Holier Than Thou

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Originally posted on AbbeyRoads2

Ray from MN Says:
June 5th, 2007 at 6:53 am

Well, now that you brought it up, Terry, I can no longer keep my silence on the matter.

I have raised the issue with a canon lawyer (who did not give me the courtesy of a reply).

No before you think I have gone off the deep end on this issue hear me out.

I have no problem with the Saturday (and Holy Day) vigil Masses. I’ve got other things to worry about.

But, being a constitutional conservative and legal literalist, there is a problem with the argument used to justify the vigil Masses.

Reverting to the pre-wristwatch days of the Old and New Testament, the canon lawyers have determined that the “day” lasts from Sundown to Sundown and accordingly, “Saturday at Sundown” is legally “Sunday.”

I won’t quibble about the 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. vigil Masses that take place long before Sundown, especially in the Summer months under Daylight Savings Time.

What I do wonder about are all those 5:00, 6:00, 6:30, 7:30 and 9:00 p.m. (in the Twin Cities) Masses that take place on Sunday Evenings.

Especially in the winter months here, aren’t those times legally “Monday?”

It seems to me that a strict interpretation of the Saturday Vigil Mass rule would declare that all of those who attend Sunday Evening Masses have missed their Sunday Mass Obligation.

What do you think?