Sunday Mass time

[Bookcat]

The Document from Pope Benedict XVI is a great read on the Lords day (Sunday). Be sure to read it

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html#The_eucharistic_form_of_the_christian_life

Except:

“Sunday thus appears as the primordial holy day, when all believers, wherever they are found, can become heralds and guardians of the true meaning of time. It gives rise to the Christian meaning of life and a new way of experiencing time, relationships, work, life and death. On the Lord’s Day, then, it is fitting that Church groups should organize, around Sunday Mass, the activities of the Christian community: social gatherings, programmes for the faith formation of children, young people and adults, pilgrimages, charitable works, and different moments of prayer. For the sake of these important values – while recognizing that Saturday evening, beginning with First Vespers, is already a part of Sunday and a time when the Sunday obligation can be fulfilled – we need to remember that it is Sunday itself that is meant to be kept holy, lest it end up as a day “empty of God.” (208)”

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I don’t know about other languages.

The point I was making at the end is that the English translation says “vigil Mass” where the Latin says “praefestivae” and I’ve seen some comments (indeed, until I read the Latin I made them myself) that we shouldn’t be calling the Saturday evening Mass a “vigil” anymore; unless of course, the Mass is a “true Vigil” like the Pentecost Vigil or especially the Easter Vigil. But from reading the Latin, that’s not the point that Bl John Paul was actually making. What he was saying is that Saturday evening (or the evening before any solemnity) is not the “pre-feast” but the actual feast itself.

If we call the Saturday evening Mass the “vigil Mass” because we’re trying to make the point that this Mass is somehow “less than” the Mass on Sunday morning, we shouldn’t be doing that. The Mass on Saturday evening is the Mass of the feast itself, it’s not in any way whatsoever less-than the Mass on Sunday.

On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with calling the Saturday evening Mass a “vigil” so long as we mean that in the proper way. Let’s say that I have a Mass at my parish on Saturday evening at 10 PM. Just a Sunday in Ordinal Time, not necessarily a feast like Pentecost. I could legitimately call it a “Vigil Mass” because it would be a Mass in the night–which is what the word “vigil” means. It means “to stay awake.” It would not be wrong to use the word “vigil” as long as we do not use the word in such a way that we’re trying to imply that such a Mass is less important or less festive than the one on Sunday morning–because it is no. The Saturday evening Mass is no different from the Sunday morning Mass. They’re equal in every way.

Yes, I understand what you’re getting at. Thanks for thoroughly following up, as I do appreciate your insight and knowledge.

I was just asking the other language question out of curiosity.

 

[FrDavid96]

The Document from Pope Benedict XVI is a great read on the Lords day (Sunday). Be sure to read it

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html#The_eucharistic_form_of_the_christian_life

Except:

“Sunday thus appears as the primordial holy day, when all believers, wherever they are found, can become heralds and guardians of the true meaning of time. It gives rise to the Christian meaning of life and a new way of experiencing time, relationships, work, life and death. On the Lord’s Day, then, it is fitting that Church groups should organize, around Sunday Mass, the activities of the Christian community: social gatherings, programmes for the faith formation of children, young people and adults, pilgrimages, charitable works, and different moments of prayer. For the sake of these important values – while recognizing that **Saturday evening, beginning with First Vespers, is already a part of Sunday **and a time when the Sunday obligation can be fulfilled – we need to remember that it is Sunday itself that is meant to be kept holy, lest it end up as a day “empty of God.” (208)”

Yes. Pope Benedict was reinforcing what his predecessor had said earlier: “Saturday evening…is already a part of Sunday.”

Thanks for reminding us of that.

Even when we attend the festive Mass of Sunday on a Saturday evening, that does not release us from the obligation to keep all of Sunday holy and still celebrate it as the Day of the Lord.

 

[bcra]

I agree with some without a sunday saturday evening mass some who are working cannot go to mass at all. i have years ago when i had to work sunday was told by a boss that if i was not at work on sunday i would be fired they do not care if you attend mass on sunday. its your oblagation to be there. so i had to attend on saturday evening or risk losing my job. no job no donation for the church. therefore for some it is impossible to attend mass on sunday.

 

[puzzleannie]

If the Church justifies Saturday evening Mass as a Sunday Mass by going back to the Jewish Tradition that the day starts at dusk .

this is not the reason for evening Mass on Saturday anticipating the Sunday celebration so the rest of your question does not apply.

 

[Vico]

This should make interesting reading, from just after the Vatican II, from the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship entitled General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar

See in particular how the liturgical day is defined and particularly how the Easter and Christmas eves are described.

