Saturday Wedding: does it fulfill my Sunday obligation?

[hasikelee]

I am traveling out of town for a wedding and coming home Sunday.

Will a Saturday morning/afternoon wedding fulfill my Sunday obligation?

 

[jrabs]

Only is the wedding is after a certian time - 4:00? Could even be 3:30 mass in that particular diocese. Anything earlier does not go.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I’ve always heard that 4pm is the cutoff. If the Mass is after that it “counts” for Sunday. If it’s earlier then you have not fulfilled your Sunday obligation.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Most probably it would not.

Nuptial Masses are not vigil Masses. Normally, the reason that we can ‘count’ Saturday evening Mass (usually after 4 or 5 p.m.) for Sunday is that the Mass is specifically the “vigil” for the Sunday. For example, Saturday’s evening Mass is called the “vigil for the 17th Sunday in ordinary time” or some such. A nuptial Mass is not such a Mass.

If the church has a scheduled Saturday vigil Mass on the same day as this nuptial Mass, THAT would the Mass that would satisfy your obligation for the Saturday.

So. . .I’d suggest that you either slip out of the reception to attend the vigil Mass that Saturday at the church you attended for the nuptial Mass, or find a late Sunday Mass when you get home, or stop along your journey during Sunday morning to attend Mass.

And best wishes to the bride and groom!

 

[flyersfan1088]

It does not fulfill your Sunday obligation.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Most probably it would not.

The “experts” at EWTN disagree with you.

[For example:

](http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showre...RDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=)Sunday Obligation
Question from on 05-05-2006:

In my diocese the Saturday vigil for Sunday Mass begins at 4:00 pm. Thus, if one attends a 4:00 pm Saturday wedding Mass, is one still obligated to attend Mass on Sunday?

Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 05-05-2006:

If someone attends a Catholic wedding Mass that take place after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, that fulfills one’s Sunday Mass obligation.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am traveling out of town for a wedding and coming home Sunday.

Will a Saturday morning/afternoon wedding fulfill my Sunday obligation?

No.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The “experts” at EWTN disagree with you.

[For example:

](http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showre...RDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=)Sunday Obligation
Question from on 05-05-2006:

In my diocese the Saturday vigil for Sunday Mass begins at 4:00 pm. Thus, if one attends a 4:00 pm Saturday wedding Mass, is one still obligated to attend Mass on Sunday?

Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 05-05-2006:

If someone attends a Catholic wedding Mass that take place after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, that fulfills one’s Sunday Mass obligation.

Because a Wedding Mass after 4PM on Saturday would use the readings of the up coming Sunday.

 

[Scottgun]

Guys. Simple solution: ASK THE PRIEST. I remember one Catholic wedding where the priest as an aside mentioned that yes, this particular mass did fulfill the obligation. The priest probably gets this question a dozen times every time he has a wedding, so ask him.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Because a Wedding Mass after 4PM on Saturday would use the readings of the up coming Sunday.

That is why I said “Most probably it would not” earlier; for many wedding masses do not use the vigil readings but rather specific 'nuptial readings". I cannot say for certain that a given priest might not utilize the ‘vigil readings’ or specifically schedule the Nuptial Mass WITHIN the Saturday vigil.

But most probably a ‘morning or afternoon’ (as was proposed in the OP) wedding --which might not even be a full nuptial mass (not specifically stated as being such, only’ ‘wedding’ in the OP) would not fulfill the obligation. So the answer to the original question as posed in the OP–morning or afternoon Mass satisfying–would still be no.

I am not an EWTN expert but as Brother Rich pointed out, that advice given does not contradict my position. In fact, by Brother Rich pointing out the putative post 4 p.m. Mass as ‘using the vigil readings’ he is supporting both my premise and that of EWTN: a Mass after 4 p.m. which uses the vigil readings WOULD fulfill the obligation. A Nuptial Mass–even after 4 p.m.–which did not use the vigil readings would not necessarily fulfill the Sunday obligation.

Nuptial Masses are special celebrations, not ‘ordinary obligations’. Or so I believe.

 

[Chatter163]

We have posted on this many times before on this forum.

ANY MASS at 4:00PM Saturday or later, constitutes a valid fulfillment of the Sunday obligation. It does not matter WHICH READINGS are used, or if the Mass is the Sunday Mass, a ritual Mass, a votive Mass or any other Mass. ANY MASS will “count” toward the Sunday obligation. :whacky:

 

[lizaanne]

Because a Wedding Mass after 4PM on Saturday would use the readings of the up coming Sunday.

Our Nuptial Mass did not use the Sunday readings, we were not required to do so by our priest, and encouraged to choose the readings ourselves. In fact, our Church even provided a booklet Together For Life that is written for just the purpose of assisting the bride and groom in choosing their readings. It does not state anywhere in the book that if the Nuptial Mass is to take place after 4pm that it must use the standard Sunday readings.

~Liza

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

We have posted on this many times before on this forum.

ANY MASS at 4:00PM Saturday or later, constitutes a valid fulfillment of the Sunday obligation. It does not matter WHICH READINGS are used, or if the Mass is the Sunday Mass, a ritual Mass, a votive Mass or any other Mass. ANY MASS will “count” toward the Sunday obligation. :whacky:

And if you want a perfect example of why…

This year the birth of John the Baptist fell on a Sunday and we celebrated the feast day rather than the Sunday.

A year ago it fell on a Saturday and technically (though I don’t know that all parishes did this) the Saturday vigil Mass should have been for John the Baptist with its associated readings rather than the Sunday readings. Even without the Sunday readings, the Saturday Mass fulfilled the obligation.

 

[Sarabande]

Guys. Simple solution: ASK THE PRIEST. I remember one Catholic wedding where the priest as an aside mentioned that yes, this particular mass did fulfill the obligation. The priest probably gets this question a dozen times every time he has a wedding, so ask him.

