Third SUNDAY of Easter - April 18, 2010
I put the word "Sunday" in caps for a reason. It will become evident as you read on.
I struggle somewhat with the Saturday "vigil" Mass. I have moved from being an advocate for this practice (many years ago) to nearly becoming a staunch critic of this time for a Sunday Mass. I become even more agitated as the hour gets advanced. It has moved from 5:00 P.M. in some places to 4:00 and, I am told (and I hope the info is wrong) to even 3:00 P.M. I ask, why not have it at noon? Why not skip the Sunday celebration altogether?

My struggle continues. I was a rather young priest at the time and lunching at the Cathedral where I was stationed with Cardinal John Krol. The Cardinal was questioned about why Philadelphia was almost the last stronghold. Why no Saturday afternoon Mass? His answer has always remained with me. Very politely and very carefully, the aging Churchman said: " My fear is that the Saturday vigil Mass will become "the" weekend Mass in a parish. That it will lead to a lessening of emphasis on Sunday and the importance of Sunday." He went on: " We have already lost so much of Sunday. What makes the day any different from the regular routine of life??

You know, the old man was not far off the mark at all. I am often with priests as we discuss these matters and I am pleasantly surprised to hear other priests say that they have strong feelings about and against the practice that has been in effect since 1983.

The Saturday vigil serves well in areas of our country or other countries where the priest has several mission stations often 100 or more miles apart. Visit the Dakota's, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, to name a few.

I think that some, not all, use the Saturday Vigil to "get it over with". If that is the case, why bother going at all.

If the use of the Vigil is to allow for more servile work on Sunday, then it is a use that is an abuse.

Quite frankly, the practice has just made for more lazy-assed Catholics who often fall into the same category of those who can't even remember to abstain from meat six days a year. And some of you will remember when abstinence was a big part of our tradition.

If I have offended your virgin ears, so be it.

Our Mass here at SMT is on Saturday at 4:00 P.M. But the Holy Spirit is leading me to quickly make a shift. I have made few changes in my sixteen months here. I have not seen the need to make any nor re-invent any wheels. But this is one that bothers my soul.

If the Mass signaling the Sunday is most properly placed, then it should happen at sunset. How would that fit into your schedules at most of the times during the year! The Jews, upon whom we derive much tradition, set the sabbath with the setting of the sun. The bodies of the crucified could not remain on the crosses for the sabbath. So they were hastily removed and dispatched before the beginning of the sabbath.

I may take some criticism for this, so be it. I stand by my beliefs.

As a P.S. - one holy bishop recently referenced the following: all the Christmas Eve Masses and fewer Christmas Day Masses. His observation: The holy day is not Dec. 24. It is the 25th. I've noticed that ads show that some of our non-catholic brethren don't even show a service for Christmas Day. The practice is contagious.

Yes, I am seriously praying over this and talking with my associates about changing the Mass to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday - if we have to have it! And I mean that. If we have to have it!

Pax et Bonum