Catholic
MOST bishops have dispensed the requirement to attend the holy day Mass. In the U.S. MOST holy
days are dispensed IF it falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Monday. Eastern Rite Catholics are NEVER
dispensed from their holy days for the reason of the day it falls on!