The Rant Continues, Holy Days of Obligation…

Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.  What this means is you are “required” as part of being Catholic to go to Church every Sunday and “keep it Holy” by dedicating the day to the Lord.

Here in the US, because many people started taking jobs that required them to work Sundays, there was created a Saturday Vigil Mass, initially for those that worked the next day, to allow them to meet their Sunday obligation of going to Church.  Over time, more and more people started going to the Saturday Vigil Mass “to free up their Sunday mornings for “fun things””.  In general I am OK with the Vigil Mass, but it was (and still technically still is) intended for those that had to work on Sunday (don’t get me started on that, or the rant soap box will get REALLY worn out).

Over the last few years, it appears all of the Sunday Masses are having deteriorating attendance, which is not good.  If you are Catholic, be Catholic and meet your obligations, it is for your own good and the good of your Soul!

There use to be 10 (and more even earlier in the history of the Church) “High Holy Days of Obligation” throughout the year.  These would fall on the same numerical day of the year, such as “St Joseph’s Day” on March 9th, what ever day of the week that date would fall on, requiring you to go to Church on that day and attend Mass.  In the Old days, many people were allowed to take that day, or part of the day, off to attend Mass.

Here in the States we have reduced that number to 8 days, and 7 of those we “move” to a the closest Sunday after that date, leaving only Christmas on it’s set date.  All because too many people complained about “having to be at Church during the week”.  (At least that is what if feels like and looks like to me!)  Now, in partial defense of the Faithful, the local work forces do not allow their employees take the time to meet their spiritual needs anymore, or cause many problems if they do get asked to let their religious oriented people go to Mass and come back to work.

All that said, people are not even going to a “Sunday” Mass as they should be..  Especially on the “moved” Obligation days!  So what good was it moving them to a Sunday?  We should put them back on their set days, and EVERYONE in the Catholic Church should be going to Mass on those days, Sundays, AND WHEN they can, daily!

That is every day but Saturday morning.  Most Catholic Churches in the US have stopped having Saturday morning Masses.  Not sure why??  And no one I talk to knows why??  Historically if you go to Mass 7 days a week, you are listening to about 96% of the Bible and getting it explained to you over a three year period.  But without the Saturday Mass you are missing 104 readings (52 Gospels and 52 First Readings from the Old and New Testament) and having them explained to you in “today’s terms”.  Is this really acceptable to the Church?

Please bring back ALL the Days of Obligation ON THEIR TRUE DAYS, and Saturday Masses!

 

 

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A Rant…

Two Sundays ago my Parish had our Confirmation Mass, where young adults came before the Church and announced their desire to take the final step, of three, of becoming a Catholic by choice instead of by their parent’s decision.  They came before the Church and accepted Jesus as their Savior and the Catholic Church as their home.

Last Sunday we had First Holy Communion for our young children that were taking the second step in coming into full communion with the Church and to start receiving the Eucharist at Mass.

In both cases the Mass was attended by friends and family of those coming into the Church by their choice, and those receiving Communion with the Church.  This is good!

What is bad is what I heard the weeks before these two weekends.  Many Parishioners stated that everyone should go to the Sunday Vigil or the 1200 hours Mass because the 9AM Mass would be too long and crowded.

We, as Christians, should be HAPPY to be at this Mass and watch our newest members come closer to God!  We should be there to show our support and to welcome them into the Church!

Sunday should be a day dedicated to Christ and His Church.  Spending a bit of extra time IN the Church should not be a problem.  If you have to stand to be present should not be a problem.  If you are unable to stand that long, come a bit earlier and ensure you get a seat.  EVERYONE in the Parish should have been at those two Masses, and the other Masses of the weekend should have been empty or near empty (occupied by those that had to work Sunday morning).

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