This year, the Fourth Sunday of Advent happens to fall on the same day as Christmas Eve, which makes Mass obligations a bit confusing. What’s a Catholic to do with this Christmas conundrum? Well, we’ve got good news for you: We get to go to Mass and encounter Jesus twice! Here’s how you can fulfill both the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Mass obligations:
Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass
Obligation can be fulfilled by attending one of these Masses:
Dec. 23 Vigil Mass after 4 p.m.
-OR-
Dec. 24 Mass at any time
Christmas Mass
Obligation can be fulfilled by attending one of these Masses:
Dec. 24 Mass after 4 p.m.
-OR-
Any morning or daytime Mass on Dec. 25
How you can’t fulfill both obligations
Going to Mass only once won’t do it. It is worth pointing out, however, that the evening Masses on the 24th can fulfill either the Sunday obligation (because they are still celebrated on a Sunday) or the Christmas obligation (because they are Christmas Vigil Masses). But it doesn’t mean that one Mass on Sunday evening can fulfill both obligations at the same time. What it does mean is that one way of fulfilling both obligations is by going to Mass twice on Sunday as long as at least one of the two Masses is a Christmas Vigil Mass.
Just remember, since there are two separate obligations, two different Masses are needed. Be mindful of your parish’s Mass times to make sure you fulfill both obligations!
Make Christmas Mass plans using the Parish Locator.
