Optional memorials, movable feasts, and the Sunday obligation.
What do they have in common?
If you guessed the perception of being optional, you may be right. I’m convinced one of the main reasons Sunday Mass attendance is down amongst Roman Catholics is because many have figured out that practices once deemed obligatory, are often abrogated.
Movable = dispensable.
Today should be Ascension day in this archdiocese, although the feast (and obligation) has been transferred to Sunday. This happens with Epiphany and Corpus Christi as well. On the other hand, Marian feasts that are obligatory are frequently dispensed if they fall too close to a Sunday. I find that odd since St. Patrick’s day will be moved to a more convenient day during Lent, and often for non-liturgical reasons BTW. That said, many Catholics no longer understand they are still expected to abstain from meat on Fridays, although the obligation has been lifted, and any one may perform another penance or charitable act instead - which means many do nothing.
Whatever works for you.
So you see, when obligation so easily becomes optional in Church discipline, well the faithful, who are now days well educated thinkers in their own right, figured out that sometimes they can decide for themselves what is right and wrong. And many decide they do not have to attend Mass every Sunday - especially if they do something nice for someone instead, or refrain from murder or other heinous sins. They are good people - God sees their heart. “Hi God!” (Waves from the heart.)
That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. Although you are not obligated to agree with me. 
May 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
Good post! Until Catholics start filling up the pews on WEEKDAYS, they are just not going to understand very well the importance of … well, anything! Does a Sunday jogger ever participate in a marathon, or even a town 5K? Well, maybe a 5K, but they’ll probably be breathing heavily at the finish.
Tom wrote about the Ascension too, and it’s the feature article on Cathlete today.
And I’d like to leave this link, Terry. It’s for St. Michael the Archangel Organization’s “Million Rosaries for Unborn Babies” event. It’s this Saturday! I encourage all the prayerful to sign up!
http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/signup.p hp
Thanks,
Jeanette
http://cathlete.net
May 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
Happy Ascension Thursday, Terry! We’re celebrating it today (actually I went to the vigil Mass last night).
May 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I never have anyone killed on Sunday (unless I absolutely have to:)
May 1st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Adrienne: Good for you! LOL!
Ter: Excellent point about St. Patrick’s Day.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
As Padre Gino would say, what place will it be for them (if they don’t change)? ….L’INFERNO.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Hay! I just ranted on this very topic (but I was a lot more wordy about it). Great post!
(I guess I have to agree since I just posted a long rant about these very things….)
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
I wonder what would happen to Mass attendance rates if new parents weren’t directed across the parking lot to the nursery, or to the cry rooms (where vocations go to wither and die). Seems like too many priests shoot themselves in the foot, just when couples are really getting serious about their faith: when they start producing future parishioners!