That text from the General Introduction to the Lectionary only says that some readings of the Vigil Mass can be chosen, not that this Mass’ readings can be swapped with those of the Mass of the Day; so neither the readings nor the formularies can be changed for those of the Mass of the Day (as FrDavid proposed).From the General Introduction to the Lectionary (at liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/Lectionary.pdf ):
“102. … In the evening Mass celebrated on the vigil of Pentecost four Old Testament texts are provided; anyone of them may be used, in order to bring out the many aspects of Pentecost. The reading from the apostles shows the actual working of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The gospel reading recalls the promise of the Spirit made by Christ before his own glorification.
For the Mass on Pentecost itself; in accord with received usage, the account in Acts of the great occurrence on Pentecost is taken as the first reading.The texts from Paul bring out the effect of the action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.The gospel reading is a remembrance of Jesus bestowing his Spirit on the disciples on Easter evening; other optional texts describe the action of the Spirit on the disciples and on the Church.”
Checking in the Lectionary I cannot find anything to support the assertion by FrDavid96 in #2, at least as far as Pentecost is concerned. He wrote, “For example, today the eve of Pentecost, at an evening or night Mass, the Vigil text may be used, but it is not required to be used.”
But the Lectionary gives, using the second reading as an example:
Pentecost Vigil: Romans 8:22-27.
Pentecost Day: Corinthians 12:3-7.12-13 OR Galatians 5:16-25 OR Romans 8:8-17.
The Roman Missal states that the Vigil Mass “may” be used. Not must.That text from the General Introduction to the Lectionary only says that some readings of the Vigil Mass can be chosen, not that this Mass’ readings can be swapped with those of the Mass of the Day; so neither the readings nor the formularies can be changed for those of the Mass of the Day (as FrDavid proposed).
- PAX CHRISTI +
That is not true. I have access to the second typical edition of the Roman Missal (in Spanish, as I live in Spain) approved by the Spanish Episcopal Conference and the closest thing to that are the rubrics for the Evening Mass of the Vigil (briefer mode), which literally say: Esta Misa se utiliza en la tarde del sábado, antes o después de las primeras vísperas del Domingo de Pentecostés, that is: “This Mass is used on Saturday evening, before or after the First Vespers of the Sunday of Pentecost”, and this is for the briefer mode, as I said before. Nothing is written on this generally for the Evening Mass.The Roman Missal states that the Vigil Mass “may” be used. Not must.
Do not presume to know what is written on a book that I have in my hand, and from which I am reading at this very moment.That is not true. I have access to the second typical edition of the Roman Missal (in Spanish, as I live in Spain) approved by the Spanish Episcopal Conference and the closest thing to that are the rubrics for the Evening Mass of the Vigil (briefer mode), which literally say: Esta Misa se utiliza en la tarde del sábado, antes o después de las primeras vísperas del Domingo de Pentecostés, that is: “This Mass is used on Saturday evening, before or after the First Vespers of the Sunday of Pentecost”, and this is for the briefer mode, as I said before. Nothing is written on this generally for the Evening Mass.
- PAX CHRISTI +
Well, in that case I will use the Classical principle: Gratis assertur, gratis negatur. I have provided you with proofs of my assertion; now I can say, without adding anything more, that you are also presuming to know what is written on a book which I also can look up in and you are wrong.Do not presume to know what is written on a book that I have in my hand, and from which I am reading at this very moment.
John,The Roman Missal has two Pentecost Vigil Masses, the “Extended form” and “Simple form”.
For the Extended form, the rubric for the reading before the Gospel is: “11. Then the reader proclaims the reading from the Apostle (Rm 8:22-27), and Mass continues in the usual way.” This is the reading from the Lectionary for the Vigil. There is nothing to suggest that one of the Pentecost Day readings can be used instead.
Also the Pentecost Vigil Simple Form has nothing about using a reading for Pentecost Day.
Some rubrics that seem to have been incorrectly interpreted by FrDavid96:
“At the Vigil Mass
Extended form
This Vigil Mass may be celebrated on the Saturday evening, either before of after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Pentecost Sunday.
In churches where the Vigil Mass is celebrated in an extended form, this may be done as follows.”
“At the Vigil Mass
Simple form
This Mass is used on the Saturday evening, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Pentecost Sunday.
Entrance Antiphon”
So you may use the Vigil Mass Extended Form or you use the Vigil Mass Simple Form. There is nothing to suggest you may instead use the Day Mass at the vigil.
Another rubric in the Vigil Mass Extended Form is: “4. Then follow the readings proposed as options in the Lectionary.” The Lectionary has “Any one of the following readings from the Old Testament may be chosen.” It then has four readings, different to the Pentecost Day readings. But for this Extended form Vigil Mass all four of the Old Testament readings are read, with their own psalm (or a period of sacred silence) and a prayer. But again, there is nothing to suggest that the readings for Pentecost Day can be used instead at the Vigil.
A general permission has been given to use the Mass of Sunday on Saturday evenings, and likewise for other Holy Days of Obligation. This is documented in many different places. That’s why the Pentecost Day Mass can be used on Saturday evening. What matters here is the fact that it is Saturday evening.FrDavid96,
From the USCCB article you refer to, entitled “The History and Use of Sequences in the Liturgy” has this sentence:
“(If the Pentecost “Mass during the Day” formulary is used at the Saturday evening anticipatory Mass instead of the Vigil Mass formulary, then the Sequence is used.)”
The author seems to share your opinion.
But I am not finding this reflected in the official liturgical books. For example, Roman Missal, 24 June The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, it has:
“At the Vigil Mass
This Mass is used on the evening of 23 June, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Solemnity.
Entrance Antiphon …”
Similarly for Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, of 29 June and Nativity of the Lord of 25 December.
John,The full text of that can be found at notitiae.ipsissima-verba.org , perhaps by doing a search at google.com. It is also in the book “Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979”, page 1177.
It is dealing with a situation where another liturgical day overlaps. “Thus, for example, it can happen that the on the evening of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, when this falls on December 24, there would be at the same time the evening Mass of the Sunday and of the Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord.”
So there may need to be a decision about which Mass to use, Fourth Sunday of Advent or Vigil of the Nativitiy.
But it is not dealing with the situation we are discussing. Something to authorise using the Day Pentecost Mass at the Vigil, instead of the Vigil Pentecost Mass.