Why fewer Masses on Christmas Day?

[MusicMan]

If the pastoral needs of the faithful members of that territorial parish are being met by the schedule of Masses, what does the number of them matter?

 

[Lujack]

I’m surprised. My old parish back in New Jersey (where I’ll be attending Christmas Mass, because I"LL BE HOME FROM COLLEGE, HOORAY!) actually had double masses on both Christmas and Easter. The regular Mass times (8:00, 9:30, 10:30, and 12:00) were all held. The two most crowded ones, 10:30 and noon, had simultaneous counterparts in the gym.

So there’d be five masses on Christmas and Easter morning.

 

[DocSoos]

We are having “midnight mass” at 11:00 and then Christmas day mass at 11:00 am, I go to a small “country Catholic” Church and the Priest has to say mass in Spanish at a Church in another county too. So he as always will be busy.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

However, in the case of our Cathedral, I still do not understand why the administrator would use a Posada as a substitute for having a Christmas vigil Mass? This does not make any sense at all. I think that the more appropriate thing would be to have the Posada lead up to the Vigil Mass and then delay the food and festivities until after the Holy Sacrifice.

Have you asked the diocese why the Holy Day of Christmas does not have it’s proper Vigil Mass?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

No, which is why I made no such claim. My point was merely that saying a parish nowadays only has one priest, or a shared priest, doesn’t by itself explain why he is able to celebrate more masses on Sunday than Christmas. In most cases, other parishes or facilities that a priest has responsibilities for on Christmas will have similar needs on Sundays.

I would add that Christmas Midnight Mass is very exhusting if your the only parish priest.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

We are having “midnight mass” at 11:00 and then Christmas day mass at 11:00 am, I go to a small “country Catholic” Church and the Priest has to say mass in Spanish at a Church in another county too. So he as always will be busy.

Technically you are not supposed to have Midnight Mass before midnight. We should never have to ask: What time is midnight Mass?

 

[jmcrae]

However, in the case of our Cathedral, I still do not understand why the administrator would use a Posada as a substitute for having a Christmas vigil Mass? This does not make any sense at all. I think that the more appropriate thing would be to have the Posada lead up to the Vigil Mass and then delay the food and festivities until after the Holy Sacrifice.

That would make sense to me, too. (Having no idea what a Posada is, but thinking it’s something like a Simbang Gabi? )

 

[SMHW]

That would make sense to me, too. (Having no idea what a Posada is, but thinking it’s something like a Simbang Gabi? )

I think in this case it’s a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. It’s a mainly Hispanic tradition.

 

[Phemie]

Have you asked the diocese why the Holy Day of Christmas does not have it’s proper Vigil Mass?

I have never attended a Christmas Vigil. All Masses celebrated Christmas Eve, even the one at 5:30 p.m. are always anticipated Midnight Masses. When I checked the Canadian Lectionary for the Vigil readings, I found that it said something to the effect that the Vigil readings were to be used for Masses celebrated in the afternoon or very early evening but Masses later in the evening (when’s evening again? ) were to use the Christmas readings. I believe that in the US, as in Canada, we may use any of the 3 sets of Christmas readings.

 

[jmcrae]

I think in this case it’s a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. It’s a mainly Hispanic tradition.

Ah. Here in this country, we call that a “Christmas Pageant,” or an “Innkeeper Skit.” There’s no food, though, and it usually takes about 15 minutes or less, and then bang, all the props are cleared away, the kids change into their Altar serving robes, and then they set up for Mass.

I don’t see how it would displace a Mass. We’re doing ours just before the 7:00 pm Mass.

A Simbang Gabi is a nine-day celebration of prayers, Mass, and pot luck suppers, over the Novena of Christmas. Any Mass would work; it wouldn’t have to be a special Simbang Gabi Mass, although it’s nice to have that, as well.

 

[Joannm]

We have three masses Christmas Eve, one at midnight, and four on Christmas day (one more than the usual Sunday morning)

 

[SMHW]

Ah. Here in this country, we call that a “Christmas Pageant,” or an “Innkeeper Skit.” There’s no food, though, and it usually takes about 15 minutes or less, and then bang, all the props are cleared away, the kids change into their Altar serving robes, and then they set up for Mass.

I don’t see how it would displace a Mass. We’re doing ours just before the 7:00 pm Mass.

I don’t know about the one celebrated at benedictgal’s cathedral but I know that such celebrations can vary from minutes to hours. In some places people actually go from house to house in the area and finally end up at a Church. And it’s not necessarily kids. It might be adults. So time wise it COULD replace a Mass. …not that I think it ought to.

A Simbang Gabi is a nine-day celebration of prayers, Mass, and pot luck suppers, over the Novena of Christmas. Any Mass would work; it wouldn’t have to be a special Simbang Gabi Mass, although it’s nice to have that, as well.

