Vigil masses
  • musicman923
    Posts: 239
    Hello everyone,

    My parish tonight had a vigil mass for the feast of the assumption. I have two questions:
    A). If it's not a holy day of obligation ( this year it isn't since it falls on a Saturday), why is there a vigil mass?

    B). If there is a vigil mass, shouldn't the vigil readings be used? I picked the vigil psalm expecting to hear the vigil readings but the feast day readings were selected instead. I asked the Deacon about it and he said " it's up to the homilist" as to which readings he wants to preach upon. The visiting priest chose the feast day readings. So it looked bad cause we did the wrong psalm. I should have asked before mass but assumed a vigil mass would be the vigil reading!
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    For the first question:

    A few Solemnities are equipped with a set of Mass propers for Masses offered on the previous evening, and such is the case for the Assumption. (SS. Peter & Paul on June 29 is another case.)

    The Roman Missal specifies a set of propers for Masses offered in the evening of August 14.

    It doesn't depend on whether there is an obligation to attend Mass in your country.
    Thanked by 1Liam
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Musicman923,

    Excuse the question, but shouldn't this question have been settled before the day of the Mass?
  • musicman923
    Posts: 239
    Very true. But I was under the assumption of a vigil mass following the vigil readings. I know better for next time!
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,314
    It is sad that our well-formed instincts are regularly subjected to the whims of the clergy. I also didn’t know theAssumption had a vigil Mass distinct from the anticipated Mass of the feast. It is closer to but not identical to the pre-conciliar practice of the vigil being a penitential preparation for the feast. Although, the Christmas Eve Mass is simply a re-tooled Vigil Mass...
    Thanked by 1RPBurke
  • eft94530eft94530
    Posts: 1,577
    A failure to communicate?
    Hardly.
    Liturgy class for priest and deacon provides instruction.
    The Ordo in the Sacristy clearly indicates to aid the failing memory.
    Remember SC # 22.3
    A homily has zero to do with it.
    The homilist can say what they want, and many do, regardless of any appointed Scripture.
    Thanked by 1irishtenor
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    Our diocesan Ordo lists no vigil Masses except Christmas and Easter (it does give the vigil Offices), so our parish does not use them. Our pastor will not go against this even at Pentecost and he is CSSp (Holy Ghost Fathers). Apparently this is so as not to deprive the faithful of the Sunday readings, though I don't see how that applies to the Birthday of John the Baptist this year. I seethe.
    Thanked by 1JonLaird
  • JonLaird
    Posts: 245
    I believe there is also a distinction to be made between vigil Masses and anticipatory Masses. One can have an anticipatory Mass which would use the propers for the day although vigil mass propers may exist. In fact, some have argued that this should be the norm and that the "vigil Mass" as such is misunderstood and used improperly.

    It is possible that although the OP expected--as most of us probably would--to have the evening-before Mass use the vigil propers, the priest quite legitimately chose to celebrate the anticipatory rather than vigil mass.
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    There are rules for this, given to us by the Church. There are so many *options* in the OF, that almost anything can be justified.
    Thanked by 1eft94530
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,314
    The Holy Ghost Fathers are not known for being good liturgists, a_f_hawkins, and they expelled the only one with anything resembling good liturgical instincts.

    After reading the linked article I would add that although the Easter Vigil now counts for the obligation, it is not really the first Mass of Easter. And it used to be like all other vigils celebrated in the morning or at the latest, after None.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    Well, in the OF, it is. In the EF, the vigil proper preceded the Mass itself. In the OF, they've been merged - the weird residue being the placement of the Gloria and rubrics associated with it.
    Thanked by 1JonLaird
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