Why are there so many Christmas/Easter catholics?

[confusedgirl]

Graduation is around the corner and come September I begin RCIA yay!!! I’m not exactly new to the faith I was baptized and went to catholic school for 3 years I just missed first communion and confirmation but I have beem going to mass more this year.

My friend and I were talking about mass and I notice a lot of peoples families go to mass on Saturdays which explains why I dont see them on sundays… Can you do that? With my grandmother it was Sundays only and so I went Sundays. My second bit was why do people only go to mass on Christmas and Easter. A few kids at my school tell me their families go to mass on those two days? Mass is great and I don’t know how people can fall asleep haha there is too much moving to be falling asleep. I just find I want to listen cuz I always find I learn something that will help me in life. So what are your thoughts on this?

 

[Ad_Orientem]

As to your first question, Saturday evening Mass does fulfill the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. I think this indult started in the 1960s. It does not, however, dispense one from the other obligations attached to Sundays and Holy Days (see CCC 2185). Whether it is permitted habitually to opt for the anticipated Sunday Mass (loosely called ‘vigil’) without a serious reason (such as a doctor having to work Sunday morning) I do not know.

Why there are so many “Easter Catholics” is a good question. I think part of it is the size of our Church. In proportion to the respective numbers of members there may be no more inactive Catholics than, say, inactive Protestants; but given our greater number of members, the number of inactives will be greater.

Another reason may be the age of our Church. If you have just started a new religion, there’s a certain appeal, for many, in its novelty, not to mention fervor related to defending its existence. So you may see more fervent members.

Another reason may be the vast depth and cultural identity that belong to our religion, so that it is easier, given our fallen nature, to go through the motions and still have a strong sense of identity.

There was a dramatic decrease in Mass attendance starting in the late 60s / early 70s. Some attribute this to the changes (mandated and otherwise) following Vatican II, but whether this be the case or not, clearly there was trouble brewing even before the Council. We are in a crisis, but we’ve been through them before in our 2,000 year history. We’ll make it through.

 

[KrazyKat]

We can not assume the reasons for others actions. How wrong we may be. In church we should be giving praise and glory to God. I pray that I am invisible so as not to be judged by others. A person may fall asleep because they are fighting death you know? I would rather leave the why to our All Knowing Creator. Praise be to God.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Seeing my parents every week wasn’t hard for me, but it was for my brother.
We can’t know the answers for why people do things. We all fall short of the glory of God, and it may be that in 10 yrs, I might be in a very different space, and they might be too. As long as we are breathing, God will work on us to do better.

 

[ccmcmg]

I have been a C&E Catholic. One reason I remained that way for years was that I wasn’t ‘welcomed’ by those who attended regularly. I believe that we must go out of our way to welcome and encourage those people. What a blessing we are given to evangelize to people who already are in our own Faith! Let us not judge those people, but love them. We are not better than they are.

Welcome to the Catholic Church, and I pray that your zealousness continue. You may quite likely end up knowing more about the Faith than many people who were born Catholic; what a joy for you to know it so well!

God bless you,
Christina

 

[Joe_5859]

It is perfectly acceptable to go to Mass on Saturday evening. As the Code of Canon Law states:

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 aVairs 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

There is no mention of needing a serious reason (or any reason at all) to opt to go to Mass on Saturday evening.

With regards to the “C&E” Catholics, I suppose their reasons would be many and varied. I think some of the comments Mark Shea made in one of his recent articles jives with what I have observed: it often comes down to that family connection. Family is family, even when we disagree.

For “C&E Catholics”, being Catholic is still part of their identity, even if they don’t believe or practice the faith. There is still that spark inside them that recognizes Christmas and Easter and hugely important Catholic celebrations that cannot go by without at least a tip of the hat to the religious dimension.

 

[Joe_5859]

I have been a C&E Catholic. One reason I remained that way for years was that I wasn’t ‘welcomed’ by those who attended regularly. I believe that we must go out of our way to welcome and encourage those people. What a blessing we are given to evangelize to people who already are in our own Faith! Let us not judge those people, but love them. We are not better than they are.

Welcome to the Catholic Church, and I pray that your zealousness continue. You may quite likely end up knowing more about the Faith than many people who were born Catholic; what a joy for you to know it so well!

