Midnight Mass Counts Towards Christmas Holy Day Of Obligation?

[Paladin D]

Does Midnight Mass (night of Christmas Eve) count towards Christmas Day, thus fulfilling the Holy Day of Obligation? Christmas Day lies on a Tuesday this year.

[prose]

Yes, as does any Christmas Eve Mass.

[dUSt]

Yeah, that's why you go, so you can play with your presents all day on Christmas.

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Paladin D' post='1436537' date='Dec 20 2007, 01:37 PM']Does Midnight Mass (night of Christmas Eve) count towards Christmas Day, thus fulfilling the Holy Day of Obligation? Christmas Day lies on a Tuesday this year.[/quote]

Why would it not count?

[Paladin D]

For some reason, I thought Christmas Eve Mass was a separate ordeal, which did not count for Christmas Day.

Thanks for the heads up.

[brendan1104]

Feasts/Sundays begin at First Vespers.

And the day begins at Midnight, so...

Yes.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='brendan1104' post='1436628' date='Dec 20 2007, 04:34 PM']Feasts/Sundays begin at First Vespers.

And the day begins at Midnight, so...

Yes.[/quote]

What if the Christmas Eve Mass is not on Midnight, but in the evening? Such as 10pm?

[jeffpugh]

Then, we remember our Jewish ancestors who began each sabbath/feast at sunset of the previous day. It's all good (actually, I can't say this is factual, but I welcome the correct answer as much as Paladin)

[prose]

[quote name='Paladin D' post='1436647' date='Dec 20 2007, 02:54 PM']What if the Christmas Eve Mass is not on Midnight, but in the evening? Such as 10pm?[/quote]

Every Christmas Eve Mass counts towards the obligation. It is the same as Saturday Mass.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='prose' post='1436654' date='Dec 20 2007, 05:06 PM']Every Christmas Eve Mass counts towards the obligation. It is the same as Saturday Mass.[/quote]

Cool.

[elizabeth_jane]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1436577' date='Dec 20 2007, 03:36 PM']Yeah, that's why you go, so you can play with your presents all day on Christmas.[/quote]

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Paladin D' post='1436647' date='Dec 20 2007, 04:54 PM']What if the Christmas Eve Mass is not on Midnight, but in the evening? Such as 10pm?[/quote]
I think it can be as early as 4pm or so.

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='qfnol31' post='1436792' date='Dec 20 2007, 06:18 PM']I think it can be as early as 4pm or so.[/quote]

4:00pm is regarded as the earliest possible time for anticipatory Masses.

incidentally, there are four Masses of Christmas (Vigil, Midnight, Dawn and Day), any one of which would fulfill your obligation.

[Era Might]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1436819' date='Dec 20 2007, 07:25 PM']incidentally, there are four Masses of Christmas (Vigil, Midnight, Dawn and Day)[/quote]
Do they each have different readings or prayers?

[Autumn Dusk]

LOL if a storm is brewing christmas eve that would mean my christmas would start at 3pm on the 24 beucsae it gets dark so fast in the mountians

[brendan1104]

All different readings and prayers.

[Totus Tuus]

What VaticanIILiturgist mentioned is very interesting.

Edited December 21, 2007 by Totus Tuus

[elizabeth_jane]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think 4:00 is too early? A lot of parishes in my diocese are foregoing Midnight Mass (which I think is a beautiful and important Catholic tradition) to have these early Masses.

Thoughts?

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='elizabeth_jane' post='1437333' date='Dec 21 2007, 10:56 PM']Is it just me, or does anyone else think 4:00 is too early? A lot of parishes in my diocese are foregoing Midnight Mass (which I think is a beautiful and important Catholic tradition) to have these early Masses.

Thoughts?[/quote]

No. The driving is horrible after dark in new england, especially in the mountain regions with the snow. Midnight Mass is a nice thought but its impractical in many regions.

[Ash Wednesday]

Wow, if midnight mass didn't fulfill the obligation then I'd have been screwed all these years along with the rest of my family because that's the way we always did it.