• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

“Re: Vigil Masses” • Reader Feedback (3 June 2025)

Jeff Ostrowski · June 3, 2025

The following came from Marissa R.
[We usually redact names for anonymity’s sake.]

HAVE GOTTEN some questions lately regarding the requirements for offering Vigil Masses as the regularly scheduled “anticipated” (Saturday evening) Masses. From what I can gather, it is a local, pastoral decision as to whether the anticipated Mass uses the readings for the normal Sunday Mass or the readings for the Vigil Mass. In other words, if the choice is made to use the readings for the Vigil Mass, the Mass still satisfies the Sunday obligation, even though the Sunday readings are not used. This question comes up twice this month, both for Pentecost and the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul. For the Ascension (for those dioceses that moved the celebration to Sunday) it was not an issue, since the readings for the Vigil of the Ascension and the Ascension Day are the same. But these other two occasions are causing confusion for some of my colleagues in the diocese of [redacted]. I wanted to check with you, to see if you agreed that it is a local, pastoral choice. Thanks for your help.

The following is Jeff Ostrowski’s response:
[This response was posted on 3 June 2025.]

HERE’S AN INDISPENSABLE and fascinating source regarding the history of fulfilling one’s obligation by attending an “anticipated” Mass. Published by SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS, I highly recommend picking up: SAINT EDMUND CAMPION MISSAL, Third Edition. Our grandparents would have been gobsmacked to learn Catholics would someday be able to fulfill their Sunday obligation by Mass celebrated the day before. Bishops started allowing this in the 1960s. Father Shawn P. Tunink notes that “word of such indults was spread privately until a more public announcement was made over Vatican Radio” on 12 June 1964, explicitly allowing this rather bizarre permission. It’s far too complicated for me to speak about at this time, since it involves various changes to the required Eucharistic fast, an allowance for the afternoon and evening celebration of Mass, and various other factors.1

1983 Was Magic • In all of Church history, the very first time Catholics were officially allowed to fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending an “anticipated” Mass the night before—without a special indult—was 1983. I suspect the permission was intended for people unable to attend Mass on Sunday (e.g. hospital workers). But because of this change (made in 1983), many Catholics attend Mass every Saturday night and go their entire life without setting foot in church on Sunday. It’s difficult to imagine anyone defending this situation, which seems to downplay and dishonor the day of the Lord. But what can we do? The Catholic Church allows it. (My personal belief is that a “reform of the reform” must fix this at some point.)

Your Specific Question • Let me now directly address your question. Most of the time, the “anticipated” Mass formulary used on Saturday evening is identical to the Sunday Mass formulary. However, as you already mentioned, a few Sundays have special ‘vigils.’ Traditionally, such vigil Masses were offered on the previous morning. (Remember that for centuries, it had been forbidden to offer Mass except during the morning hours, with very few exceptions.) As of 1983, Catholics can fulfill the Sunday obligation by going to Mass the evening before—so it’s technically possible to never attend Mass on Easter Sunday and hear the special chants: Haec Dies, Victimae Paschali Laudes, and so forth. It’s technically possible to never attend Mass on Pentecost Sunday. And so forth.

One’s obligation is fulfilled the night before irrespective of which Mass formulary is used. It truly doesn’t matter—as far as one’s obligation is concerned.

I believe the priest is required by most dioceses to use the ‘vigil’ formulary for Mass celebrated the night before if the Sunday in question has a special ‘vigil’ version. (Perhaps someone can correct me if I’m wrong about this.) When it comes to the music, one is never obligated to sing the chants assigned to the ‘vigil’ version, owing to the great freedom that exists in the 1970 Missal.

1 The topic is enormous and fascinating; even captivating. Much of it deals with a particularly dishonest cadre of priests in the 1950s who successfully introduced an untraditional (and highly problematic) way of celebrating the Easter Vigil. I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal, 3rd Edition.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: anticipated Mass, Anticipated Vigil Mass Saturday Night, Post-Conciliar Vigils and Anticipated Masses, Reform of the Reform, vigil Mass Last Updated: June 3, 2025

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Truly Great Processional” • (Pipe Organ)
    I stumbled upon this live recording of a PROCESSIONAL I played on the pipe organ in 2002. It’s an excerpt from a much longer composition by Sebastian Bach. In those days, there weren’t sophisticated recording devices allowing one “fix” wrong notes. (Perhaps they existed, but we didn’t have machines like that.) So it was necessary to play the entire piece from beginning to end. If you’re a church organist, feel free to download the PDF score. I suppose it’s only a matter of time until some joker uses “artificial intelligence” to play music at church … but there’s something so satisfying about playing an organ in real life.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Proof Which All Can Immediately See!
    “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” as the famous maxim goes. Over the years, I’ve observed malicious attacks on the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. Rather than scoring a ‘hit’ on the Brébeuf Hymnal, its attackers often reveal profound ignorance. I’ve been advised never to reply … but I break that rule today. Certain voices online assert that the Brébeuf Hymnal is “untraditional” because it includes both the Urbanite and pre-Urbanite versions of the hymns. But if only they would glance at a copy of the 1913 VESPERALE (printed by order of Pope Saint Pius X) they would see how mistaken such statements are.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “8 June 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for the parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article includes a few anecdotes about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and Abraham Lincoln.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

In the ’60s, I thought this emphasis on congregational singing was to encourage good Catholic hymns like “Immaculate Mary” and so forth … but after the Council, they threw them out, too!

— ‘Fr. Valentine Young, OFM (2007)’

Recent Posts

  • “Breathtaking Photographs” • First Mass of Father Michael Caughey, FSSP (Muskegon, MI)
  • “Truly Great Processional” • (Pipe Organ)
  • “Re: Vigil Masses” • Reader Feedback (3 June 2025)
  • Proof Which All Can Immediately See!
  • New Bulletin Article • “8 June 2025”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up