As you are aware by now, this Advent is shrunk to the shortest possible number of days because Christmas, December 25 is a Monday, immediately following the fourth Sunday of Advent.
For various pastoral and practical reasons, our parish will have a different schedule for December 23-25 while still following the teaching of Holy Mother Church. We have a little less time for the Advent anticipation, but we also get a back-to-back call to the amazing gift of the celebration of Mass.
Christmas Day is, of course, a holy day of obligation, and the fact that it falls on a Monday doesn’t change the usual Sunday precept for Catholics to attend Mass the day before. Yes, Catholics are obliged to attend and participate in Mass every Sunday, and it is grave matter to not do so with a few exceptions. While there are a lot of different times, including Vigil Masses the night before at which Catholics can attend Mass and fulfill their obligations, it’s not ever possible to fulfill them both with a single Mass. Two obligations means two Masses, those are the rules, but hopefully most Catholics don’t primarily think of going to Mass in terms of an “obligation,” but since we choose to pack our domestic calendars, what are the expectations or options for getting to Church over the long weekend.
Option 1: 2 for 2 Many Catholics will opt for simply going to their usual morning Mass on successive days – first at 9:00 on Sunday December 24 for the 4th Sunday of Advent and then at 9:00 again the next day for Christmas. It’s easy to remember and plan around, and the no-nonsense solution. Two obligations, two Masses, two days – simple.
Option 2: The Evening Vigil Night owl There is another way to go to Mass in two days – especially at Christmas when people prefer to go in the evening. We will have the normal Vigil Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 23 at 4:00, and then Sunday night we will have THREE Christmas Masses: 4:00, 6:00 and 10:00 in the evening. I will be a tired puppy by the end of that day this year, but all for YOU!
Option 3: The long weekend There might be some who will need to take the day before Christmas to relax or to do meal prep or do some last minute shopping or travel. For some two days in a row for Church is just too much. In those cases, you could choose the Vigil Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent on Saturday night, and then go for the morning Mass on Christmas day and avoid the crowds on Christmas Eve.
Option 4: Super Sunday Not for the faint-hearted, but instead of spreading your Mass obligations across three days, you could choose to pack them all into one Super Sunday. To do that you would go Sunday morning at 9 for the 4th Sunday of Advent, and then to Mass again later that evening at 4, 6 or 10.
Whatever your plans for Christmas, please, pick one of the options above, and get to Mass. Twice. I’ll see you at any or all of them — I can’t wait!
God Bless,
