Another Mass obligation question

[kmktexas]

I know that when you are ill or caring for an ill person (or tiny infant) you do not have an obligation for Sunday Mass.

But what about security? We are in Venezuela for several months (many of you have heard this before. ). The political situation here is somewhat fluid. Last Sunday, they had an election and we were worried about going out. We discerned that any violence was unlikely until the results were announced and we went to Mass. The church was practically empty not because of fear but because everyone was voting.

Today the results have been announced and we are being advised not to leave our apartment complex. If the situation escalates or continues into next weekend, what is my obligation?

At first this seemed like a no-brainer. Stay home and be safe. But then I thought about the Catholics in China and other countries who regularly face worse dangers to attend Sunday Mass.

So, what does the Church ***really say ** * about a situation like this?

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

This from the Catechism:

2183 “If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.”

This is a quote from Canon 1248.

May I add that your concern over the fulfilment of this obligation is, to me, stong evidence that you are equipped to determine whether or not it is safe to attend mass?

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[Deacon_Ed]

The Church teaches that if you are impeded from attending Mass then there is no obligation. What, then, might impede you? Clearly a physical impediment such as a flood, earthquake or fire that makes it impossible to actually get to the Church would qualify. Illness or physical infirmity would also qualify.

Finally, the very situation would qualify to eliminate the obligation. The people in China and other places where the Church is persecuted have no obligation to attend Mass, but do so out of their love for the Church and the Mass.

Deacon Ed

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

“we are being advised not to leave our apartment complex.”

Is it the Bishop who has advised this?

John 14:27

 

[kmktexas]

No, it was my husband’s company that issued our “standing orders” as they called it.

They have a security company to advise them.

The only thing I can find from the bishops is a call for a peaceful reaction from the citizens.

 

[otm]

How many million people were in New York on 9/11? Several thousand in the Towers died, and many more in the Towers didn’t die, as they were able to get out. And the Towers were “ground Zero”, if you will.

In most circumstances, you would be perfectly safe going to Mass. You need to know by what route you are getting to church, and you need to be aware of your surroundings. In other words, if a riot appears to be in progress the next block up, you would be smart to turn around and quietly walk in another direction. Quietly, as you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. Other than that, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Your husband’s company undoubtedly is keeping one eye open for any law suit based on the failure to inform of danger. It’s a little bit like an instruction on a hair dryer, “Do not use while sleeping”. If you are physically blocked from getting to Mass because a riot is in progress at the church, or between you and the church and there is no way around it reasonably, you have no obligation. I suspect you won’t have a problem. But pay attention. Pay attention particularly to any of the citizens around you; they may have a better feel for the “pulse”.

 

[Timidity]

kmktexas:

Today the results have been announced and we are being advised not to leave our apartment complex. If the situation escalates or continues into next weekend, what is my obligation?

Just out of curiosity, why don’t you ask your pastor? He is surely more aware of the local situation than we are. He is the one who give you either dispensation or absolution, as the case may be.

 

[kmktexas]

He doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish. For the same reason, I can’t call the parish office.

My husband speaks Spanish but doesn’t believe in the obligation of Mass on Sunday (another long story) so I can’t have him translate this one.