When we still had our former accompanist he sometimes asked me to sing with the Filipino choir (which he lead) for the Simbang Gabi Mass at our parish. How I loved that Filipino food! But since he left I don’t think I’ve been to a Simbang Gabi.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

As a result of having a Filipino pastor we are having one Simbang Gabi mass on the 18th, but at 6 in the evening with a reception after. This is the first time we have had it. Unfortunately I don’t get out in the evening anymore; so will have to miss it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have never attended a Christmas Vigil. All Masses celebrated Christmas Eve, even the one at 5:30 p.m. are always anticipated Midnight Masses. When I checked the Canadian Lectionary for the Vigil readings, I found that it said something to the effect that the Vigil readings were to be used for Masses celebrated in the afternoon or very early evening but Masses later in the evening (when’s evening again? ) were to use the Christmas readings. I believe that in the US, as in Canada, we may use any of the 3 sets of Christmas readings.

That is correct there are different sets of readings. Vigil, Midnight and Christmas morning. Easter has four sets.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

That would make sense to me, too. (Having no idea what a Posada is, but thinking it’s something like a Simbang Gabi? )

I believe it’s a procession of hispanic origin. If I’m correct, it is a devotion and has no business replacing the Vigil Mass!

 

[Phemie]

That is correct there are different sets of readings. Vigil, Midnight and Christmas morning. Easter has four sets.

If you count the Vigil there are 4 sets: Vigil of Christmas, Christmas During the Night, Christmas at Dawn, Christmas During the Day.

My earliest memories of Midnight Mass as a kid are the disappointment of a second Mass starting just as we thought Midnight Mass was over. Christmas at dawn was celebrated at 1:30, right at the end of Midnight Mass.

 

[benedictgal]

I believe it’s a procession of hispanic origin. If I’m correct, it is a devotion and has no business replacing the Vigil Mass!

You are right! It’s not that I am against inculturation; however, I think that our priorities are misplaced when we have a devotional replace the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, especially the Christmas Vigil.

Now, I can envision having the Posada lead into the vigil Mass and defer the food (tamales, hot chocolate and the other delicacies) after the Mass. That would be more approrpriate.

Our new administrator is well-meaning, but, I think that this adherence to the traditional devotional custom of the Posada is misplaced. In fact, truth be told, I would rather forego the Posada and celebrate the Christmas Vigil Mass instead.

The other caveat to all of this is that most parishes down here don’t even do the Christmas Vigil readings; instead, they use the ones for Midnight Mass. I wish that people would just let the vigil be the vigil and Midnight Mass be Midnight Mass.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If you count the Vigil there are 4 sets: Vigil of Christmas, Christmas During the Night, Christmas at Dawn, Christmas During the Day.

My earliest memories of Midnight Mass as a kid are the disappointment of a second Mass starting just as we thought Midnight Mass was over. Christmas at dawn was celebrated at 1:30, right at the end of Midnight Mass.

You may be correct. I didn’t have a lectionary that I could go look at.

 

[Rachel_J]

In most dioceses now a priest is limited to 1 Mass on a weekday, 3 on Sunday or Holy Day, so that if he has a wedding or funeral Mass scheduled the regular daily Mass is likely to be dropped for a communion service led by a deacon or even lay person. Here the bishop has been forced to grant some latitude so that Spanish or English Mass can be added in parishes that need both, or so that priest can also serve their missions (some have as many as 4 missions to take care of).

I’m now feeling for my pastor. 4 sunday masses, daily mass 4 weekdays and saturday and a wedding most Saturdays as well. Some of the saturday weddings are no doubt celebrated by other priests, but he does a good chunk of them. When a funeral or wedding is planned, we don’t get switched to a communion service… at least not that I’ve heard of.

Christmas is no different. We have 4 masses - in our case the midnight mass is replacing the 6 pm mass usually held on Sundays. I’m fine with that - I can’t imagine more than half a dozen people would show up and I’d rather he got the night off to do as he pleases. As it is I’m curious to see how many people will show up to the 9:30 am mass, and even more curious to find out how many showed to the 7 am mass.

 

[Joannm]

Christmas is no different. We have 4 masses - in our case the midnight mass is replacing the 6 pm mass usually held on Sundays. I’m fine with that - I can’t imagine more than half a dozen people would show up and I’d rather he got the night off to do as he pleases. As it is I’m curious to see how many people will show up to the 9:30 am mass, and even more curious to find out how many showed to the 7 am mass.

We actually have a good number at our 7:30 and 9:00 AM Christmas mass…mostly older people who will be traveling that morning or who want to get a head start on cooking. Our biggest draw are the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve, and the 5:30 PM. The 4:15 overflow doesn’t get quite as full because most want to get into the church even though they end up standing outside int he vestibule or even outside the doors, but they are not really there for Mass, just to say they went to church on Christmas…they usually leave early.