Vigil + Morning Mass, *every* Sunday?

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Hey everyone,

I have a friend who consistently goes to Sunday mass on both Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. In other words, every week, he goes to the same liturgy twice, usually at two different parishes. This week, I went with him to both. Before I tried it I thought it seemed obsessive to go twice to the same mass, but hearing the readings and prayers twice and getting two wonderful homilies really helped me internalize the week’s message. So I was wondering, do any other people do this? Does anyone see a problem with this? I am tempted to keep up the practice, but I have to say I’d feel like I was being a little dishonest, since the church I go to on Sat. would think I only went there and the Sun church would think the same thing. The other alternative is to go to the same parish twice, but I think I would feel self-conscious about that!

Thanks for your thoughts - I had never heard of doing this before, and though it helped me, I do have misgivings. Perhaps it would be better to read over the readings a second time at home? There’s nothing like hearing it twice though…
 
I’ve done the same thing in my own parish for years and no one thinks anything of it. Our priests, and successive parish priests, have never had a problem with my going to the Vigil, plus a Sunday Mass. I don’t make anything of it and am just natural and friendly with everyone just as they are to me. No one ever acts as if they think I’m weird…if that’s any help… Trishie.

It’s also enlightening to hear the homily a second time… as you noticed…sometimes, the priest develops it in an enlightening way, or another priest, if you have more than one in your parish, can enlighten regarding the readings with a different emphasis, perhaps.
 
I was going to post a thread about the Vigil Mass then I saw this already in process thread.

My question is this. I like to go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, but I do not go to Sunday Mass because I have completed my Sunday obligation. I never thought too much about this until someone told me that the Vigil Mass is not permitted in any churches in the Philadelphia, Pa. Archdiocese. I couldn’t understand that so started to do some research.

I saw a lecture by Father Corpai (?) wherein he said that the Vigil Mass was perfectly legal since the liturgical day started on Saturday evening so the Vigil Mass was within the Sunday liturgical day.

Another priest said that the obligation was to hold Sunday with respect - you could not go to Saturday evening Mass and paint your house on Sunday.

Can anyone give me more detail; what are your opinions?🤷 🤷
 
My opinion on the OP is that it seems to me a little overboard to go to both the vigil and the Sunday Masses every weekend, given that they are the same readings (and maybe even the same homily). But if you want to, there is nothing that prohibits that.

My opinion on Mullenpm’s question is this:

The 10 Commandments says we must keep holy the Lord’s day; and the precept of the Church says we should attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.
(The Church says the vigil Mass satisfies our Sunday obligation. So, the question here is…is painting your house servile labor? Is cooking dinner servile labor? Is mowing the lawn servile labor? etc. Is it meeting the precept better to spend the day unproductively watching TV while avoiding servile labor, rather than productively mowing the lawn while saying the Rosary – or vice versa? My opinion is – it depends. The point of the precept is to keep the day for honoring the Lord. If your duties prevent or interfere with allotting time for worshipping, praying, or otherwise honoring the Lord, then it is servile labor. Speaking strictly for myself, tending my garden is a very spiritual time, when my physical activity is accompanied by my mental activity of praying and talking to the Lord. So for me, yard work is not servile labor.)
 
Thank you jpjd but why do you suppose that the Philadelphia Archdiocese has always prohibited Vigil Mass in their churches?

Do you know where it is written that the Vigil Mass is approved by the Church?
 
The current Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 25th January 1983.

Canon 1247 addresses the question of servile labor and Canon 1248 addresses vigil Mass.

"Canon 1247. On Sundays and other holydays of
obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in
the Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or
business that would inhibit the worship to be given
to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due
relaxation of mind and body.

**Canon 1248. **
The obligation of participating in the
Mass is satisfied by one who assists at Mass wherever

it is celebrated in the catholic rite, either on the
holyday of obligation itself or on the evening of the
previous day. If it is impossible to participate in a
Eucharistic celebration, either because no sacred
minister is available or for some other grave reason,
the faithful are strongly recommended to take part in
the liturgy of the Word, if there be such in the parish
church or some other sacred place, which is
celebrated in accordance with the provisions laid
down by the diocesan Bishop, or to spend an
appropriate time in prayer, whether personally or as
a family or as occasion presents, in groups of families."
 
