Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. It goes on to say, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. Regarding the meaning and necessity of a Catholic’s “Sunday obligation,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” 24 - once for the Sunday obligation, and again in the evening for the Christmas obligation.Ĭooper notes that when Christmas falls on a Sunday - as it did last year, and will again in 2033 - that “Christmas essentially replaces the Sunday liturgically, which means there is only one obligation.” (OSV News photo/Eva Korinkova, Reuters)Ī Catholic also could technically attend Mass twice on Sunday, Dec. “Of course, if you were to attend a vigil Mass on Saturday for Sunday, and then the Christmas Vigil Mass on Sunday (Christmas Eve) for Christmas Day, then you’ve got it all covered,” she said.Ī Christmas tree is illuminated as the traditional Christmas market opens at the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 24, and have it count as your Sunday obligation this year but if you intend for this to fulfill your Sunday obligation, then you must also attend another Mass on Christmas Day to fulfill your obligation for the holy day.” “So, you could go to a Christmas Vigil Mass on Sunday, Dec. The readings and prayers do not necessarily need to match the day whose obligation you are fulfilling,” she wrote. “Now for the part that can get confusing: Even though you must attend two Masses to fulfill the two obligations, all this means is that you must go to Mass on that calendar day or attend a vigil Mass the evening before. That may seem straightforward, but there’s some nuance, Cooper explained. “That is, you cannot ‘double dip’ by attending a Christmas Eve Mass that happens to be on Sunday and have this one Mass fulfill two obligations.” Each separate obligation needs to be fulfilled by attending a separate Mass,” she wrote in her column, published Dec. “Because there are two days of obligation - Sunday and Christmas - this means that there are two distinct obligations to speak of. So, many Catholics are asking if attending Sunday evening Mass this year can “count” for both.Ĭanon lawyer Jenna Marie Cooper recently tackled the query in her regular “Question Corner” column for OSV News. Likewise, an evening Mass before a holy day of obligation (such as Christmas) also typically satisfies a Catholic’s requirement to attend the holy day Mass. Same goes for Saturday evening Masses that anticipate Sunday Mass. Typically, Mass celebrated at any time on Sunday - including Sunday evening - fulfills Catholics’ obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Because they are different liturgical days - even if they overlap on the calendar - they require attendance at different Masses. The takeaway: No single Mass fulfills both a Catholic’s Sunday obligation and the Christmas obligation. The command in the graphic is listed twice, over two columns: The first lists Mass times for the fourth Sunday of Advent, the second lists Christmas Mass times. (OSV News) - “Pick 1,” directs a guide printed in the parish bulletin of St. Visitors look at a giant Nativity scene that represents the Nativity of Bethlehem as part of Mexican traditions for the Christmas holiday season in the house of the Ontiveros family in Mexico City, Mexico, Dec.
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