I had a conversation this evening with a dear friend from interstate. The conversation began by a comment of mine regarding Catholics partying on a Saturday night. My view is that if I can't get up for Sunday morning Mass, say 9.30 (and be able to serve/sing), then I went out too late or drank too much etc. This is regardless of the fact that I may have risen in enough time to attend 11am or an evening Mass.
The discussion immediately transformed into a debate about morning Mass vs evening Mass. I argued that if you are normally a morning mass goer (as the great majority are) it is pure laziness if you don't get up for the morning Mass simply because you don't want to. It's inexcusable. Her argument, in my opinion, was sound but weak. Effectively that Mass is Mass is Mass and it's all about Jesus. (Yes my friend is charamatic - really don't know why this person bothers with me!)
I'd like your opinions and wisdom. Is morning Mass better for your soul (especially for young Catholics)? Should everyone aim to be a morning Mass goer or is it fine to get into the habit (for no genuine reason like work) of going to 5pm Mass?
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I tend to agree with your friend that as long as you make it to Mass on Sunday at some point, it's fine. There is definitely nothing wrong or sinful about going to evening Mass.
That being said. . . if you live with your family, I definitely think going to Mass as a family should be a priority (rather than everyone going to different Mass times). Generally speaking that would mean going in the morning.
Furthermore, to start the day with the Mass sets the tone for the rest of Sunday as the Lord's Day. To begin the day with the Eucharist provides us with the grace we need to faithfully follow and serve Christ throughout the day.
Hmmm. Dilema. There is quite a large group of us in the 18-25 year old bracket at the Mass I attend that are social and tend to go out regularly. All of us pride ourselves that we can (nearly always) be up for the 9.30am Mass even if it means only 3-4 hours sleep. If you happen to miss that Mass and everyone knows it's because you went out Saturday night you cop it from all your mates! Mainly because you forgot to put Mass, you family, God, the Church first in that instance.
I'm not suggesting the sacrifice of the Mass is 'better' in the morning, but that maybe you receive more Graces for starting the day with Mass & the Holy Eucharist effectively putting that as your prime responsibility on Sundays. (I'm an engineer not a Theologian so please keep criticizing me if you like).
Peer pressure about what time Mass you go to?(Imagine here that I have one eyebrow raised in incredulity)
I would rather have a couple of extra hours sleep and be able to pray better then have 3 to 4 hours and be distracted by the fact that I have to at least APPEAR to be awake even if I am about to fall off the pew (or drop a candle stick as the case maybe). But that's just me.
Look I prefer to go to a morning Mass but that's because that is my personality and I pray better in the morning. My sister is NOT a morning person at all and seriouly it is much better for her to go to a later one.
But it returns to the fact that the previous night, you may have thought, “Should I stay for one more drink?” “Should I stay out for one more hour?" "Means I miss Mass in the morning..." Seems to me in that instance the social life is coming first.
Yes, Shan, God should have been first on the list but I was in a hurry to reply and get to uni. I just wrote them in no particular order.
Again with the word pride. Perhaps I should have phrased it that we would be ashamed for missing 9.30am Mass.
The party scene at uni, especially in first year, is where most Catholics lose their way in the faith. If they were to be encouraged to attend morning Mass they would by direct proportionality not go out as late, drink as much etc. I hear regularly, “it’s okay, I can go to Mass tonight.” With the evening Mass used as an excuse to stay out later, giving more time to recover from a greater hangover.
Better Mass and better for your soul are two different things. Just as there are different ways of attending Mass – just standing/kneeling there, or standing/kneeling there in prayer preparing yourself to receive Our Lord.
Off quickly to lecture. Com’on Fr., weigh in on this!
Whatever Sam, err I mean Roman. I was tempted to delete your post as it is not in any way true.
Shan, last year of high school and uni is tremendously different. Mainly you are now of legal age and you don't have yr12 exams breathing down your back. I'm not a "normal" student in anyway, but I hardly did anything social in yr 12. My saturday nights were spent watching the footy. But come uni...
You've got me thinking about Vigil Masses. I like them even less than Sunday evenings. But this time I will compile something with deep thought rather than a rush.
Then there is the matter of fasting...
I agree with regards to Vigil Mass. People shouldn't be going to the Vigil Mass unless they have serious reason that they can't make it to Mass on Sunday (people working necessary shift work jobs on Sunday such as doctors, nurses, etc...).
Who would have thought the debate would turned into this... ??
Why don't we think about the Middle Ages, or even a later period than that. Do you really think there was Vigil Masses or Sunday evening Masses? You would have walked to Mass in the early morning having fasted since midnight.
Vigil and evening Masses are a modern convenience and thus should not be the preferential time to worship!
I wonder if Cypress III has an opinion on this - being a medievalist and all.
my seminarian friend once commented how he loves weekday and Saturday morning masses because the people actually want to be there. but weekday masses is obviously not Sunday mass. for me Sunday mass is mass. sometimes certain circumstances can't be helped and one misses morning mass, it's good to know that there's an evening mass to go to. whatever the reason is for that's between God and the sincerity of one's heart. I personally go to the night mass not because i can't get up early in the morning (since i regularly attend weekday morning masses) but because i help out with the youth mass.
UIOGD
(p.s. i 'stumbled' upon your blog through dilexitprior)
Peace be with you all my friends and let's just not forget to get to Mass at some point between 4pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday.
This is really just a debate of personal preference.
It reminds me of a discussion I had with someone at WYD last year. They were handing out little flyers saying that receiving communion on the hand was blasphemous. I took the flyer, read it, and asked the person if they were Roman Catholic. They said they were. "Oh good, I said, so you're obedient to the Magisterium?" They said they were. "Great, then I don't see what the problem is. I personally prefer to receive communion on the tongue, but that being said, if the magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church doesn't see a problem with people receiving on the hand, then I'll trust them on that."
So, while I said I don't think people should be going to the Vigil Mass unless they have just reason, I'm not saying there shouldn't be a vigil Mass. As for getting up in the morning to go to morning Mass as opposed to evening Mass? Well, as others have pointed out there are many factors to consider. I personally prefer starting the day with Mass, but this might not be the best choice for everyone.
Ok, that's all I wanted to say.
God Bless. You Aussies are fun. :-)
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