Attending Mass on Sundays

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You can confess because you fear the pains of hell, it is legitimate. Of course a perfect act of contrition is best, but sometimes you just can’t do it.

For example a man calls my wife a terrible name, I punch said man in the face. Was I wrong? Yes, but I probably don’t feel very bad for it, but I would confess it beacuse I fear the consequences of that sin.

Hope that helps even a little.
 
Mrs A,

Take it just one step at a time. You’re letting the problem get built up so big that you can’t approach it. Just go to Mass this week, and then worry about next week. Worry about your husband later.

Even if you have to look at Mass as just one hour a week when you can have an excuse to not answer your cellphone, or sit still and not do the breakfast dishes, just go, and at least you’ve taken the first step. The big spiritual epiphany may come later.

🙂
c
 
Attending Mass would be small in comparison to what Jesus did for us, don’t be like the lepers that Jesus asked about, when only one went back to say thanks.
Going to Mass is a small sacrifice to us, but it were a huge sacrifice to Jesus.

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Just a thought - perhaps your reluctance to attend Mass is satan keeping his hooks in you, he doesn’t give up easily. What better reason (aside from the obvious) to go to Mass than to fight off satan?

How is your Marian devotion? There isn’t much better a solution in helping to fight satan than the Blessed Mother.

Confession needs to be an option. If you are not truly sorry for your sins, regardless if you think ‘they were the best options at that time’ then you are a long way from returning. Sin is never the best option. I think if you look back at your decisions, and I certainly do not know what they were, you may find that there were other options that you just didn’t see at the time. To be obstinate and say ‘I am not sorry’ is a dangerous path. Even if you were left with no other option at the time, reflection and a contrite heart will show you that even though you did what you thought you had to do, you can still at this point in time be sorry for doing what you did.

Have you taken the time to talk to a priest? I think that you need to do this, not in a confession atmosphere, but as a sounding board to give you the proper perspective and direction.

Good luck to you.
 
The devil knows my weakness VERY well. I guess that’s his job though.
As long as I can hold on to my prayer life and not get lazy, that’ll be my foundation to attending Church again on a regular basis.
My biggest stumbling block is myself and MY ways of doing things.
I need to “let go and let God” more than anything in the world. Keep me in your prayers that I learn to just let God take over once in awhile instead of me trying to have all the answers. :gopray2:
 
Saint_Michael said:
You can confess because you fear the pains of hell, it is legitimate. Of course a perfect act of contrition is best, but sometimes you just can’t do it.

For example a man calls my wife a terrible name, I punch said man in the face. Was I wrong? Yes, but I probably don’t feel very bad for it, but I would confess it beacuse I fear the consequences of that sin.

Hope that helps even a little.
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Boy, that one gets me. I know the book answer is you would be wrong for punching that guy, but …

I’ll tell you, it would feel oh so right!
 
mrs_abbott said:
The devil knows my weakness VERY well…
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the devil may know all our weaknesses and use them to his advantage…

However, God knows them 100, 1000 times better. Your right it’s all about letting go and letting God!!!
mrs_abbott said:
I need to “let go and let God” more than anything in the world. Keep me in your prayers that I learn to just let God take over once in awhile instead of me trying to have all the answers. :gopray2:
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We all have areas in our life that we need to “let go and let God”. It is hard, but it can be done.

This prayer helps me it may help you:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Proverbs 3:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.
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The idea of going to Adoration is wonderful advice. The time spent in quiet with Our Lord is so beneficial in bringing you closer to Him.
Going to a week day mass might ease the transition also.
I can’t help but wonder, although you say you know about the mass, what to do, etc…do you have a strong faith in the Real Presence? Do you firmly believe that as the priest consecrates the host it becomes the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Holy Mass?
I ask because one of my nieces went to a Catholic school and attended mass, but didn’t, for some reason understand the truth of the real presence until recently…she is 28.
I recall hearing a Jewish man state in regard to the Eucharist: “If I were a Catholic and believed as you Catholics do that Our Lord God(as they don’t recognize Christ as Lord) is truly present on the altar, I would not walk into church, but crawl in on my knees in repentence and adoration.”
Once we have an appreciation that Christ makes himself completely present to us in the Eucharist, it is painful to be separated from Him and we hunger for Him in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He is not present in this way to us in any other manner here on earth. This is the closest we can be to Jesus when we recieve him in Holy Communion.
My heart almost stops beating at the Concecration. You will find the same joy there when you return. Humbling ourselves in repentence in confession in order to be ready to recieve Him is gift to us as well. From confession you wll recieve many graces to be able to live as Christ asks of us.
A friend told me along time ago to attend daily mass until I felt I didn’t need to anymore…that hasn’t happened yet.
 
Six years ago I was in the same place as you are now. I had been away from the church for 30 years, my entire adult life. Somehow I began yearning and longing to go to the Catholic church again. I was actually envious of the people who were going to church and I found myself driving by on Sundays just before Mass so I could hear the bells ring. I would slow down and look through the open doors and see the altar at the end of the center aisle.

Like you, I was afraid to go even though I really wanted to and struggled every week - should I just go? how do I just walk back in after all those years?

