Sunday/Holyday Mass obligation

[Mark1970]

If someone attends Mass on a Sunday, but the Mass then attend is celebrated with a different set of prayers and readings than should be used that Sunday, is the obligation still fulfilled?

I live in an area where the Ascension obligation is transferred to the Sunday, yet on Sunday I may be attending a Mass where the liturgy may be of a special occasion rather than the Sunday/Ascension. Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

 

[Neofight]

If someone attends Mass on a Sunday, but the Mass then attend is celebrated with a different set of prayers and readings than should be used that Sunday, is the obligation still fulfilled?

I live in an area where the Ascension obligation is transferred to the Sunday, yet on Sunday I may be attending a Mass where the liturgy may be of a special occasion rather than the Sunday/Ascension. Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

You’re fine. It doesn’t matter. Enjoy the mass!

Peace and all good!

 

[Gorgias]

Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

The obligation consists of attending Mass on Sunday (or, in the case of a holy day of obligation, on the feast) – or, on its vigil.

By attending Mass on Sunday, you’ve met your obligations.

 

[thistle]

If someone attends Mass on a Sunday, but the Mass then attend is celebrated with a different set of prayers and readings than should be used that Sunday, is the obligation still fulfilled?

I live in an area where the Ascension obligation is transferred to the Sunday, yet on Sunday I may be attending a Mass where the liturgy may be of a special occasion rather than the Sunday/Ascension. Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

The readings are not relevant in fulfilling your obligation. If you attend Mass on Sunday then you fulfill your obligation.

 

[Joe_5859]

Just to back up what the previous posters are saying with some Canon Law (underlining added):

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.

§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.

Note, it does not say anything about the necessity of specific prayers or readings being necessary to fulfill the obligation. Only going to Mass.

 

[FrDavid96]

If someone attends Mass on a Sunday, but the Mass then attend is celebrated with a different set of prayers and readings than should be used that Sunday, is the obligation still fulfilled?

I live in an area where the Ascension obligation is transferred to the Sunday, yet on Sunday I may be attending a Mass where the liturgy may be of a special occasion rather than the Sunday/Ascension. Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

The whole “Ascension Thursday Sunday” thing does add a bit of a twist to the question…

…yet it doesn’t change the final answer. The obligation is still to attend any Mass on Sunday, so if you go to Mass, you will have fulfilled it.

Even if the priest makes wrong choices for the texts or readings (ones not permitted for that day) it doesn’t change the fact that you still fulfill your obligation by attending.

 

[Mark1970]

Thanks for your replies, especially to Fr David. I was once told that on holydays, it was the content of the Mass that mattered, as well as attending. The reason given was that a holyday covers the mysteries of faith and the liturgy gives catechesis about those mysteries, which is one of the reasons they’re obligatory. So that when you attend Mass on the holyday you should receive instruction on those mysteries, if the holyday isn’t observed you’ve not met the obligation. That’s the reason I asked, to try to clear up exactly what is going on and what is required.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks for your replies, especially to Fr David. I was once told that on holydays, it was the content of the Mass that mattered, as well as attending. The reason given was that a holyday covers the mysteries of faith and the liturgy gives catechesis about those mysteries, which is one of the reasons they’re obligatory. So that when you attend Mass on the holyday you should receive instruction on those mysteries, if the holyday isn’t observed you’ve not met the obligation. That’s the reason I asked, to try to clear up exactly what is going on and what is required.

That’s a very common misunderstanding. Very common. It’s something people like to say for some odd reason.

However, if one thinks about a few examples, it becomes pretty clear that the reasoning just doesn’t make any sense. Of course, it’s also important to add that it isn’t consistent with canon law.

Look at a few examples.

1. Attend an ordination Mass at the cathedral on a Sunday afternoon.
2. Attend the dedication of a new church building (within Mass) on a Sunday morning.
3. Attend a beatification ceremony at a Mass celebrated by a Cardinal on Sunday morning (I say Cardinal to avoid any responses of “Papal Masses have special rules”)

All 3 of these examples (I’m assuming that they all occur on Sunday “according to the norm of law”) a Catholic attends Mass. Let’s say 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, as a random example.

Would that person approach the bishop after the Mass and ask: “Does this count toward my Sunday obligation? I’m asking because the readings and prayers were not those assigned to the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time.” What would the answer be?

 

[FrDavid96]

Post Script:

Yes, there is a value to celebrating special days, especially obligatory Solemnities. It’s a very real and very positive value that we celebrate these days and that we are catechized by the prayers and readings. I don’t mean to dismiss that value.

However, we need to keep in mind that the Church has already addressed this issue—the question of “is it appropriate to replace one celebration with another?” That’s accomplished by the norms for the calendar.

In other words, the Church has already looked at the issue and decided when it’s appropriate to replace the scheduled celebration with something else. That means that as long as the priest is following the liturgical laws with regard to the calendar, we can trust that his decision is consonant with the mind of the Church.

 

[Mark1970]

That’s a very common misunderstanding. Very common. It’s something people like to say for some odd reason.

However, if one thinks about a few examples, it becomes pretty clear that the reasoning just doesn’t make any sense. Of course, it’s also important to add that it isn’t consistent with canon law.

Look at a few examples.

1. Attend an ordination Mass at the cathedral on a Sunday afternoon.
2. Attend the dedication of a new church building (within Mass) on a Sunday morning.
3. Attend a beatification ceremony at a Mass celebrated by a Cardinal on Sunday morning (I say Cardinal to avoid any responses of “Papal Masses have special rules”)

All 3 of these examples (I’m assuming that they all occur on Sunday “according to the norm of law”) a Catholic attends Mass. Let’s say 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, as a random example.

Would that person approach the bishop after the Mass and ask: “Does this count toward my Sunday obligation? I’m asking because the readings and prayers were not those assigned to the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time.” What would the answer be?

Logically the answer would be “Yes”. There is one element of this I haven’t mentioned on the forum, I’m reluctant to mention on a public forum. Fr David, would you have any objection to PM’ing about this? It may clarify things slightly. It’s unconnected to confession - I mention that as you said on your profile page that you don’t get into discussions about confession!/FONT]

 

[FrDavid96]

Logically the answer would be “Yes”. There is one element of this I haven’t mentioned on the forum, I’m reluctant to mention on a public forum. Fr David, would you have any objection to PM’ing about this? It may clarify things slightly. It’s unconnected to confession - I mention that as you said on your profile page that you don’t get into discussions about confession!/FONT]

Mark,

I have private messaging turned off.

Based on your OP it seems that you are concerned whether or not attending this particular Mass will fulfill your Sunday obligation. It will. As long as it is a valid Catholic Mass (and I have no reason to think otherwise), you can attend and it will fulfill your Sunday obligation. Go in good conscience.

 

[CompSciGuy]

If someone attends Mass on a Sunday, but the Mass then attend is celebrated with a different set of prayers and readings than should be used that Sunday, is the obligation still fulfilled?

I live in an area where the Ascension obligation is transferred to the Sunday, yet on Sunday I may be attending a Mass where the liturgy may be of a special occasion rather than the Sunday/Ascension. Does the obligation consist in purely Mass attendance or does it lie in attending the Mass of the Sunday or feast? Thanks.

This is exactly the same question I posted in a thread in this forum yesterday. It appears that mass attendance is all that is required, according to the posters here.