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Catholics/Mass on Sun Dec 26
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Question
I have to travel on Sunday Dec26 and it would be difficult to attend Mass on that day.I intend to go on Xmas Eve and Xmas day in lieu of Sunday. Do you think that is acceptable? There is no Saturday vigil Mass on Xmas day .
Hi, Bob:
Going to an extra Christmas Mass out of devotion is certainly a good thing. Actually one does not or cannot "make up" a Sunday Obligation on some other day. Either one can attend or cannot attend Sunday Mass for sufficient reason; or to put it another way, one is not bound to the Sunday Obligation where one is excused from it for sufficient reason. If, due to travel it would be a serious or grave inconvenience, and one cannot reasonably assist at a Sunday Mass, then one is not bound. We must always be careful in this situation that we are very moderate in exercising it, lest we be absent from Sunday Mass for long periods of time, missing numerous Sunday Masses. The fact that you ask the question seems to me to indicate that you take the Sunday Obligation seriously and do not seek merely to "blow it off" lightly.
To put it yet another way: one must make every REASONABLE effort to assist at Sunday Mass. If on rare occasion, due to travel, this woudl not be reasonable, then one is exculpated.
In my parishes this year I am making available a Sunday Mass on the 26th in the evening; but this is maybe not the case everywhere. It would be reasonable to look into this possibility; but you did not indicate how much of SUN the 26th will be taken with travelling time.
So my only advice is that you make a reasonable effort to see whether there is any reasonable way to assist at a Sunday Mass. If this is not reasonable, then you are not strictly bound.
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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