Long story short, my godfather died, I went to his funeral - it was the first Catholic Mass I had been to since I left the Church. What happened in the church that day was profound. I felt moved by the Holy Spirit, I knew right then and there the entire truth of our faith! I never looked back - Sunday was 2 days after the funeral, I got up and went to 8:00 a.m. Mass. I was never more happy, EVER! Like I said, that was 6 years ago, I never miss a mass, I simply cannot. PLEASE please please, listen to your heart - the Holy Spirit is with you and is calling you. Don’t worry - you’ll come home where you belong. You will be at peace!

I’m praying for you, please let us know what you decide.
 
A2SciTeach said:
Six years ago I was in the same place as you are now. I had been away from the church for 30 years, my entire adult life. Somehow I began yearning and longing to go to the Catholic church again. I was actually envious of the people who were going to church and I found myself driving by on Sundays just before Mass so I could hear the bells ring. I would slow down and look through the open doors and see the altar at the end of the center aisle.

Like you, I was afraid to go even though I really wanted to and struggled every week - should I just go? how do I just walk back in after all those years?

Long story short, my godfather died, I went to his funeral - it was the first Catholic Mass I had been to since I left the Church. What happened in the church that day was profound. I felt moved by the Holy Spirit, I knew right then and there the entire truth of our faith! I never looked back - Sunday was 2 days after the funeral, I got up and went to 8:00 a.m. Mass. I was never more happy, EVER! Like I said, that was 6 years ago, I never miss a mass, I simply cannot. PLEASE please please, listen to your heart - the Holy Spirit is with you and is calling you. Don’t worry - you’ll come home where you belong. You will be at peace!

I’m praying for you, please let us know what you decide.
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Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂 I was thinking about seriously trying to work up the nerve to start going in October and early enough so that I can join those that pray the rosary before Mass in honor of our Blessed Virgin, since October is the month of the rosary. Plus, I want to be ready for when the Advent/Christmas season rolls around, hopefully. I’d appreciate any prayers you can spare. I need 'em! 😉
 
mrs_abbott said:
Let’s hope so. The key, this weekend at least, is going to be scheduling it in when I’ve already got a commitment out of town this weekend (a non-dem wedding to attend Saturday afternoon). The only thing I can see us doing would be to find out where the Catholic Church is in that town and heading over there after the ceremony and just missing the dinner and then return for the dance. That would DEFINITELY be a challenge for me and my hubby to see if we can go out of our way to attend Mass. :hmmm:
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I think that would be a test just how dedicated you are to really getting back to your faith. Prayer always helps and I suggest you ask God to give you the strength to stick to your guns and find a church this coming weekend.
My family and I went on a cruise and it was over the weekend. The cruise line did not offer any service/mass on the ship, so I had to find a church in Bermuda. When we docked in Bermuda I was on a mission to find a Catholic Church. My family wanted my head because they wanted to get to the beach and see the pinnk sand. Well, we found the church and attended mass, but all the way to this church I had to listen to my disgruntled family. Unfortunately, we never made it to the beach and my family will never let me forget that we went to Bermuda to see a church and nothing else.
 
Maureen_Fiore said:
I think that would be a test just how dedicated you are to really getting back to your faith. Prayer always helps and I suggest you ask God to give you the strength to stick to your guns and find a church this coming weekend.
My family and I went on a cruise and it was over the weekend. The cruise line did not offer any service/mass on the ship, so I had to find a church in Bermuda. When we docked in Bermuda I was on a mission to find a Catholic Church. My family wanted my head because they wanted to get to the beach and see the pinnk sand. Well, we found the church and attended mass, but all the way to this church I had to listen to my disgruntled family. Unfortunately, we never made it to the beach and my family will never let me forget that we went to Bermuda to see a church and nothing else.
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My mom used to do that to us whenever we were on vacation and even my dad was a little disgruntled because he said that we were on vacation so it didn’t matter. God bless my mom for her efforts, even if we were unappreciative at the time. 🙂
 
I have had the same problem too. I missed so many masses, it’s not funny. I think I have to have been the queen of excuses to miss mass.

This is my “list” that I read to myself whenever I am tempted to forgo mass:

When You Miss One Holy Communion

It is well for you to consider what you lose every time that you pass up Holy Communion.
  1. You miss a personal visit with Jesus, Author of all spiritual energy and of all holiness;
  2. You lose a special increase of sanctifying grace, which makes your soul more pleasing to God;
  3. You lose a quota of sacramental grace which entitles you to special help in times of temptation and in the discharge of your daily duties;
  4. You lose a precious opportunity of having all of your venial sins wiped away;
  5. You miss the special preserving influence which each Holy Communion confers against the fires of passion;
  6. You miss the opportunity of having remitted a part, or all, of the temporal punishments due to your sins;
  7. You lose the spiritual joy, the sweetness and particular comfort that come from a fervent Holy Communion;
  8. You lose a part of the glory that your body might enjoy at its resurrection on the Last Day;
  9. You lose the greater degree of glory you would possess in Heaven for all eternity;
  10. You may lose:
    a) complete victory over some fault or passion;
    b) some particular grace long prayed for;
    c) the conversion or salvation of some soul;
    d) deliverance of a relative or friend from Purgatory;
    e) many graces for others, both the living and the dead.
Will a few extra minutes of sleep repay you for all these losses?

What riches hundreds of thousands of Catholics deprive themselves daily by neglecting Mass. It in itself is the best preparation for Holy Communion. At the hour of death our greatest consolation will be the Masses we have heard and the Holy Communions received.
Code: 
With Ecclesiastical Approval
Chicago, December 6, 1940
 
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