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5932&CFID=61492661&CFTOKEN=46040491#Days

Also from the Vatican, The Priest’s Preparation and Thanksgiving for Mass: The preparation of a priest for Mass will have been underpinned by the cycle of Liturgy of the Hours which enriches the life of any priest. The age-old wisdom of the* Ritus Servandus in Celebratione Missae*, still to be found in the early part of the Missal of 1962, presumes the intrinsic importance of the Divine Office for the inner life of the priest. It stated that Matins and Lauds had to have been completed beforehand. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the context of that instruction from centuries before had not envisaged evening Mass.[7] Since Mass is now celebrated at any time of the liturgical day the need for such an instruction no longer applies but the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours carefully explains the connection between the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours: “Christ taught us: “You must pray at all times and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1). The Church has been faithful in obeying this instruction; it never ceases to offer prayer and makes this exhortation its own: “Through him (Jesus) let us offer to God an unceasing sacrifice of praise” (Heb 15:15). The Church fulfils this precept not only by celebrating the Eucharist but in other ways also, especially through the Liturgy of the Hours. By ancient Christian tradition what distinguishes the Liturgy of the Hours from other liturgical services is that it consecrates to God the whole cycle of the day and the night.”[8]

vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/details/ns_lit_doc_20100621_sac-praeparatio_en.html

 

[Richard320]

Well, I learned something new!

Like the OP, I just assumed that the vigil was a carryover from the Jewish law, and quite agreed that having Saturday night and Sunday night Masses both count was inconsistent.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

But does the Church actually officially “justify” the decision anywhere?

 

[Vico]

But does the Church actually officially “justify” the decision anywhere?

Yes.

Pope Pius XII restored the Easter Vigil from the morning to the evening of Holy Saturday in 1951.

Per Eucharisticum Mysterium, Instruction on Eucharistic Worship Sacred Congregation of Rites. May 25, 1967. 28. Anticipating the Sunday and Feast Day Masses on the Previous Evening: Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord.
…
In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday, the homily and the prayer of the faithful are not to be omitted.
…
The faithful who begin to celebrate the Sunday or holy day of obligation on the preceding evening may go to Communion at that Mass even if they have already received Communion in the morning.
(You can read the entire document on adoremus website.)
adoremus.org/eucharisticummysterium.html

 

[justme]

Yes.

Pope Pius XII restored the Easter Vigil from the morning to the evening of Holy Saturday in 1951.

Per Eucharisticum Mysterium, Instruction on Eucharistic Worship Sacred Congregation of Rites. May 25, 1967. 28. Anticipating the Sunday and Feast Day Masses on the Previous Evening: Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord.
…
In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday, the homily and the prayer of the faithful are not to be omitted.
…
The faithful who begin to celebrate the Sunday or holy day of obligation on the preceding evening may go to Communion at that Mass even if they have already received Communion in the morning.
(You can read the entire document on adoremus website.)
adoremus.org/eucharisticummysterium.html

A purpose, or a reason, do not make justifications. That would be a circular argument.

 

[Vico]

A purpose, or a reason, do not make justifications. That would be a circular argument.

Justification is a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty. It is the duty of the Church to care for the spiritual welfare of the faithful, and the right of those faithful to receive such care, which may be accomplished through arranging the liturgy “to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord”.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Yes.

Pope Pius XII restored the Easter Vigil from the morning to the evening of Holy Saturday in 1951.

Per Eucharisticum Mysterium, Instruction on Eucharistic Worship Sacred Congregation of Rites. May 25, 1967. 28. Anticipating the Sunday and Feast Day Masses on the Previous Evening: Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord.
…
In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday, the homily and the prayer of the faithful are not to be omitted.
…
The faithful who begin to celebrate the Sunday or holy day of obligation on the preceding evening may go to Communion at that Mass even if they have already received Communion in the morning.
(You can read the entire document on adoremus website.)
adoremus.org/eucharisticummysterium.html

I meant a “justification” based in scripture, etc. - not the simple giving of an explanation for the change. By the way, any Church law decreed by the pope is justified by the fact that he, the pope, has given it.

 

[Vico]

I meant a “justification” based in scripture, etc. - not the simple giving of an explanation for the change. By the way, any Church law decreed by the pope is justified by the fact that he, the pope, has given it.

It is unclear what you are looking for with “based in scripture, etc.”. Are you are hoping for a footnote supporting why this change is the right of the Church to make? I believe that if the Church thought that was necessary to state additional references it would have done so in the document that promulgated the change.

We do have general teaching expressed in the Catechism:

2173 The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day.98 He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."99 With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing.100 The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God.101 "The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."102

Sunday - fulfillment of the sabbath

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ:107

Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord’s Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death.108

2176 The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all."109 Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.