Mullen, as far as I’m aware the Vigil Mass is not prohibited in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. From what I’ve seen, the only churches that DON’T have a Vigil are the mission churches or the very small parishes that don’t have the numbers to justify the extra Mass.
 
madeup_nickname said:
Hey. Before I tried it I thought it seemed obsessive to go twice to the same mass, but hearing the readings and prayers twice and getting two wonderful homilies really helped me internalize the week’s message. So I was wondering, do any other people do this? Does anyone see a problem with this? I …
Click to expand...
I cannot imagine anyone seeing a problem with this. possibly if an individual had a compulsive reason for doing it, or a mistaken notion that the Saturday Mass does not “count”, a problem could arise, but otherwise, no.

we are actually supposed to be reading, re-reading and reflecting on the lectionary readings throughout the week, so your motivation is a good one at heart.

since I commonly participate in at least 2, often 3 or more weekend Masses through necessity, and often go to an evening Mass at another parish so I can “enjoy” it while not being “on the clock”, if there is a problem I am in huge trouble.
 
I may be wrong about this - but I don’t think it’s correct to call a scheduled Saturday night Mass a Vigil Mass unless it is a proper Vigil such as occurs the night before Easter and (a few) other Solemnities. However, even many priests refer to these Masses as “Vigils.” They are actually just Mass on Sunday, celebrated as the liturgical day begins at sundown.

Madeup_nickname, if you want some variety, why don’t you go to an EF Mass and an OF Mass on the same Sunday. The cycle of readings is different and so you will hear two sermons on different topics. And you will hear three Gospel readings if you count the Last Gospel in the EF!
 
The DW and I have been “doubling up” for the last several weeks, and will probably do so for about six more.

But, our purpose is somewhat different. We are going to different parishes, each Mass, each week.

We are “in search of abuse” as alleged by so many here at CAF. We will take in close to 20 different parishes by the end of September. We really want to see if these so-called abuses are as wide-spread as claimed. 👍
 
Dear OP,

The liturgy is so much more than just the readings, if you feel uncomfortable that they are being heard twice. Many working people would welcome the chance to go to two liturgies per weekend, since they are unable to participate during their work week.

If you remember the awesome value of our being able to offer a mass for specific intentions, like deceased family, etc., and the privilege of receiving Eucharist twice in a week, there is nothing greater one can do that excels in spiritual fruitfulness. No, not even a rosary, or other private devotion such as Liturgy of the Hours, good though they all may be.

Let the good seed to attend twice continue to grow in you and don’t give it up. 👍
 
mullenpm said:
I saw a lecture by Father Corpai (?) wherein he said that the Vigil Mass was perfectly legal since the liturgical day started on Saturday evening so the Vigil Mass was within the Sunday liturgical day.

Another priest said that the obligation was to hold Sunday with respect - you could not go to Saturday evening Mass and paint your house on Sunday.
Click to expand...
The canons quoted above should clarify some of the details for you. But to summarize, yes vigil masses, more properly called anticipated masses for most occasions, are perfectly legal. A parish or diocese can decide not to have any such masses, but if there were such a mass in that area it would certainly fulfill your Sunday obligation, which may be done at any mass between 4pm Saturday and midnight Sunday.

The obligation to refrain from servile work lasts from midnight to midnight on Sunday.
 
I regularly go to a Vigil mass in addition to a Morning mass.

I would like to go every day to mass, but it’s impossible to find a Saturday mass around here. So I let the Vigil be my Saturday mass and the Morning mass be my Sunday mass.

I’m not interested in fulfilling an obligation, I feel an obligation mentality come from finding the minimum I can do. I want to do the maximum I am capable of. I know the Vigil mass is not a “Saturday Mass” in the lectionary, but since I am under no obligation to attend a Saturday mass, (save self imposed) I can only do what I can do.

I know the readings are the same, but I’ve found the Lord’s Prayer is also the same, even if I go on Sunday and Monday! At our parish, the homily is often different and sometimes the priest.

Every two months, I go to a Saturday mass at the University. Then I will not go to the Vigil mass if I am not scheduled in some capacity at that mass. Similarly if I attend the Divine Liturgy at the local Byzantine Church on Saturday.

On another topic [Rant Warning]: a Vigil is the anticipatory evening of major festivals. In the Church these are Solemnities. Every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation is a Solemnity along with a few other days according to the region and diocese. I think the term ‘anticpatory mass’ was coined for those who think the English speaking people have no adult vocabulary and they are not interested in giving them one.
 
I love going to the Saturday vigil Mass and the Sunday morning Mass. There is no more perfect way to pray and to worship the Lord than going to Mass. I don’t think you can be too obsessed with the Lord.

I know on big feast days the Vigil readings are diferent than the Sunday readings. I know the Pentecost vigil was different than the Pentecost readings.
 
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