God bless you,
Christina

Here’s another reason. Now I’m reading Christina’s post in light of that article by Mark Shea o), but what stands out for me – again – is the importance of the personal connection. That family bond can keep us tethered and prevent us from leaving completely. But the flip side is that we often exert great influence to either turn people away. We definitely want to use that influence to welcome them back instead.

 

[Lancer]

As to your first question, Saturday evening Mass does fulfill the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. I think this indult started in the 1960s. It does not, however, dispense one from the other obligations attached to Sundays and Holy Days (see CCC 2185). Whether it is permitted habitually to opt for the anticipated Sunday Mass (loosely called ‘vigil’) without a serious reason (such as a doctor having to work Sunday morning) I do not know.

Why there are so many “Easter Catholics” is a good question. I think part of it is the size of our Church. In proportion to the respective numbers of members there may be no more inactive Catholics than, say, inactive Protestants; but given our greater number of members, the number of inactives will be greater.

Another reason may be the age of our Church. If you have just started a new religion, there’s a certain appeal, for many, in its novelty, not to mention fervor related to defending its existence. So you may see more fervent members.

Another reason may be the vast depth and cultural identity that belong to our religion, so that it is easier, given our fallen nature, to go through the motions and still have a strong sense of identity.

There was a dramatic decrease in Mass attendance starting in the late 60s / early 70s. Some attribute this to the changes (mandated and otherwise) following Vatican II, but whether this be the case or not, clearly there was trouble brewing even before the Council. We are in a crisis, but we’ve been through them before in our 2,000 year history. We’ll make it through.

Originally Sunday Vigil Mass (Saturday evening)…was for those who had a specific reason for not being able to attend Sunday Mass…on Sunday. In 1983…the Sunday Vigil Mass was designated as a Sunday Mass which anyone could attend…their preference is the only factor. No mitigating factors necessary…so a person who assists at Sunday Vigil mass should not be viewed any different than a Catholic who assists at Mass on the day of Sunday itself.

The greatest Holy Mass celebration each year…is the Easter Vigil Mass…on Saturday…the same Mass the OP will probably receive the Sacraments.

Pax Christi

**EWTN Q&A

Sunday Vigil Mass
Question from Ron on 5/13/2004:**

Answer by Fr. John Trigilio on 7/28/2004:
ONLY the diocesan bishop can determine when the Saturday evening ‘vigil’ or ‘anticipated’ Mass for the Sunday obligation can take place. Canon Law allows each diocese and bishop to ascertain how early this can take place. Prior to the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the anticipated or vigil Mass was considered to be an exception for serious reasons, i.e., people who had to work in occupations of necessity on Sundays, like doctors, nurses, pharmicists, etc. It was not originally intended for everyone and anyone (restaurant owners and employees, retail store owners and employees, etc.)

HOWEVER, the 1983 Code of Canon Law now allows an indiscriminate use of the anticipated or vigil Mass so that anyone and everyone can go either on Sunday or the Holyday itself, or on the evening before. Most dioceses do not allow the anticipated or vigil Mass to take place before 4 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon (early evening). In a few places bishops have allowed a 3:30 or 3pm Mass (for hospitals and/or prisons) but the pastor himself does not have the authority to determine how early, only the diocesan bishop can do that. It is ironic that will the proliferation of vigil and anticipated Masses, fewer Catholics attend Sunday and Holyday Masses than in the old days when you could only go on the day itself.
ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=400900&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu=

CODE OF CANON LAW
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 aVairs 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.

 

[jimandirenec]

I find that a lot of the reason has to do with the attitude of the pastor. If the pastor is passionate about Mass, his week, indeed his entire life, revolves around it, the people see that and they respond. Unfortunately, there are far too many older priests who find the mass rote and boring; they don’t take the time or energy to create homilies that are moving and vibrant. instead they rely on the opening joke and then a few platitudes that draw in the Gospel. We need to pray for our pastors that they take their responsibilities seriously and address the fact that they are to lead us to HEAVEN and not mediocrity. Hopefully with the influx of younger men entering the seminary we will once again have priests who are proud of their office and take their responsibilities to lead seriously.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

I think there are a lot of reasons for the Christmas/Easter Catholics. One is poor catechesis. Until I came back to the Church, I didn’t realize it was a mortal sin to skip your Sunday obligation. I knew we were supposed to go, but I didn’t realize it was mandatory. I can’t recall a single time in my 12 years of Catholic schooling (especially in high school) that they told us it was a sin. When I found out the same held true for holy days of obligation, I was stunned. I haven’t missed either in nearly two years without a valid reason (and then only twice).

