If Your Easter Vigil Begins Before Night...

[Brother Adam]

Contact the bishops office at your diocese.

3. Tota celebratio Vigliae paschalis peragi debet noctu, ita ut vel non incipiatur ante initium noctis, vel finiatur ante diluculum diei dominicae. The whole celebration of the Paschal Vigil ought to be completed at night, both so that it does not begin before the beginning of night, or and that it finishes before dawn of Sunday. (MR 2002)

78. This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Masses.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/04/quaeritur-how-early-can-the-easter-vigil-2011-begin/

[Tony]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1303599047' post='2231541']
Contact the bishops office at your diocese.

3. Tota celebratio Vigliae paschalis peragi debet noctu, ita ut vel non incipiatur ante initium noctis, vel finiatur ante diluculum diei dominicae. The whole celebration of the Paschal Vigil ought to be completed at night, both so that it does not begin before the beginning of night, or and that it finishes before dawn of Sunday. (MR 2002)

78. This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Masses.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/04/quaeritur-how-early-can-the-easter-vigil-2011-begin/
[/quote]


it would be a really cool move for some parishes to say "The Vigil Mass starts at 9:02 PM" (vs 9PM) and then an explanation of why the two extra minutes. and would send the message of "hey this Mass is pretty special!" sure you could do it at 9:30 and it would be legal but it would be more likely to go over peoples heads, it wouldn't.. sink in

[homeschoolmom]

Sunset: 8:08 pm. Mass begins at 8:15.

[add]

Hail Mary
can you imagine what she must have felt, being witness to it all.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1303599047' post='2231541']
Contact the bishops office at your diocese.

3. Tota celebratio Vigliae paschalis peragi debet noctu, ita ut vel non incipiatur ante initium noctis, vel finiatur ante diluculum diei dominicae. The whole celebration of the Paschal Vigil ought to be completed at night, both so that it does not begin before the beginning of night, or and that it finishes before dawn of Sunday. (MR 2002)

78. This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. Reprehensible are those abuses and practices which have crept in many places in violation of this ruling, whereby the Easter Vigil is celebrated at the time of day that it is customary to celebrate anticipated Masses.

[url="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/04/quaeritur-how-early-can-the-easter-vigil-2011-begin/"]http://wdtprs.com/bl...gil-2011-begin/[/url]
[/quote]

I'd never heard this. (Just add it to the thousands of things I haven't heard.)

So, what would you recommend for an individual who was not physically able to sit through the entire Mass--from sundown to after midnight? Just skip Easter vigil and go to Easter Sunday Mass? Sit through as much as you can, and hope God understands?

And, is the priest who celebrates (I believe--I don't know this for sure) a truncated Easter Vigil Mass for religious Sisters, most of whom are 75-100 years of age and cannot stay awake until midnight, breaking rules (or are there exceptions for physical disabilities). To be honest, I don't know exactly what the retired Sisters' Easter Vigil Mass is like--I've never asked. For all I know, it is not a true Easter Vigil Mass, but is simply their usual evening offices, with Easter Mass celebrated in the morning.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' timestamp='1303603573' post='2231579']
I'd never heard this. (Just add it to the thousands of things I haven't heard.)

So, what would you recommend for an individual who was not physically able to sit through the entire Mass--from sundown to after midnight? Just skip Easter vigil and go to Easter Sunday Mass? Sit through as much as you can, and hope God understands?

And, is the priest who celebrates (I believe--I don't know this for sure) a truncated Easter Vigil Mass for religious Sisters, most of whom are 75-100 years of age and cannot stay awake until midnight, breaking rules (or are there exceptions for physical disabilities). To be honest, I don't know exactly what the retired Sisters' Easter Vigil Mass is like--I've never asked. For all I know, it is not a true Easter Vigil Mass, but is simply their usual evening offices, with Easter Mass celebrated in the morning.
[/quote]

Common sense should prevail. If a person finds it truly physically impossible to attend Mass but their desire is to be there and they do some other work, whatever they are able to, they are excused from their obligation. Those who find it impossible to go to the vigil can go anytime on Sunday as well.