Sat night/ Sunday Obligation

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dooman

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Dear friends,

I just want to confirm with you that going to Church on Saturday evening is fullfilling my Sunday obligation?

I dont know anyone from the Sat Evening Mass going to any Sunday Masses…

Also we read in genesis, “the first evening and morning… the first day”

Strictly speaking Saturday evening is Sunday right?

Your thoughts please…

thanks in advance…
Mark
 
Yes–Saturday evening Mass counts for the Sunday obligation.

See:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=460062

See also:
askmoses.com/en/article/423,198/Why-does-the-Jewish-day-start-at-sundown.html

See also:

Leviticus 23:
And the LORD said to Moses,

[27] “On the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present an offering by fire to the LORD.
[28] And you shall do no work on this same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.
[29] For whoever is not afflicted on this same day shall be cut off from his people.
[30] And whoever does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.
[31] You shall do no work: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[32] It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves; on the ninth day of the month** beginning at evening, from evening to evening** shall you keep your sabbath.”

You can go to both, though… 😃
 
dooman said:
Dear friends,

I just want to confirm with you that going to Church on Saturday evening is fullfilling my Sunday obligation?

I dont know anyone from the Sat Evening Mass going to any Sunday Masses…

Also we read in genesis, “the first evening and morning… the first day”

Strictly speaking Saturday evening is Sunday right?

Your thoughts please…

thanks in advance…
Mark
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From the Code of Canon Law, the rules are as follows:
Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.

Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
So yes, Mass on the evening before Sunday proper satisfies the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.
 
This comes from the Jewish concept of what a day is. The new day starts on sunset. Back in the day without wristwatches, its really hard to tell when midnight is.
 
maolszewski said:
I’ve always wondered why, since masses on Saturday evening are usually before sundown… Anyone else thought about that?🤷
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Well, if it is in the wintertime, then sundown has already occured – at least in my Northern Canadian climate! 😛

Our custom follows the Jewish tradtion of when the next “day” begins. I had spoken with a nice Jewish gentleman, and for them, it begins with the appearance of the first evening star. (I would deduce that since this varies with the seasons, our Church settled on 4 p.m. as the earliest time to begin the “next day”. I have never attended a Mass at 4 p.m. though: it has always been at 5 p.m., with 4 p.m. as the time for the sacrament of reconciliation/confession).

Our Jewish ancestors were also a “lunar” people, and nomads at one time, and would use the stars to navigate and did most of their traveling during the cooler and more comfortable evening/night hours.
 
CEM5 said:
Well, if it is in the wintertime, then sundown has already occured – at least in my Northern Canadian climate! 😛

Our custom follows the Jewish tradtion of when the next “day” begins. I had spoken with a nice Jewish gentleman, and for them, it begins with the appearance of the first evening star. (I would deduce that since this varies with the seasons, our Church settled on 4 p.m. as the earliest time to begin the “next day”. I have never attended a Mass at 4 p.m. though: it has always been at 5 p.m., with 4 p.m. as the time for the sacrament of reconciliation/confession).

Our Jewish ancestors were also a “lunar” people, and nomads at one time, and would use the stars to navigate and did most of their traveling during the cooler and more comfortable evening/night hours.
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Interesting, thanks!👍
 
I know everyone quotes 4 pm. In the US that appears to be the standard. Each bishop can determine the time for his diocese. It is difficult to determine if, like me, you live some place where the time has never been set.
 
dooman said:
Dear friends,

I just want to confirm with you that going to Church on Saturday evening is fullfilling my Sunday obligation?

I dont know anyone from the Sat Evening Mass going to any Sunday Masses…

Also we read in genesis, “the first evening and morning… the first day”

Strictly speaking Saturday evening is Sunday right?

Your thoughts please…

thanks in advance…
Mark
Click to expand...
GEnesis aside, which is not germaine to the question, if in your country and/or diocese Mass on Saturday evening fills the obligation, then it fills the obligation. Since this discipline has been in place in the US for 40 years I remain mystified that this questions is asked here on a weekly basis. why would you double check with strangers on the internet when you can call your own parish office or diocese, or simply look at your parish bulletin.
 
Elizium23 said:
For Catholics, this only applies to Sunday as a special case. Liturgical Sunday begins with Evening Prayer I on Saturday and ends with Night Prayer on Sunday. All other days are midnight to midnight.
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Not exactly. It also applies to solemnities.
 
As you’ve probably gathered, the long and the short of it is yes, Saturday night Mass satisfies the Sunday obligation.
 
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