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Hi, Holly —
- I assume you are speaking about an
anticipated or vigil Mass
for Sunday falling on the Nativity
(as oppose to the vigil Mass for
Nativity)?
I have not heard that such anticipated
Masses are discouraged. However,
it is true that both the obligation
for the feast day — if it
is a feast day for which the obligation
is not abrogated on Saturday — and
the obligation for Sunday must be
fulfilled. This might introduce an
unusual situation where people, depending
on their habits, might need to go
to church twice in one day.
For example, if you normally attended
the Sunday anticipated Mass, and
normally attended Christmas Day Mass,
this would call for going to Mass
Saturday morning and Saturday evening
but there is no reason why you couldn't
go to the Friday vigil for Nativity,
if you didn't want to do this.
Perhaps the discouragement is intended
to avoid this kind of situation.
Personally, I don't see a compelling
reason to discourage Sunday anticipated
Masses in this situation. This would
not apply to the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God,
which obligation is abrogated on
Saturdays:
It would however apply to the Immaculate
Conception.
Eric
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