Weekday v. Sunday Mass?

[chloebelle]

Hi all! I’m currently going through the RCIA process and I have kind of a silly/ignorant question. Since tomorrow is the feast of the Assumption, I was wondering if there are any differences in the mass. I know I’m not technically obligated to be there yet, but I’m trying to participate as much as I can since this will be my life soon. I go to mass every Sunday with my sponsor, but I haven’t gotten in touch w her yet and may have to go by myself, which I actually think would be a good opportunity because I haven’t done so yet, but I am a little nervous and was just wondering if there was anything different I should expect. I have never been to a weekday mass. Thank you!

 

[bobballen_18]

For a normal ferial/weekday Mass, it would be different from a Sunday Mass in the following ways:

-no Gloria (Glory to God in the highest…)
-only one reading instead of two
-no Credo (Nicene Creed)
-optional Prayers of the Faithful (though most places I’ve been still do them on weekdays)

For Memorials of the saints, all of the above would apply; but for Feasts, the Gloria would be said, and if I’m not mistaken, the Creed might even be said for some of them (but I might be mixing that up with the Extraordinary Form way, for Second Class feasts, which correspond to the new calendar’s “Feast” classification). For Solemnities, which is the highest classification for a feast day, none of the above would apply - it would be like a Sunday Mass, with a Gloria, Credo, two readings.

The Assumption is classified as a Solemnity - a big feast - so there won’t be any differences from the Sunday Mass you are used to, in terms of parts of the Mass. It is a beautiful Marian feast day - I really hope you can make it to the Mass!

 

[Joe_5859]

Charles is correct. A regular weekday Mass would not include some elements of a Sunday Mass, but as the Assumption is a solemnity, it will be like a Sunday Mass.

Practically speaking, it may or may not “feel” a bit different depending upon your parish. For example. whereas most parishes have music at all their Sunday Masses, some will not necessarily have the same amount of music on a solemnity during the week for various reasons. That can change the feel a bit, even though all the elements are the same.

God bless you on your RCIA journey!

 

[WJeffrey]

Tomorrow is a Holy Day of Obligation.

 

[Joe_5859]

Tomorrow is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Right. The OP mentioned not being “technically obligated” because she is not yet Catholic and therefore not obligated in the way that baptized Catholics are.

 

[WJeffrey]

I understand that. The point should be made for completeness. She is not technically obligated to be at Sunday mass either, but she is going. If she is striving for consistency, a Holy Day of Obligation should be viewed as a Sunday mass.

I’d suggest that she goes even if her sponsor is unable to attend with her. Someday there will be a mass that her sponsor will not be able to attend. It will be easier to go mass solo if she has already been to one by herself. A persons first solo mass is intimidating. It is easier if she is in a full church instead of one that is sparsely populated.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity for her to experience the joy of a weekday mass and experience the positive impact of attending mass more frequently than weekly. A mass a day tends to keep the evil one away.