Do you long for the "Good old Days" when it comes to various life experiences? I know I do in a number of spiritual/liturgical ways including the celebration of some of the solemnities on the church calendar which were always days when the faithful were expected (or really required) to attend and paricipate in Mass (as is the case with all Sundays of the liturgical year).
I hope that more people than not gladly did this firstly out of love for the Lord and then out of obedience to the 3rd Commandment and in time, the Laws of the Church. Not attending and participating in these Masses (except in a few instances such as sickness) and was AND STILL is considered a mortal sin that must be confessed before going back to the reception of Holy Communion. In the "Good Old Days" Catholic Schools were closed and Catholics either were off work or took off work to participate in Mass on the Holyday Solemnities that often occured on weekdays. Fast forwarding to the most recent times, some of our United States Bishops have moved the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord from Thursday to Sunday and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decided in 1991 that the other movable solemnities (except Christmas), when they fall on a Monday or Saturday, are no longer days when Catholics are obliged to attend and participate in Mass. They also said that Catholics should nevertheless be strongly encouraged to attend Mass on those days to celebrate these great solemnities. Besides "All Saints Day" (this Monday), the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God occurs this liturgical year on Saturday, January 1, 2022, and the Assumption of Mary on Monday, August 15, 2022.
I pledge to try to always offer at least 2 Masses on these solemnities as I encourage all Catholics in our parish to receive the graces and blessings that come from Mass on these days. Let your love for the Lord guide our priorities and decisions in this and in all areas of life. The ways of the "Good Old Days" have much to offer us today! I hope you agree especially when it comes to these special days.
I hope that more people than not gladly did this firstly out of love for the Lord and then out of obedience to the 3rd Commandment and in time, the Laws of the Church. Not attending and participating in these Masses (except in a few instances such as sickness) and was AND STILL is considered a mortal sin that must be confessed before going back to the reception of Holy Communion. In the "Good Old Days" Catholic Schools were closed and Catholics either were off work or took off work to participate in Mass on the Holyday Solemnities that often occured on weekdays. Fast forwarding to the most recent times, some of our United States Bishops have moved the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord from Thursday to Sunday and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decided in 1991 that the other movable solemnities (except Christmas), when they fall on a Monday or Saturday, are no longer days when Catholics are obliged to attend and participate in Mass. They also said that Catholics should nevertheless be strongly encouraged to attend Mass on those days to celebrate these great solemnities. Besides "All Saints Day" (this Monday), the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God occurs this liturgical year on Saturday, January 1, 2022, and the Assumption of Mary on Monday, August 15, 2022.
I pledge to try to always offer at least 2 Masses on these solemnities as I encourage all Catholics in our parish to receive the graces and blessings that come from Mass on these days. Let your love for the Lord guide our priorities and decisions in this and in all areas of life. The ways of the "Good Old Days" have much to offer us today! I hope you agree especially when it comes to these special days.