Christmas masses

[kern]

So I'm approaching the first "big holiday" (in the Catholic sense) since I started going to church again. There are apparently four different options for the Christmas mass -- vigil mass, midnight mass, dawn mass, and mass during the day.

Which of these should I go to? Should (or can) I go to more than one? (There's a tradition in my family to go to this candlelight service at the Presbyterian church my father belongs to, so I'd rather not do the midnight mass unless it's really special.)

-Chris

 

[jukesk9]

Hands down, Midnight Mass is the most solemn and holy moment. It's awesome. I must say you can really, really feel the holiness. Plus, in our parish anyway, the Choir sings for a half hour before Mass begins. It's rather lovely. We haven't missed Midnight Mass in a few years. This may sound corny, but Midnight Mass ranks up near the top as some of the reasons I am proud to be a Catholic.

 

[kelco]

Although I'm not catholic, the highlight of my Christmas Eve is to watch the Pope perform Midnight Mass on TV. It is so beautiful. Maybe one day I'll get to go to Rome and see it for myself.

 

[Wolseley]

The only thing to compare to Midnight Mass is Easter Sunday Mass. You want special, you got it. It's about the only thing you're going to get here in our current "low Church" phase to compare with a Tridentine Solemn High Mass.

 

[kern]

Hmm, OK. I think I can bow out of the candlelight service tradition pretty easily, especially if I'm doing it to go to a different church service.

So what is the "vigil" mass? I thought a vigil was something where you stayed up all night.

-Chris

 

[Wolseley]

A vigil Mass is one that is celebrated the evening before the day itself; in one sense of the word, every Saturday evening Mass is a "vigil" Mass.

A vigil, on the other hand, is something different----that was where ye olde knight back in the Middle Ages stayed up all night in prayer and reflecteion before going off to resue the king's daughter from the barbarians, or to go on Crusade, or some other endeavor of derring-do.

I suppose if you make a vigil, that makes you vigilant. Or maybe just a vigilante. Or something like that.......

 

[sklippstein]

Midnight Mass is always been my favorite. I loved going to Midnight Masses because they ARE special. I highly recommend that u atleast try attending a Midnight Mass.

 

[Caedmon]

I wish I could go to a midnight mass. That would be cool.

 

[kern]

You can go (assuming there is a Catholic church in the area), you just can't receive the Eucharist. I went to mass several times before I was able to receive Eucharist.

-Chris

 

[VOW]

To Joe:

Call around to the different Catholic Churches in your area. There may be one holding "Midnight Mass" at an earlier hour.

When we lived in Kentucky, we attended a little church in a farming community next to Radcliff. The winter weather in Kentucky can be miserable, so the priest said that he would have "Midnight Mass" at 7 PM on Christmas Eve. He didn't want the parents dragging their little kids out of a nice warm bed at midnight and run the risk of them getting sick.

Mass was wonderful. It didn't quite have the "flavor" of the Midnight Masses I have attended elsewhere, but all the little kids were awake. Father called them to the front of the Church, and had them gather around the manger and sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

That was definitely one of our most memorable Midnight Masses.



Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[thepalmtree]

    I love midnight mass. I look forward all year to it. Their is such an atmosphere. When i was young, even people who had petty grudges and misunderstandings during the year would shake hands and wish each other a merry christmas. The lobby would be mobed with well-wishers.

 

[Avila]

I wish I could go to a Midnight Mass, but even the 10:30 "Midnight" mass is too late for Tommy. We'll probably go to the daytime one. Although, I think a dawn mass would be pretty awesome!

 

[Caedmon]

My problem is that I will be with family all Christmas Eve up near my parish, but then we will head back to my parents' that night. I cannot get away to Midnight Mass while at my parents' house. They do not understand; my mother hates all things Catholic.

I wish I could gooooooo!!!!!!!

 

[ZooMom]

Slip out the back, Jack...

Make a new plan, Stan...

You don't need to be coy, Roy...

Just listen to me.

Hop on the bus, Gus...

You don't need to discuss muuuuch...

Just drop off the key, Lee...

And get yourself free.


There must be at least 50 ways to get out of your parent's house. The best one is usually through the front door. Hug and kiss your mom, tell her you won't be drinking, picking up girls, or committing any felonies, and that you will be back soon, love ya, bye. Honor thy mom and dad, and go to Midnight Mass. They'll get over it, but you may never be the same again.

Joe.

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by ZooMom
There must be at least 50 ways to get out of your parent's house. The best one is usually through the front door. Hug and kiss your mom, tell her you won't be drinking, picking up girls, or committing any felonies, and that you will be back soon, love ya, bye. Honor thy mom and dad, and go to Midnight Mass. They'll get over it, but you may never be the same again.

Joe.

ZooMom

Thank you for the advice, but I don't think I could pull it off. It'd be right after the 2 hour trip back to their house, so they would think it odd that I go out right after then, till 1am, no less. I've never ever done that before, so they would be extremely curious, and my mother WOULD get it out of me where I was going, and all HELL would break loose.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Originally posted by humblejoe
ZooMom

Thank you for the advice, but I don't think I could pull it off. It'd be right after the 2 hour trip back to their house, so they would think it odd that I go out right after then, till 1am, no less. I've never ever done that before, so they would be extremely curious, and my mother WOULD get it out of me where I was going, and all HELL would break loose.

I pray that your mother will be able to accept your faith. God be with both of you.

 

[Wolseley]

I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm all right,

I don't need you to tell me it's time to come home;

I don't care what you say any more---this is my life!

Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone!

PM me and give me your phone number. I'll call you right after you get back from the fam's, and pose as a school friend in the middle of a crisis meltdown, and I just gotta talk to ya. Then you can leave with a perfectly good excuse and go to Mass.

The rest of the story is up to you to concoct.

 

[VOW]

Hey, Wols, I love you.

And Joe....do it. Do it for yourself, and do it for Jesus.



Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Kotton]

Originally posted by humblejoe
ZooMom

Thank you for the advice, but I don't think I could pull it off. It'd be right after the 2 hour trip back to their house, so they would think it odd that I go out right after then, till 1am, no less. I've never ever done that before, so they would be extremely curious, and my mother WOULD get it out of me where I was going, and all HELL would break loose.

Be right up front; invite them to go with you. Tell them it will be an experience for all, and it is beautiful. Many people not Catholic have enjoyed attending Mid-night Mass. I remember the neighbors who never went to church, going with my mother and me. We will all pray for you and your decision.

Kotton

 

 

[Wolseley]

Hey, Joe---it's time, I think.

You're 21. Go see your local Air Force recruiter, and fill out your dream sheet for Japan, Korea, Germany, Turkey, or Australia.

Once you're there, go see your base Catholic chaplain and start RCIA.

And if you're smart, you'll stay in the Air Force until they throw you out or you die of old age.

Trust me on this. It would be the best thing in the world for you.