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Theresa
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I'm still slowly making my way through the Catechism and still praying for the Lord's direction in my life. I thank you all for your prayers.
I had a question about Mass and Saturday evening vs. Sunday. Are they the same. Is one better than the other etc.
Thanks!
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Marcia
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this might be a can of worms question....
but I heard a homily not two months ago about this...and the priest (who happened to be from Africa) said that Saturday night Mass was for those who would be unable to attend Sunday morning due to work or travel. Saturday was not just to make Sunday morning a sleep in morning (and I think this was his opinion). But I have to agree that the Sunday is more of a day for God when we block out Mass and the whole day for resting and for moments with God.
I'm sure someone on here can find some papal documents for you...and link them up.
If you look in the other Rites of the church (Byzantine, Coptic, etc) you will find they do not offer Divine Liturgy (Mass) on Saturday nights. They do offer vespers and prayer services, but these are in prepration for the Sunday service. I do believe Saturday night mass is strictly a Latin (Roman)Rite thing.
Oh and let's see your question....yes in the Latin Rite they are mainly the same. Sometimes there is a vigil Mass if it is a special feast. Of course Easter Vigil is very different than Sunday Easter Morning Mass.
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JodieLyn
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both equally fulfill the Sunday obligation of attending Mass, regardless of opinon on which is "better", though I am unsure on if there is an official Church position on one being better. I'm on a break from garden work.. I'll try and look that up as I have time though.. it'll just depend on how easy it is for me to find 
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JodieLyn
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Catechism of the Catholic Church wrote:
The Sunday obligation
2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118
2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. 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.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."120
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MaryM
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The Church recognizes Saturday anticipatory Masses as valid for meeting the Sunday obligation. The readings, etc. are the same as for the Sunday Mass. Neither is a holier sacrifice of the Mass, though there may be personal opinions on what people prefer.
The provision was originally introduced for Catholics who had to miss Sunday Mass for a good reason (for example, because they had to work). I'm checkign on some specifcis reagrding that and will get back to you. Currently the 1983 Code of Canon Law simply states: "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day" (can. 1248, par. 1).
See Canon section here that pertains:
Code of Canon Law wrote:
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 affairs 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. |
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stellamaris
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A point of relevant interest: the Jewish Sabbath always began on sundown of the preceding night. This ancient usage has been carried over into the Church also in the Divine Office. Sundays and Solemnities begin the preceding evening with Evening Prayer I. I personally prefer to go to Sunday Mass on Sunday, because then we have a day sort of "set apart" for the Lord. However, as the ladies above mentioned, Saturday evening Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation just as faithfully. I do think you still would need to honor Sunday as a day of rest.
From the CCC:
A day of grace and rest from work
2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"121 human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.122
2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.
The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124
2186 Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.
2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.
2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country's legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this "festal gathering," this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."125
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CatholicMommy
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I have always had the Jewish understanding of each day starting at sundown the night before - but what confuses me is that our "Sunday" is something like 28 hours long! If we can attend Mass at 4pm or later on Saturday and have it count for Sunday, OR attend a Sunday evening Mass at 7pm, ending at 8ish... does that make a 28 hour Sunday?
Of course, Sunday IS that important, that perhaps it deserves to be longer! 
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Mary G
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CatholicMommy wrote:
I have always had the Jewish understanding of each day starting at sundown the night before - but what confuses me is that our "Sunday" is something like 28 hours long! If we can attend Mass at 4pm or later on Saturday and have it count for Sunday, OR attend a Sunday evening Mass at 7pm, ending at 8ish... does that make a 28 hour Sunday?
Of course, Sunday IS that important, that perhaps it deserves to be longer! |
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Of course! And Easter Sunday actually last 8 days ... that's how important that particular Sunday is!
Back to Therese's question ... we go thru cycles of starting Sunday on Saturday afternoon to make Sunday start sooner; we honestly love to try to keep Sunday chore, errand and shopping free. We try to make Sunday a family day so by starting Sunday on Saturday afternoon, we're able to really impress on the little ones that Sunday IS A BIG DEAL! We don't use Saturday Mass as a chance to sleepin (as a matter fact, dh actually gets us up earlier than ever!)
Blessings and continued prayers ....
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stellamaris
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A beautiful description of an "Old World" Sunday, which began Saturday evening with confession and a special family dinner, is given by Maria Von Trapp (of Sound of Music fame) in The Land Without Sunday. I love to read this excerpt. It always gives me inspiration to work harder on making Sunday special. One thing that impressed me is how they cleaned out all their drawers on Saturday afternoon! I realized I need to simplify if I'm going to have the time to honor the Lord as they did. I think it would take me three months' worth of Saturdays to get my drawers all straight  !
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Theresa
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Caroline,
Thank you so much for sharing this link with me. I actually just finished a chapter in a book called No Ordinary Home: The uncommon art of Christ centered homemaking that had a very similar section on how this family celebrated the Lord's Day, what they called Sabbath.
I liked this part because I think that is how I grew up. We did everything everyone else did and not even that was done deeply or with purpose. Nothing was every explained or understood. At least to me. I just know that I want to personally be more intentional.
Quote:
| Father Joseph must have sensed the great danger to a nation once people observe religious customs only because "everybody does it" or "for hundreds of years it has been done this way." He knew that every generation has to rediscover for its own use the inheritance that has been handed down from its ancestors. Otherwise all those beautiful old customs, religious or other, lose their vitality and become museum pieces. |
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stellamaris
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Theresa in MN wrote:
I liked this part because I think that is how I grew up. We did everything everyone else did and not even that was done deeply or with purpose. Nothing was every explained or understood. At least to me. I just know that I want to personally be more intentional.
