[Loyalist]

The prayer of the church, the divine office, will always begin with vespers, so an anticipated mass on Saturday evening is consistent with Catholic tradition, which should hearten you.

To my knowledge, Mass was never anticipated on Saturday evening until after Vatican II. What tradition could anticipated Mass possibly be consistent with?

In any event, the Church has no power to dispense with the Third Commandment and thus move the Sunday obligation to Saturday evening.

If it could do that, why not just make Mass any day of the week fulfil the Sunday obligation?

[St.Chuck]

What tradition could anticipated Mass possibly be consistent with?

The Hebrew tradition that the Sabbath commenced with the preceding sunset.

[malakhi]

In any event, the Church has no power to dispense with the Third Commandment and thus move the Sunday obligation to Saturday evening.

This is fascinating. So the church has the authority to "move" the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, but does not have the authority to credit a Saturday evening mass attendance to the Sunday obligation?