why was mass held at 11am?

Answer 1

Mass, Catholic mass, has always been celebrated at varying times throughout the day and night. Lauds, Matins, Vigils, each one has their own special significance,but the Solemn Mass at 11 am each Sunday is the high point of the LORD’s Day and of the entire week.
Many other churches, though they seldom call their services "masses", use the 11 am hour. Historically, this was the hour chosen because it allowed everyone to attend, rich and poor alike, at an hour that was usually idle for all. The poor because their mornings work was over and the rich because they had time to take care of the small details of their households and had time to dress.

Answer 2

The practice of daily prayers grew from the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at set times of the day: for example, in the Book of Acts, Peter and John visit the Temple for the afternoon prayers (Acts 3:1). Psalm 119:164 states: "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws."

This practice is believed to have been passed down through the centuries from the Apostles, with different practices developing in different places. As monasticism spread, the practice of specified hours and liturgical formats began to develop and become standardized. Around the year 484, Saint Sabbas began the process of recording the liturgical practices around Jerusalem. In 525, St. Benedict of Nursia wrote the first official western manual for praying the Hours. With the Cluniac reforms of the 11th century there was a new emphasis on liturgy and the canonical hours in the reformed Benedictine priories with the Abbey of Cluny at their head. The Holy See did not issue an official Roman breviary until the 11th century, as part of the reforms that were designed to bring all the variant usages of Christian churches in the West into conformity.

Already well-established by the ninth century, these canonical offices consisted of eight daily prayer events and three (or four) nightly divisions (called "nocturns", "watches," or "vigils"). Building on the recitation of psalms and canticles from Scripture, the Church has added (and, at times, subtracted) hymns, hagiographical readings, and other prayers.

The practice of observing canonical hours is maintained by many Churches, including the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican communion.

Answer 3

It can be held any time of day or night, obviously someone felt that this was the best time for everyone concerned, that would serve the most people ...

Answer 4

according to Harvey Cox the 11 am mass was scheduled between two milking hours.

Answer 5

Uh... because it wasn't held at 10 a.m.????

Answer 6

When would you hold it?

Answer 7

amnesty failed