At what point do I miss mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter beenwashed
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

beenwashed

Guest
I have a 8 week old baby who is having trouble breathing because shes all stuffed up with a cold. I am nursing her so leaving her with someone else is no an option. At what point should I miss mass for her beinf sick? Is she sick enough?
 
beenwashed said:
I have a 8 week old baby who is having trouble breathing because shes all stuffed up with a cold. I am nursing her so leaving her with someone else is no an option. At what point should I miss mass for her beinf sick? Is she sick enough?
Click to expand...
A priest once told me that if you or a family member are so sick that you would have to call in sick to your employer, then you are “sick enough” to be excused from mass.

Hope it helps. 🙂
 
I am confident that you are excused if caring for a sick baby. If you can, watch or listen to Mass on tv or internet. Read the Mass readings. Spend some time in prayer.

I hope that all who read this will pray for your baby’s rapid recovery.
 
Care of children, sick or not, is a perfectly valid reason to miss Mass. One could–in fact, I would–argue that exposing others to colds, the flu, respiratory infections, etc is actually a sin against charity. To the average healthy adult or older child, these things are annoyances, but to an elderly person or infant, they can be life-threatening.
 
do you really have to ask if your nursing baby is “sick enough” for you to miss mass? We are to use our own good judgment, the Church does not have a “sick enough” threshhold.
 
2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

The above is from the Carechism. Whether or not the infant is sick, there are often many other reasons you must stay home with the baby.

It seems that it would be sinful to take a baby that young out if he/she is sick.

I know it is hard to miss Mass, especially if we like going. You are fulfilling your vocation as wife and mother by caring for your infant. Enjoy this time! It goes fast! I can’t believe mine are turning one at the end of next month!
 
beenwashed said:
I have a 8 week old baby who is having trouble breathing because shes all stuffed up with a cold. I am nursing her so leaving her with someone else is no an option. At what point should I miss mass for her beinf sick? Is she sick enough?
Click to expand...
She certainly ill enough to need your care and attention. You are not sinning by missing Mass for this reason. I took care of my grandmother for 2.5 years, and since she would not allow anyone else in the house, (other than my father who had to care for my mother) I often had to miss Mass. At one point my Priest dispensed me from attending because her needs were so great and there was no one else to care for her. My care for her was my Mass, according to my priest.

I would also suggest that if it is cold and flu season you would be more than justified staying home with her to protect her. I suggest you discuss this with your Priest once you are free to go to Confession. I am sure he will tell you that you have done nothing wrong.
 
If your baby is already sick with a cold, you wouldn’t want to expose her to further germs with an already compromised immune system. It’s common sense to stay home with her.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top