Another reason is the example your parents set. My mom goes to Mass every week. My dad quit going, outside of special occasions, when I was in my early teens. It didn’t take long for me to quit going regularly, then quit going almost altogether. I figured if dad didn’t go, I didn’t have to go. One thing that helps keep me on the straight and narrow was an article I read a year or two ago that said that the biggest determining factor in whether kids stick with their faith is if their fathers practice. After reading that, I vowed not to let my kids down. Now, they know that I won’t miss Mass without a valid reason, and I won’t miss a day of saying the Rosary unless something extraordinary prevents me.

One of the biggest reasons, though, I’m guessing would be spiritual apathy. You simply have a lot of people now who are too consumed with secular and/or narcissistic concerns. God falls by the wayside. Even a lot of my friends and family who consider themselves good, devout Catholics don’t go every week, go to the “fun” protestant/mega-church up the road instead, or view those 30-75 minutes each week as too much of a hassle, so they only go once a month or so. It’s sad and disappointing, but it ensures that I never have a shortage of things to pray for when we’re saying the Rosary each night.

 

[Kal2012]

I don’t know. I tend to take the opposite viewpoint. I’d rather have people show up for just Christmas/Easter than not show up at all. There’s at least a basic recognition that these are most important events on the Christian calendar. Something in their souls keeps nagging them and says “this is important!”

When I was a protestant, I never showed up for C/E because I hate crowds and dealing with crowds…

I have to agree with people who have said that poor catechism is to blame. A lot of stuff is glossed over or not mentioned, even though you’d think it would be.

My RCIA teacher freely admitted that kids in our parish aren’t well catechized and that we probably know more than the kiddos will. Interestingly, a lot of RCIA folks aren’t well catechized either. Like the whole Sunday mass obligation was ignored in my class. Confession is ‘when you feel like you need it’. or “when you have a real problem.” No meat on Fridays - optional. This is what I learned. So, you can imagine my reaction to some of the stuff that comes up on CAF.

I really didn’t like Saturday Mass when I was a Protestant because it didn’t make sense that there would be service on a Saturday. It was a cultural thing. Now that I am apart of the Catholic community, I’m growing okay w/it and I’ve even attended a couple of times.

The crowd that goes on Saturday evenings is a lot different (and usually) smaller than the Sunday crowds.

I find the timing interesting too because Jews celebrate their Sabbath on Friday night into Saturday, ending Saturday night.

I like how Catholics have respect for the evening before our Sabbath day and celebrate Mass then.

I tend to find Saturdays a lot more relaxing than Sundays…because going to mass w/a young kid and getting ready for the work week is work! I appreciate the Saturday Mass, even if I don’t always take advantage of it.

Also, Easter Vigil is just amazing. I’m already thinking about going next year to avoid the Easter Sunday crowds.

 

[fred_conty]

My guess is that Christmas and Easter are family days and it is a tradition of family solidarity to go on these two days together as a family. I might add, not a bad idea.

Secondly weak faith, not education, not luke warmness, but simply weak faith. They just don’t believe like catholics once did. How much education does it take to understand, “this is my body”? Simple and direct. Just plain weak faith if any at all.

If Jesus himself as he was in Gallilee 2000 years ago was to appear in the city auditorium to give a talk, how many people would you think would show up? It would be a sell out in the first fifteen minutes or less.

Just plain weak faith. It isn’t only weak faith in Jesus’ presence, but also his presence in the church he left to us to guide us. Too many are repeating the words of “I won’t believe unless I put my fingers into his wounds, and my hand into his side.” And then they walk away like the people in the gospel.

That’s why Mary gave us her gift of the green scapular, the gift to strengthen faith. If you, or someone you know is having a problem of weak faith, get one for them or yourself. Then say the prayer “Immaculate heart of Mary pray for us now and at the hour of our death,” everyday or more. She promised to strenghten our faith by keeping it on us and saying that prayer.
That is precisely why she gave it… for the faith. But it does depend on our trust in her promise.

Just some personal musings.​