Saturday vigil question

[La-Petite-Fleur]

The parish I’ll be attending has a 5 pm mass, which I would guess is the Saturday vigil, but sunset doesn’t happen until around 8:50 tonight. Does it have to be sunset for a 5pm mass to count as sunday? Thanks .

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The parish I’ll be attending has a 5 pm mass, which I would guess is the Saturday vigil, but sunset doesn’t happen until around 8:50 tonight. Does it have to be sunset for a 5pm mass to count as sunday? Thanks .

It may depend on the diocese. However, in all the places I am familiar with any mass after 4pm Saturday counts.

 

[az_4_faith]

Check with your diocese. There’s probably a set time for all within its boundaries.

If we all waited for sunset, during the summer, those in Alaska would never get to a vigil Mass!

 

[MusicMan]

In the US, the anticipated Mass must begin after 4 pm to count as your Obligation. There are many threads on this on the Liturgy and Sacraments board. Here’s some info:

1.) Any Mass that begins at or after 4 pm on Saturday night and concludes prior to 11:59 pm Sunday night counts as the Obligation.

2.) We as a Forum are undecided about whether or not the readings and propers for the Sunday must be used on Saturday. Some say yes, some say no.

3.) Yes, you can receive at the anticipated Mass on Saturday night and receive at Mass on Sunday. You can also receive at the Saturday morning daily Mass and receive Saturday night at the anticipated Mass for Sunday.

4.) No, you do not need a good reason to attend the anticipated Mass. Attendance at any Mass or Divine Liturgy throughout the Catholic Church on the feast day or at the anticipated Mass/DL the night before counts (Canon 1248). This means you can attend the Divine Liturgy at an Eastern Catholic Church and it will count.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
1.) Any Mass that begins at or after 4 pm on Saturday night and concludes prior to 11:59 pm Sunday night counts as the Obligation. . . …

While I don’t agree, I have been told by those with some authority that it is only required that the consecration occur between 4pm Saturday and 11:59 pm Sunday. However, I am not in a position to argue with them.

 

[La-Petite-Fleur]

Thank you for all your answers! I also asked the priest, and he said yes, it counts as Sunday.

 

[Spirithound]

While I don’t agree, I have been told by those with some authority that it is only required that the consecration occur between 4pm Saturday and 11:59 pm Sunday. However, I am not in a position to argue with them.

What part don’t you agree with?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

What part don’t you agree with?

That one can start the mass at 3:30 pm Saturday, and it still counts for Sunday as long as the consecration takes place after 4pm. It is getting a bit too legalistic.

 

[baltobetsy]

Let me assure you, new Catholics, that you can trust your parish and your diocese to schedule Masses for Sundays and other days of obligation that will actually meet your obligation. If they’ve scheduled it, you can go to it and meet your obligation. They’re not going to waste time and resources on something that will confuse people and lead them to make errors.

Betsy

 

[MusicMan]

That one can start the mass at 3:30 pm Saturday, and it still counts for Sunday as long as the consecration takes place after 4pm. It is getting a bit too legalistic.

I recall reading somewhere, not sure where though, that the rule about the anticipated Mass was more flexible than even that. It was tied to Evening Prayer. I believe the wording was something to the effect of, Sunday Mass could commence anytime after Evening Prayer concluded. If Mass began before Evening Prayer, it had to conclude at such time that Evening Prayer could be prayed immediately after.

The window for Evening Prayer is something like 5:00-7:00 pm, so as long as your 3:30 Mass concluded at 5 or after, it satisfies the Obligation.

Please don’t take this post as a representation of the rubrics… I’m only putting forth something I recall reading somewhere. I could be completely wrong, and I post this realizing that.

 

[Spirithound]

That one can start the mass at 3:30 pm Saturday, and it still counts for Sunday as long as the consecration takes place after 4pm. It is getting a bit too legalistic.

Why are you surprised that the Church has very specific guidelines? Have you read the Code of Canon Law?