Priest says must go to Christmas Day Mass

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Oren

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I never go to Christmas Day Mass. I always go on the vigil Christmas Eve. This year we have a new priest and he said we must go to the Christmas Day Mass to fulfill the Holy Day of Obligation because they will have different readings. I don’t think this is true but if my priest says it do I have to do it anyway even if he is wrong?
 
There are 4 Christmas Masses, each with different readings: Vigil Mass, Mass at Midnight, Mass at Dawn, and Mass During the Day; but any one fulfills the obligation.
 
Yeah, everyone seemed like they knew he was wrong. I have no idea why he said that.
 
Oren said:
I never go to Christmas Day Mass. I always go on the vigil Christmas Eve. This year we have a new priest and he said we must go to the Christmas Day Mass to fulfill the Holy Day of Obligation because they will have different readings. I don’t think this is true but if my priest says it do I have to do it anyway even if he is wrong?
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Christmas Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. Your obligation is fulfilled by attending any Mass on Christmas Day or any Mass on the evening of Christmas Eve.

Canon Law:

Can. 1248 §1 The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a Catholic rite either on a Holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.
 
Attending the Holy Day Mass, or any Mass for that matter has nothing to do with the readings. At our parish they are using the same readings for all Christmas masses, including the vigil masses and midnight mass. They have that option. Attending any Mass that begins after 4:00 PM counts for the Holy Day. The priest was wrong. Forgive him his intake and attend Christmas Eve Mass.
 
Just a thought, and I could be wrong.

Have you ever told anyone, “You just HAVE to go to see this movie–it’s sooo good! Don’t miss it, whatever you do! You HAVE to go!”

You aren’t telling people that they are required to go. You’re just using the phrase “you have to go” to try to convince them how good the movie is and that they really should try to go see it.

I’ll betcha the priest was saying something like this: “Everyone, you just HAVE to go to the Christmas Day Masses because they’re all different and they’re all so GOOD! Don’t miss 'em!”

But he probably didn’t use an enthusiastic “cheerleader” intonation in his voice, and so lots of people misunderstood him and thought he was telling them that they are required to attend. It’s amazing what a difference “perkiness” can make when you’re talking to someone!

The various Christmas Masses are really good, and they are all different, especially the music and of course, each homily is different. If I had the time to go and no family to be with, I would probably spend Christmas sitting at church and serving at Mass just to hear all the different Christmas Masses! (The church organist/pianist probably will!)
 
Cat said:
The various Christmas Masses are really good, and they are all different, especially the music and of course, each homily is different. If I had the time to go and no family to be with, I would probably spend Christmas sitting at church and serving at Mass just to hear all the different Christmas Masses! (The church organist/pianist probably will!)
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Thank you for demonstrating someone whose purpose is being drawn to Mass instead of being obligated to fulfill a requirement.

I’ll be at church tomorrow (Christmas) morning with literally a handful of folks. I just like going and being in the presence of the Lord!
 
At the Parish where I now live, Father said we are expecting about 1000 people for the first of three Vigil Masses. Because of this they are opening a rec. hall near the main church, decorating it and all the over flow will be sent there for a Mass that will be going on at the same time. The main church building only holds about 450 people comfortably and 1000 wouldn’t fit in, so this is what Father is doing to handle the over crowed state of affairs. That is at 4 P.M. today. There will also be a 6 P.M. Vigil and a 9 P.M. Vigil Mass. We’re also having a Midnight Mass and three Masses tomorrow too.

This is my first year here at this parish so I’m really not familiar with the way things go. Since I don’t like crowds, I won’t be anywhere near the church buildings for the 4 P.M. and secretly thanked Father for letting me know how crowded it actually gets. I plan on making two, one today and one tomorrow. But that is my choice.

I also know that if I went on Vigil, I could stay home in my PJs for Christmas day. If my children were small that is probably what I would do.

That being all said, I think perhaps the OP’s Pastor is probably getting tired of folks coming for Vigil and no one showing up on Christmas day. So in his frustration he’s asking those who came on this past week end to try and come on Christmas day. It is after all, rather obvious that a whole slew of Catholics only come for the two main Holy Days of the year, namely Christmas and Easter. A very sad reality for many Catholic families. We’re supposed to be charitable and excuse the "C&E"s as visiting from other parishes and only in ours because they attend regularly at their “home” parishes. Add to the facts of the matter that most come to Vigil not because they are working the E.R. on Christmas day and won’t be able to get there on the actual day which is the main purpose of the Vigil. Nope. It is obvious that folks take advantage and the earlier the Mass is on the Eve of Christmas, the happier they are so going to Church won’t interfere with all their holiday plans. Sad to say, but true. :o

But Jesus loves the attention we give Him on Christmas day. I can only do as I’m sure more than one person does and hope that something will spark up the "C&E"s to return for Sunday Mass as soon as they can and pray for that end.

