No Double-Dipping 

George Costanza is not a good role model. There are many reasons why this is true, including his propensity to double-dip. We first learned of the Seinfeld character’s bad habit in Season 4 during the episode when George tries to score points with his new girlfriend by accompanying her to Michigan to attend the funeral of her favorite aunt. While in the family home, where they have gathered to grieve, George goes to the snack table and begins to eat some chips and dip. His girlfriend’s cousin Timmy confronts George, accusing him of “double-dipping.” Confused, George asks him what he’s talking about.  Outraged, Timmy explains: “You dipped a chip, you took a bite, and then you dipped again. That’s like putting your whole mouth right in the dip! From now on when you take a chip just take one dip and end it.” George, of course, takes exception to this correction. To Timmy’s dismay, George resumes double-dipping, which leads to an altercation in the living room that needs to be broken up, which then leads to the breakup of George and his girlfriend.  Don’t be like George. No double-dipping. 

That advice also applies to our attendance at Mass next weekend. As you know, Christmas falls on a Monday this year. Christmas is, of course, a holy day of obligation, which means Catholics are required to attend Mass to celebrate the great feast.  Likewise, every Sunday is a day of obligation when we are obliged to attend Mass to keep the Lord’s Day holy. So, how might we arrange our weekend to make sure that we fulfill our worship obligations for both the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas this year? The answer is to listen to cousin Timmy. No double-dipping.  In other words, because there are two feasts to observe – Christmas and Sunday – Catholics must attend Mass twice.  We can’t use attendance at one Mass to count for both. To miss Mass without a serious reason is a sin, something we must bring to confession. Inconvenience is not a sufficiently serious reason to miss Mass. In fact, if getting to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days feels very inconvenient, it might be time to re-evaluate one’s priorities. This is a time of year when we are invited to contemplate the love of God who became man to save us from slavery to sin and death. We must take care not to let the busyness of life distract us from the most important act of expressing our thanks to Him through our worship of the Lord together at Mass. 

With that said, here are your basic options: 1) Attend Saturday vigil on 12/23 to fulfill Sunday obligation, and then either a Christmas Eve Mass or Christmas Day Mass to fulfill the Christmas obligation. 2) Attend Sunday morning Mass on 12/24 and then a second Mass that evening (Christmas Eve) or a Mass on Christmas morning. 3) Attend Christmas Eve Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation and then a Christmas morning Mass to fulfill the Christmas obligation.  

posted 12/16/23