Quote:
| Father Joseph must have sensed the great danger to a nation once people observe religious customs only because "everybody does it" or "for hundreds of years it has been done this way." He knew that every generation has to rediscover for its own use the inheritance that has been handed down from its ancestors. Otherwise all those beautiful old customs, religious or other, lose their vitality and become museum pieces. |
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Just this morning, I was reading in The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger about the purpose of ordinary time (after Pentecost), and really about the entire purpose of the liturgical year cycle, and he had this great thought:
"The mysteries of the Trinity and of the blessed Sacrament, the mercy and power of the Heart of Jesus, the glories of Mary and her influence upon the Church and souls--all these are manifested to the soul with more clearness than ever, and produce within her effects not previously experienced. In the feasts of the saints, which are so varied and so grand during this portion of the year, she feels more and more intimately the bond which unites her to them in Christ, through the holy Spirit. The eternal happiness of heaven, which is to follow the trials of this mortal life, is revealed to her by the feast of All Saints; she gains clearer notions of that mysterious bliss, which consists in light and love... Thus enlightened, thus attracted, thus established, by the incorporation into herself of the mysteries wherewith the sacred liturgy has nourished her, as also by the gifts poured into her by the Holy Ghost, the soul yields herself up, and without any effort, to the impulse of the divine mover...she longs all the more ardently after the eternal possession of the object she loves, as she has been realizing, even in this life, what the apostle describes where he speaks of a creature as being 'one spirit with the Lord' by being united to Him in heart.
"Such is the result ordinarily produced in the soul by the sweet and healthy influence of the sacred liturgy" (ETA: here he means by the cycle of the liturgical year)
This is the reason and ought to be the result of celebrating the liturgical year--union with Christ. If we are missing this in the hustle and bustle of "creating memories" based on liturgical celebrations, we are really missing the entire point. I am thinking about this today a lot--do my celebrations of the liturgical feast days produce this effect in myself and in my children, and in what ways can I improve my family life and customs to bring forth this beautiful fruit of true union with Christ and holiness of life? I agree with Fr. Joseph, though, that ultimately each generation needs to come to the realization of the love and mercy of Christ for themselves.
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Caroline
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Bookswithtea
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This is something I've been considering too, lately. What is truly needed to produce devotion to God and what is just another arts and crafts project? I don't mean to suggest that arts and crafts are not a good thing to incorporate into the Holy Day, just that I think sometimes I have missed the mark, personally. Does that make any sense?
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stellamaris
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| This is something I've been considering too, lately. What is truly needed to produce devotion to God and what is just another arts and crafts project? I don't mean to suggest that arts and crafts are not a good thing to incorporate into the Holy Day, just that I think sometimes I have missed the mark, personally. Does that make any sense? |
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Makes complete sense to me! This has been a concern of mine for some time with liturgical year celebrations. First of all (I think this is because I have an older family than some here), an accumulation of basically useless crafts is an issue around our home. Secondly, I am feeling "trapped" by certain customs that we established years ago and are now just repeated without sufficient understanding (just as Theresa pointed out can happen). So the question for me is, "What is most valuable?" I am thinking first Mass, then prayer/Bible reading or reading about the life of a saint, finally a useful and beautiful occasional craft that meets a true need in our home (for instance, planting a pot of herbs and making a Mary garden out of it). Maybe this should be another thread? I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks, so if you want to keep up this conversation, Books, go ahead and start a new thread. There are many threads already on the specific activities we might implement in our homes, but not one clearly relating what we do to WHY we do it...
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Caroline
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LucyP
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We were told Saturday vigil Mass is for when we would be providentially hindered from Sunday Mass. But I do know many good Catholics who only ever go on Saturday night. We always go on Sunday (except when we don't go at all  ) and only go on Saturday when we can't get there on Sunday.
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CrunchyMom
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stellamaris wrote:
Bookswithtea wrote:
| This is something I've been considering too, lately. What is truly needed to produce devotion to God and what is just another arts and crafts project? I don't mean to suggest that arts and crafts are not a good thing to incorporate into the Holy Day, just that I think sometimes I have missed the mark, personally. Does that make any sense? |
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Makes complete sense to me! This has been a concern of mine for some time with liturgical year celebrations. First of all (I think this is because I have an older family than some here), an accumulation of basically useless crafts is an issue around our home. Secondly, I am feeling "trapped" by certain customs that we established years ago and are now just repeated without sufficient understanding (just as Theresa pointed out can happen). So the question for me is, "What is most valuable?" I am thinking first Mass, then prayer/Bible reading or reading about the life of a saint, finally a useful and beautiful occasional craft that meets a true need in our home (for instance, planting a pot of herbs and making a Mary garden out of it). Maybe this should be another thread? I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks, so if you want to keep up this conversation, Books, go ahead and start a new thread. There are many threads already on the specific activities we might implement in our homes, but not one clearly relating what we do to WHY we do it... |
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I would love to follow a thread like this and hear your thoughts, ladies. I am trying to wrap my head around my goals for this sort of thing, and this summary of the order of priorities is what I've been pondering myself.
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Susana
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I think a thread like this would be great too! I tend to get anxiety attacks with too much clutter, and although there are some really great craft ideas for the feast days, I always wonder what everyone does with them over the years. Maybe that would be a good post in itself! What do you do with all of your feast day crafts? Inquiring minds want to know! :)
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stellamaris
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Go ahead someone and start up a thread if you want. I'd love to see the discussion! I'm offline for two weeks starting tonight, so it someone else should probably get the ball rolling! 
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Caroline
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Saturday vs. Sunday Mass