Glenda
 
Being a parish priest is often a very discouraging job. He sees vigil slackers. He sees people doing the bare minimum. People give him guff if he preaches fervently or if he doesn’t. No one’s ever happy. People always whine about having to go to mass on Christmas morning. Usually it’s the busy mothers who do this. Go to whichever mass you prefer and offer all your prayers and all benefits from the mass for this priest. Pray for him always.
 
Boy_Wonder said:
Being a parish priest is often a very discouraging job. He sees vigil slackers. He sees people doing the bare minimum. People give him guff if he preaches fervently or if he doesn’t. No one’s ever happy. People always whine about having to go to mass on Christmas morning. Usually it’s the busy mothers who do this. Go to whichever mass you prefer and offer all your prayers and all benefits from the mass for this priest. Pray for him always.
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What do you mean by “vigil slacker?”
 
He probably just meant vigil/morning. In canon law, the evening prior and the next morning are all considered the same day, in continuation of the Jewish Sabbath, which is something that should be very basic common knowledge to the congregation.

Hypothetically, priests don’t have the authority to create their own obligatory Masses (which again, wouldn’t make sense because the evening and morning are all the same Holy Day), but I strongly doubt that is what he meant anyway.
 
drforjc said:
What do you mean by “vigil slacker?”
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Sometimes people who attend the vigils do so out of convenience rather than necessity. It seems that more people race ot the door immediately after Communion rather than returning to their pews. Lots of teenagers and disinterested folks. These masses can be discouraging to the priest. I’m NOT judging others; just commenting on possible interpretations of a devout person who encounters more casual worship.
 
No he said specifically that the Christmas Eve Mass does not fulfill the obligation because there are different readings. This is wrong.

As for only attending on vigils, I work nights so I’m glad there are vigils. People aren’t slackers just because they go to vigils.
 
Oren said:
No he said specifically that the Christmas Eve Mass does not fulfill the obligation because there are different readings. This is wrong.
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He’s correct then (well I mean perhaps not the bit about the readings - fulfillment of obligation is not contingent upon readings). Christmas Eve mass does not satisfy the requirement. That is, if one went to mass this morning at 9AM that does not satisfy the liturgical obligation. That Christmas Eve mass also has different readings from the Vigil I’m pretty certain. Perhaps that’s what he meant?
 
No all we have at our parish is a 4 pm vigil Mass. This is what he said does not fulfill the obligation, which is wrong. From 4 pm on it does fulfill the obligation.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
There are 4 Christmas Masses, each with different readings: Vigil Mass, Mass at Midnight, Mass at Dawn, and Mass During the Day; but any one fulfills the obligation.
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Except for the vigil (actually “vespere”) Mass, which only started counting as fulfillment of the obligation in 1970, traditionally there have always been three different readings on Christmas Day (after midnight). Christmas Eve Mass (celebrated before “vespere” or 4pm on Christmas Eve) does not fulfill the obligation. I agree with MorEphrem.
 
ProVobis said:
Except for the vigil (actually “vespere”) Mass, which only started counting as fulfillment of the obligation in 1970, traditionally there have always been three different readings on Christmas Day (after midnight). Christmas Eve Mass (celebrated before “vespere” or 4pm on Christmas Eve) does not fulfill the obligation. I agree with MorEphrem.
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Right, the readings used have no bearing on any “obligation” that may attach. The problem would be the time of day.

In the Usus Antiquior, there are not only three different sets of readings but three different sets of Propers. The First Mass of Christmas (in nocte – usually at midnight) is Dominus Dixit. The Second Mass (in aurora – theoretically at dawn) is Lux Fulgebit. The Third Mass (in die – during the day) is Puer Natus, all so named from the first words of their respective Introits. In the Usus Antiquior, Christmas Eve Mass was during the day (i.e, ante vespere) on the 24th, and of course did not count toward fulfilling any “obligation” for Christmas.

I believe the routine is similar in the Novus Ordo, with the addition of a “Vigil” Mass (in vespere) which is considered a Mass of Christmas.
 
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