Hello

This coming Saturday is a holy day of obligation, Imaccualte Conception.

If I go to a saturday evening anticapatory mass, do I still need to go to another mass for the holy day?

-- Arthur Huot (longbillduck@hotmail.com), December 01, 2001

Answers

Years ago, you definitely would have had to gone to another Mass, as the vigil Mass on Saturday is the Mass of the Sunday, not of the holy day. If I recall correctly, a few years ago the bishops in this country wimped out and made the statement that if some of the Marian holydays fall on Saturdays or Mondays, there is no obligation to attend Mass. Not sure if this is still true, and it's a real wimp- out.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001.

Christina,

If you are not sure if your answer is true, Than it is a good idea not to answer the question. Because there are people, who are sure, and they will answer without guesing like you did.

God Bless You.

David S

-- David S (asdzxc8176@aol.com), December 01, 2001.

Hello, Arthur.

Christina, I think that you will be happy to know that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (12/8) remains a holy day of obligation even if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.

The new regulations to which you referred went into effect in 1993, and they provide for the suppression of Saturday/Monday holy days in the cases of All Saints Day (11/1), Assumption (8/15), and Mary, Mother of God (1/1).

Therefore, if a person is in the habit of attending evening anticipatory Mass, he/she would have to do this on both Friday and Saturday evenings this year. Other options are Masses on Saturday morning (holy day) and evening (Sunday anticipated) ... or Masses on Saturday morning and Sunday (any time).

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 01, 2001.

Oops! I forgot to provide a link to a 1997 diocesan newspaper article by Fr. William Saunders, head of the Christendom College graduate school of religious studies (the Notre Dame Catechetical Institute).

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 01, 2001.

David S.,

Please tone down your responses to other people, especially new posters.

I agree with Christina about the American Bishops "wimping out". I had no problem with attending services for holy days on Saturday and Monday. In fact, I still do when I can. Since the obligation has been lifted, my parish does not offer an evening Monday service and I begin work too early to attend Monday's morning service.

-- _ (_@_._), December 01, 2001.

OK,

If you tone down your responses to other people to. Since you are not a new poster, I was curious about something. How many different e- mail addys do you use or have you used on forum ?

David S

-- David S (asdzxc8176@aol.com), December 01, 2001.

Arthur:

The Holy Days of Obligation requiring attendance at Mass varies from Conference of Catholic Bishops to Conference of Catholic Bishops. Those who have answered your question made the assumption you were going to be in the United States on the day in question. If you are an American or a visitor to America you are required to follow the guidance of the United States Conference of Catholic Biships in this matter. However, if you are situated in another jurisdiction whether you be a resident or a visitor to the region, their advice is not necessarily applicable.

In Canada, for example, there are now only two Holy Days of Obligation other than Sundays in the liturgical calendar. They are Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 and all Catholics found within this area on these respective dates whether foreigners or not, are required to attend Mass. This matter falls under the authority of the respective Conference of Catholic Bishops responsible for each region and to be sure, you should contact a parish office during regular business hours, for the area you are going to find yourself in, on any date in question. It is the responsibility of every Catholic to know his obligations to the faith, including what days he is required to attend Mass in those areas he frequents.

Peace!

Ed

-- Ed Lauzon (grader@accglobal.net), December 02, 2001.

In an earlier message, I wrote: "The new [U.S.] regulations ... rovide for the suppression of Saturday/Monday holy days in the cases of All Saints Day (11/1), Assumption (8/15), and Mary, Mother of God (1/1)."
That wording was not quite accurate. Actually, only the obligation to attend Mass is suppressed. The solemnities are still celebrated on those days, and all are encouraged to attend Mass.

Thank you, Ed, for reminding us of the important fact that not everyone using this forum is in the U.S..

I am very surprised to read that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is never a holy day in Canada. I think that it would have been on the list of Saturday/Monday suppression of obligation in the U.S., except for the fact that the patroness of the United States is Our Lady, under her title, the Immaculate Conception. Thus it is sort of a national feast, just as the most special (and largest) Catholic church in the U.S. is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C..

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 02, 2001.

Christina,

I for one liked your spirited post. Good to see someone keeping those bishops in line! ;-)

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), December 03, 2001.