Yes, good idea.

I sing for a lot of Catholic weddings and usually if the wedding mass started at 4:00 or later, the priest will actually explain to the guests that the nuptial mass will fulfill their Sunday obligations because it started at 4:00 or later. I’ve seen this done many times at numerous churches.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Guys. Simple solution: ASK THE PRIEST. I remember one Catholic wedding where the priest as an aside mentioned that yes, this particular mass did fulfill the obligation. The priest probably gets this question a dozen times every time he has a wedding, so ask him.

However remember that sometimes you will get an incorrect response even from the priest, who may just be trying to be nice.

 

[Digitonomy]

However remember that sometimes you will get an incorrect response even from the priest, who may just be trying to be nice.

Well said…I was about to point that out myself.

Chatter163:

We have posted on this many times before on this forum.

ANY MASS at 4:00PM Saturday or later, constitutes a valid fulfillment of the Sunday obligation. It does not matter WHICH READINGS are used, or if the Mass is the Sunday Mass, a ritual Mass, a votive Mass or any other Mass. ANY MASS will “count” toward the Sunday obligation.

Exactly. At this point it may be useful to pull out that old chestnut, Canon 1248:

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.

The reason 4:00 is normally used is that the Canon Law Society of America has interpreted “evening” to mean after 4, based on the history of this canon.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Our Nuptial Mass did not use the Sunday readings, we were not required to do so by our priest, and encouraged to choose the readings ourselves. In fact, our Church even provided a booklet Together For Life that is written for just the purpose of assisting the bride and groom in choosing their readings. It does not state anywhere in the book that if the Nuptial Mass is to take place after 4pm that it must use the standard Sunday readings.

~Liza

Saturday evening Masses after 4pm should use the proper readings for the Sunday. They don’t have to, but if they don’t, the Mass is not properly the Anticipated Mass for Sunday. Many people misread the Canon that says that attendance at any Mass in any Catholic Rite on the Holy Day or the preceeding evening (vigil) satisfies the obligation. No Eastern Rites that I know of have Vigils for Sunday or Holy Days. So that limites us to the Latin Rite for Saturdays. The Document says that the proper readings must be used for the Vigil if they have their own proper Vigil readings or the Holy Day readings proper for the Holy Day on the preceeding evening. Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation. The readings proper for that Sunday in whatever Rite you are attending should be used.

Instead of trying to figure out a way to avoid attending an extra Mass one weekend. go to the wedding Saturday and just stop and attend Mass Sunday morning before returning or stop along the way Sunday morning for Mass. It’s only an hour!

 

[cameron_lansing]

One may led into error by not only false pastoral charity but also by arbitrary rigorism. To avoid this, even if consulting a canonical or liturgical expert or priest, ask for some documentation and do not accept a response that lacks it.

Ask those who assert that a ritual Mass (4pm and +) will not satisfy the Sunday obligation because it is not the Mass of the Sunday or uses different readings or is not a Mass for the parish, etc., to show you where in Church law those requirements are placed. Canon 1248 §1 appears to be as far as the law goes. If more were intended, it would have been stated for us in the law.

Also consult usccb.org/liturgy/innews/012000.shtml regarding ritual Masses and weddings outside of Mass, what prayers and readings must or may be used, and when these celebrations are permitted. There are variations.

Then consider also that the law deals with minimum requirements but that zealous faith wants to exceed them. It looks beyond what is required or obligatory.

Still in view of the fact that the law is made for man, also take note of canon 1245 which can be exercised independently of the question of this thread: " for a just reason and in accord with the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, the pastor in individual cases can dispense from the obligation to observe a feast day or a day of penance; or he can commute it to other pious works."

 

[Digitonomy]

After composing this post, I see now that cameron_lansing is hard at work again dispensing expertise and wisdom to go along with it. I touched on a couple other points below, so I’ll go ahead and post this.

Saturday evening Masses after 4pm should use the proper readings for the Sunday. They don’t have to, but if they don’t, the Mass is not properly the Anticipated Mass for Sunday.

This is true, so far as I know.
Br. Rich SFO:

Many people misread the Canon that says that attendance at any Mass in any Catholic Rite on the Holy Day or the preceeding evening (vigil) satisfies the obligation.

This is true - some people misread it to include the phrase “except when the wrong readings are used.”
Br. Rich SFO:

No Eastern Rites that I know of have Vigils for Sunday or Holy Days.

I know that Maronites celebrate Vigil Mass for Sundays on Saturday evening, however for Pascha the Vigil may not begin until midnight.
Br Rich SFO:

The Document says that the proper readings must be used for the Vigil if they have their own proper Vigil readings or the Holy Day readings proper for the Holy Day on the preceeding evening. Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation. The readings proper for that Sunday in whatever Rite you are attending should be used.

I don’t recall the documents which discuss wedding masses after 4pm, but I think it encourages exactly what you say - normal readings for the vigil rather than wedding-specific readings. However, it is a suggestion, not binding law. And regardless, it does not invalidate the mass attended by the OP, and thus Canon 1248 says she’s fulfilled her obligation.

I would also point out the example Chatter163 gave, and which I’ve heard elsewhere in relation to other Holy Days: If there is more than one feast or solemnity on a given day, one or more masses celebrated may use the readings from the feast other than the Holy Day of Obligation. As long as you’ve participated on that day (or the previous evening), you’ve fulfilled your obligation. There is no need to call ahead to the church downtown near your office to find out what readings they’ll be using at the noon mass on such a double feast Holy Day.

 

[Digitonomy]

Canon 1248 §1 appears to be as far as the law goes.

Can you provide any insight into why the verb used is “assist” rather than “participate”?

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.