What is the normal length of the Easter Vigil Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lovesMary
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lovesMary

Guest
Greetings to everyone, and Happy Easter!

Our family attended the Easter Vigil Mass in a neighboring town yesterday, a church where were occasionally attend. I have attended Easter Vigils at our home parish and they are a little longer than a normal Mass here.

This Vigil Mass lasted 2 1/2 hours! We were really surprised! It was a beautiful and elaborate ritual that included the baptism and confirmation of several people. Our children were well behaved, and the younger two fell asleep. We had no warning that this would be so long! Is this a normal thing in some parishes?
 
It is the “normal” thing in most parishes, especially those with many to baptize and/or confirm. My old parish was regularly 3-3.5 hours each year with numerous baptisms. My new parish is rural and small, and we had no baptisms or candidates coming into full communion so it was pretty short.
 
Thanks. We were totally unprepared for this since our parish is small and, although the Easter Vigil Mass is very special, nothing as elaborate or lengthy is done like this, even if a baptism is included. I didn’t know this was the norm.

It was a beautiful Mass, but next time we’ll leave the children with our friends!!!
 
Ours was 2 hours- it depends on how much of it is chanted, how many baptisms, receptions and confirmations there are. But it is undoubtedly the high point of the year. I love it so much.
 
lovesMary said:
Greetings to everyone, and Happy Easter!

Our family attended the Easter Vigil Mass in a neighboring town yesterday, a church where were occasionally attend. I have attended Easter Vigils at our home parish and they are a little longer than a normal Mass here.

This Vigil Mass lasted 2 1/2 hours! We were really surprised! It was a beautiful and elaborate ritual that included the baptism and confirmation of several people. Our children were well behaved, and the younger two fell asleep. We had no warning that this would be so long! Is this a normal thing in some parishes?
Click to expand...
Normally at least 2 hours and depending on Baptisms and Cofirmations can easily go to 3 or 4
 
lovesMary said:
Greetings to everyone, and Happy Easter!

Our family attended the Easter Vigil Mass in a neighboring town yesterday, a church where were occasionally attend. I have attended Easter Vigils at our home parish and they are a little longer than a normal Mass here.

This Vigil Mass lasted 2 1/2 hours! We were really surprised! It was a beautiful and elaborate ritual that included the baptism and confirmation of several people. Our children were well behaved, and the younger two fell asleep. We had no warning that this would be so long! Is this a normal thing in some parishes?
Click to expand...
At the parish I attended last night it came in a 1 hour and 58 minutes. And that is with maybe 20 baptisms and 30 or 35 Confirmations.

The minimum number of readings were used. But, that was to be expected. Liturgically, it is very much a “do the minimum required and not a thing more” type of parish if that makes any sense. Still very beautiful though.

James
 
3 hours for an EF Mass. Some of the OF Masses I have attended were about the same length
 
3 hrs last night almost to the minute, 16 baptisms, 14 Confirmations. the longest we have had since I have been in this parish, 3 OT readings, bishop’s Easter letter, homily. from the lighting of the paschal fire to the prayer of the faithful, 2 hrs 15 min., another 45 minutes to the dismissal.
 
Thanks to all for the responses. I have only been to a couple of other Easter Vigils at our regular parish so I hadn’t been aware that this is the norm. Next year I really want to go again, but without the children. It was awesome!
 
James0235 said:
At the parish I attended last night it came in a 1 hour and 58 minutes. And that is with maybe 20 baptisms and 30 or 35 Confirmations. James
Click to expand...
Where is this?! We had 3 Baptisms, a little boy and two adults. The same three for Eucharist and Confirmation. We never have too many. Did the 20 include newborns?

Our Vigil was still almost 2 1/2 hours, but it was a newly ordained Celebrating his first Vigil Mass. Only 4 readings, maybe 1 or 2 Psalms. Would have been better had the ushers not been walking up the middle aisle during the actual Baptism collecting candles.
 
Ours was two and a half hours even without any baptisms or Confirmations. (We also only did four of the Old Testament readings. There are seven indicated in the Missal.)

In place of that, Father had us all relight our candles and reaffirm our Baptismal vows. 🙂
 
Ours is usually 2.5-3 hours. We’ve got all the smells and bells, big flaming torch outside to light the Easter candle, full chanted Exsultet with brass and timpani, several baptisms and confirmations. Then a reception afterward that goes until 1 or 1:30 am to welcome the new Catholics. It’s a great night. 🙂
 
Ours was right at 3 hours. We only did three of the OT readings, but there were 20 baptisms, about 10 Professions of Faith, another 10 or so just Confirmations and 8 marriages. And lots of smells and bells and chanting! :extrahappy: 😃
 
KarenElissa said:
Ours was right at 3 hours. We only did three of the OT readings, but there were 20 baptisms, about 10 Professions of Faith, another 10 or so just Confirmations and 8 marriages. And lots of smells and bells and chanting! :extrahappy: 😃
Click to expand...
I have never heard of marriages done at the Easter Vigil…and 8 at that!!!
 
We made it home around 2 AM 🙂

Beautiful night, Mass was between 2 and a half/three hours, then the reception and cleaning up after. Was so excited when we made it home that we all sat up for another hour talking.
 
Lovemyfaith said:
Where is this?! We had 3 Baptisms, a little boy and two adults. The same three for Eucharist and Confirmation. We never have too many. Did the 20 include newborns?

Our Vigil was still almost 2 1/2 hours, but it was a newly ordained Celebrating his first Vigil Mass. Only 4 readings, maybe 1 or 2 Psalms. Would have been better had the ushers not been walking up the middle aisle during the actual Baptism collecting candles.
Click to expand...
It was a large suburban parish within the diocese of Columbus. I try not to name parishes unless I only say positive things about them.

I could be overestimating the numbers of baptisms and confirmations a little. But, if so it is not by much at all.

It was quick and simple but it was still by far the most beautiful Mass this parish will have this year. And at least the pastor no longer makes derogatory comments about priests who actually use incense occasionally.

If someone I know wasn’t being Confirmed last night I would have been elsewhere.

James
 
I don’t know , but I am really sick of the “Tiber Swim Team”. (even though my kids were competative swimmers, sorry I don’t get it):confused:
 
KAL, sorry you’re sick of “Tiber Swim Team.” Personally, I LOVE it! 👍

Joannm, by marriages, I believe Karen means convalidations of marriages. My DH and I had our marriage convalidated, along with 4 other couples, after the vigil Saturday night.
 
lovesMary said:
Greetings to everyone, and Happy Easter!

Our family attended the Easter Vigil Mass in a neighboring town yesterday, a church where were occasionally attend. I have attended Easter Vigils at our home parish and they are a little longer than a normal Mass here.

This Vigil Mass lasted 2 1/2 hours! We were really surprised! It was a beautiful and elaborate ritual that included the baptism and confirmation of several people. Our children were well behaved, and the younger two fell asleep. We had no warning that this would be so long! Is this a normal thing in some parishes?
Click to expand...
I have seen them usually 3-3.5hrs, but I have seen it done in just over an hour (2 instead of 8 readings) and get the same spiritual response from the parish. :cool:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top