Jump to content
An Old School Catholic Message Board

Does Any Mass Fulfill Sunday Obligation?


LouisvilleFan

Recommended Posts

LouisvilleFan

In a couple weeks I'm attending a Catholic wedding that will be 7pm on a Saturday night. Since it's after 5pm, and assuming they include the Liturgy of the Eucharist, does it fulfill the Sunday obligation?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With respect to Saturday evening, Canon Law states: “The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a Catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day” (Can. 1248, par. 1). Each diocese has the right to determine the hour at which ‘evening’ begins; commonly it is 4 p.m.

The Liturgical Calendar invites pastors to celebrate the day of the Lord’s resurrection with zeal and joy. It states: “Wedding or funeral Masses are not to be considered as a Sunday Mass when they are celebrated on Saturday afternoon or evening”

However, according to an authorized commentary of Canon 1248, participation in ‘any’ Mass, even a wedding Mass, after 4 p.m., is enough to satisfy the obligation of Sunday Mass (The Canon Law, Letter and Spirit, The Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1995, Commentary No 2467, John M. Huels, O.S.M.). Remember, every Mass celebrates Christ’s mystery.

Here is an exceptional situation, since nobody attends a Marriage Mass every weekend. And we should also keep in mind that the faithful going to a marriage Mass takes part in the celebration of two sacraments: the Eucharist and Marriage. The present interpretation, which is according to the spirit and not the letter, is still more acceptable when the faithful regularly attends Holy Mass on Sunday.

If after having participated in a Marriage Mass at 7 p.m. on Saturday, you think that you have fulfilled your Sunday obligation and you decide not to come back, you can be at peace.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...