Holy days of Obligation

Montie Claunch · #1 Apr 10, '06, 10:08 pm

Granted I will be there on the Easter Vigil to be Confirmed, and I would figure that the Easter would be one but, of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, (Whatever Saterday is called) Saterday, and Easter Sunday, which if any are HDoO? Thanks and God bless.

thistle · #2 Apr 10, '06, 10:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montie Claunch

Granted I will be there on the Easter Vigil to be Confirmed, and I would figure that the Easter would be one but, of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, (Whatever Saterday is called) Saterday, and Easter Sunday, which if any are HDoO? Thanks and God bless.

Sunday (every one) is a Holy Day of Obligation, although Saturday evening Mass would fulfill the obligation.
The other days you mention are not Holy Days of Obligation.

**puzzleannie** · #3 Apr 11, '06, 1:42 am

the liturgies of the Triduum, Holy Thursday through Easter, are parts of one celebration. For those entering the Church at Easter the rites of holy Week are traditionally the most intensive part of their preparation and they should definitely be present. Only the Easter Mass is an obligation, but their reception at the Easter Vigil implies they have been participating throughout this period.

Psalm45:9 · #4 Apr 11, '06, 3:04 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montie Claunch

Granted I will be there on the Easter Vigil to be Confirmed, and I would figure that the Easter would be one but, of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, (Whatever Saterday is called) Saterday, and Easter Sunday, which if any are HDoO? Thanks and God bless.

The only day of the Paschal Triduum that you are obligated to attend Mass is Easter Sunday. The Easter Vigil on the preceeding evening fullfills this obligation. Up until 1642 all of the days of the paschal triduum were Holy Days of Obligation. However, these are the three most important days of the church's year, so if you can attend; you should.

nova147 · #5 Apr 11, '06, 7:13 am

I would suggest that if it is at all possible that you attend all the Holy Week services, especially this year. It is such a powerful, cleansing time that helps to connect you to Christ. As you are about to enter the Church, this is an especially important thing. Of course, these things are not always possible. But it is beneficial. (From one who's been there . . . confirmed Easter Vigil 2004)

MJ

Brendan · #6 Apr 11, '06, 7:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psalm45:9

Up until 1642 all of the days of the paschal triduum were Holy Days of Obligation. .

Sort of. Mass was not celebrated on Good Friday, so it could never be a Holy Day of Obligation.

One can't be obliged to attend Mass on a day Mass is prohibited.

Psalm45:9 · #7 Apr 11, '06, 8:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan

Sort of. Mass was not celebrated on Good Friday, so it could never be a Holy Day of Obligation.

One can't be obliged to attend Mass on a day Mass is prohibited.

Yes and no, people were still obligated to attend the Good Friday "Mass" of the Presanctified. I got the information from the general decree of 1955 which began the restoration of the Paschal Triduum:

"In the days of faith these three days, the Sacred Triduum, were days of obligation, and the faithful, freed from servile work, were able to take their part in the morning celebrations in great numbers. By the seventeenth century social and religious conditions had altered so greatly that in 1642 the Sacred Triduum was removed from the days of obligation, and the three days became officially what they had long been in practice: ordinary workdays."

http://mysite.verizon.net/missale/holyweek.html

Regardless if "Mass" was not observed on that day, people were still obligated to attend the "Mass" of the Presanctified. (Even if they were not permitted to recieve communion, that was not allowed until Pius XII began the reforms.)

revejj2000 · #8 Apr 11, '06, 8:18 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan

Sort of. Mass was not celebrated on Good Friday, so it could never be a Holy Day of Obligation.

One can't be obliged to attend Mass on a day Mass is prohibited.

When the Sacred Triduum was considered a Holy Day of Obligation, as mentioned in a previous post, Good Friday would be included. Why? For the Church considers all three days as one event.

Holy Thursday begins: "In the name of the Father, . . . ." but does not end with the dismisal or the blesssing, "May Almighty God Bless . . . ." instead the Church leaves in silence and some may stay for some time of private adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Good Friday does not begin or end with either for it is a continuation of Holy Thursday, for the Mass did not end on Holy Thursday. Again, the Church leaves in silence and may adore the Cross in private adoration. The Easter Vigil does not begin with the "In the name of the Father, . . . ." but with inviting all to witness the Blessing of the Fire and the Procession of the Paschal Candle. Only at the end of the Easter Vigil is there the blessing and the dismissal with the double Alleluia.

If we realize that all three days are really one day, then what we do out side of the ceremonies should be in a state of holiness for we are still "in the Spirit of the Mass" even when we are not in Church during the whole Sacred Triduum. In the early days of the Church, the catechumens would have to spend the enter Sacred Triduum performing acts of penance and prayer before entering into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

Fr. Bro.