Midnight Mass – but not at midnight!
At the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bournemouth Father Anthony Pennicott told me it was understandable that Pope Benedictt XVI should bring the Mass forward. “Because of his health, it would have been foolish for the Pope to conduct Mass at Midnight,” he said. “It’s very common for priests to change the time of mass, although I believe this is the first time the Vatican has done so.
“Of course, it is special tradition to hold Mass in the midnight hour, but as long as it’s done after dark, that’s fine. “At the Sacred Heart we will hold Mass at 6pm and again at midnight.”
In West Moors, the priest of the local Catholic Church had already decided to bring forward his Mass from the midnight hour, before the announcement from the Vatican. Reverend Canon Patrick Chrystal from St Anthony’s told me he had moved his mass for the first time, out of consideration for his congregation. Reverend Chrystal explained he was a little nervous about breaking with tradition before announcing the move to the respectable time of 9pm, but that his decision had been met with approval.
“I think a lot of priests are holding Mass earlier,” Reverend Chrystal said. “Tradition may have dictated the midnight hour, but it’s really not important. “We do not know the date or the time that Christ came to earth, so the time of the service is not important. “It’s a matter of considering your congregation and people don’t always want to go out late at night.”
