Traditional Anglo-Papist

25 May 2006

The Ascension

I read this on the FSSP Melbourne website:
The Solemnity of the Ascension will be celebrated liturgically this Thursday. There will be an 11.00am Low Mass and a 7.30pm Solemn Mass. However, currently in Australia, the obligation attached to this Solemnity is fulfilled by attendance at Mass next Sunday.

Something is wrong when one can fulfill one's obligation but never hear the Mass of the Ascension. This Sunday is the Sunday after the Ascension (with it's own Mass).

Anyway, blessed Ascension of Our Lord (to those who have kept it today!).

posted by Bob Catholic at 5:14 PM

3 Comments:

  • I have no problem with the transference of Ascension to the Sunday, as it allows all to attend, something a little harder on a weeknight. Therefore they attend the mass of the Ascension and fulfil the obligaiton.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Saturday, May 27, 2006 10:15:00 AM  

  • Dear Fr Scott,

    You seem to misunderstand my post: it is not whether one should, could or would transfer the celebration of the Ascension to the Sunday.

    The issue, for me, is that in traditional communites who follow the calendar of 1962 the Ascension is celebrated on Thursday but one need not hear Mass that day. Yet one can hear Mass on Sunday (being the Sunday after the Ascension) and still fulfill the obligation of hearing Mass for the festival of the Ascension.

    By Blogger Bob Catholic, at Saturday, May 27, 2006 10:55:00 AM  

  • I look at it this way. When Ascension is transferred to Sunday it is no longer a holy day of obligation. The Sunday is the holy day of obligation (as every Sunday is). If you are an indult trad (like myself), you are no longer obliged to go to mass on Ascension day and when you go to mass on the Sunday after Ascension you are only fulfilling your normal Sunday obligation.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wednesday, May 31, 2006 1:53:00 PM  

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