Is the ‘late late Mass’ a good idea?

Over at the American Papist, Thomas Peters points out this story about a Pittsburgh parish that’s raising eyebrows with its new Mass time:

Old-time Pittsburghers remember when a church in the city offered services in the early morning hours for employees who worked odd hours. One church is now bringing that tradition back with a 2:30 a.m. service.

The Rev. Carmen D’Amico says he’s adding a weekly Mass on Sundays just after the bars close. The church is located next to the new Consol Energy Center. D’Amico is hoping to attract those out for a late Saturday night and officials have been handing out fliers at local colleges to publicize the new service.

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Peters doesn’t think this is such a great idea:

Do we really expect 20-somethings who have just finished closing down a bar to be prepared to participate at Mass worthily? Do we want them passing out in the pews instead of getting themselves home safely? Shouldn’t we rather encourage them to hit the sack earlier and (if they have to) attend a later Mass on Sunday afternoon? Or attend a Saturday Vigil Mass the day before? It’s not like people who want to go out on Saturday night don’t already have plenty of ways to attend Mass while, ahem, sober. Offering a Mass at 2:30AM encourages them to think this sort of weekend habit is appropriate. . . .

I think we should challenge young people to make Mass, not closing down the bar, their Sunday morning priority.

It’s a fair concern, though I have to admit I’d be curious to check out a 2:30 a.m. service. Christmas midnight Mass and the Easter vigil are two of my favorite liturgies; something about Mass in the dead of night gives an otherworldly quality to the proceedings that you just don’t get in the mornings. And it is possible to be up at all hours without being hammered; I’d imagine that the truly, uh, “indisposed” wouldn’t be thinking about Mass then anyway — but other night owls might appreciate it. Personally, I like the idea of a church that’s awake whenever you are.

Of course, linking the liturgy with closing time might not be the best idea… but it should be pretty clear fairly early on whether the late-night Mass is a success, or just a pit-stop for college kids trying to dry out before driving home.

What do readers think?

Author

  • Margaret Cabaniss

    Margaret Cabaniss is the former managing editor of Crisis Magazine. She joined Crisis in 2002 after graduating from the University of the South with a degree in English Literature and currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland. She now blogs at SlowMama.com.

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