Attending Mass Twice a Year

[missyfatcat]

Is it true that the Catholic church “asks” that we at least attend Mass on Christmas and Easter if we don’t attend on Sunday throughout the year?

I know I’ve seen the Church “invite” fallen away Catholics to return “home” for Christmas. But I’ve never heard about the above.

If this is true, can someone please provide a reference from the Catechism?

Thanks!!

 

[1ke]

Is it true that the Catholic church “asks” that we at least attend Mass on Christmas and Easter if we don’t attend on Sunday throughout the year?

I know I’ve seen the Church “invite” fallen away Catholics to return “home” for Christmas. But I’ve never heard about the above.

If this is true, can someone please provide a reference from the Catechism?

Thanks!!

No, this is not true. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Perhaps you are thinking of the precept of the Church which requires Catholics to received Holy Communion at least once per year during the Easter season.

 

[baltobetsy]

I think parishes make this invitation hoping that people will come to Mass, feel welcome, remember the faith of their youth and come back to church regularly.

Betsy

 

[Zundrah]

No, this is not true. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Perhaps you are thinking of the precept of the Church which requires Catholics to received Holy Communion at least once per year during the Easter season.

I think this is exactly what she may have heard about, I have heard this often. It is more about the Eucharist than about attending Church, though to miss either is sin…

I think parishes make this invitation hoping that people will come to Mass, feel welcome, remember the faith of their youth and come back to church regularly.

Betsy

This is probably the hope and dreams of all priests. That the fallen may return.

 

[Seatuck]

II. THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH
2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:
[2042](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/2042.htm’) The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor”) requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.82 The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year”) ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.83
The third precept (“You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season”) guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.84

[2043](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/2043.htm’) The fourth precept (“You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.85 The fifth precept (“You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.86
The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities.87

 

[StrawberryJam]

So basically, a catholic commits mortal sin every week they refrain without reason to attend holy obligation once a week. So attending Holy Mass twice a year is sorta a silly thing to wonder about, when they are going to fry if they know (and in this case I think they are totally ignorant of church teaching) what they must do.?

 

[Zundrah]

So basically, a catholic commits mortal sin every week they refrain without reason to attend holy obligation once a week. So attending Holy Mass twice a year is sorta a silly thing to wonder about, when they are going to fry if they know (and in this case I think they are totally ignorant of church teaching) what they must do.?

It’s not about missing church, it’s about missing communion as a result of missing church. It’s all about the Eucharist, the lamb, the bread from heaven… “that you may eat of this bread and not die”… The bible doesn’t tell us how often we must eat this bread…

 

[MariaTS]

This brings up a few questions that I have?

Am I, a severely physically disabled girl who has a very strict diet and missed mass for most of my life because I did not see the truth in Catholicism until recently, sinning? I cannot participate in any aspect of fasting or giving up food for lent or not eating meat because it would be detrimental to my physical health. Also, there have been several times after I realizied the truth of Catholicism that I have been unable to attend church because of medical reasons.

 

[Zundrah]

This brings up a few questions that I have?

Am I, a severely physically disabled girl who has a very strict diet and missed mass for most of my life because I did not see the truth in Catholicism until recently, sinning? I cannot participate in any aspect of fasting or giving up food for lent or not eating meat because it would be detrimental to my physical health. Also, there have been several times after I realizied the truth of Catholicism that I have been unable to attend church because of medical reasons.

Nah, you worry too much. It’s not a sin for you.

 

[StrawberryJam]

It’s not about missing church, it’s about missing communion as a result of missing church. It’s all about the Eucharist, the lamb, the bread from heaven… “that you may eat of this bread and not die”… The bible doesn’t tell us how often we must eat this bread…

Some part of it must be about missing church, as Paul warned those who stopped meeting together regularly in the bible.

It can’t be this simple. Clearly both, are important.

 

[Zundrah]

Some part of it must be about missing church, as Paul warned those who stopped meeting together regularly in the bible.

It can’t be this simple. Clearly both, are important.

Well… as you may remember from the beginning of the book of John; “In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God. The word became flesh, and came down to us…” etc… So yeah, we need to attend church, to recieve the word.

But I am certain that they hold the Eucharist as far more important.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Well… as you may remember from the beginning of the book of John; “In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God. The word became flesh, and came down to us…” etc… So yeah, we need to attend church, to recieve the word.

But I am certain that they hold the Eucharist as far more important.

The bible is not in flesh, God himself became flesh in Jesus Christ. As, I am sure you agree.

Paul makes huge admonishments to those who fall away from regular church gatherings. He is sharp in his scolding.

Every christian ought to take regular meetings seriously based on that alone, let alone what they believe about the Eucharist or do not believe about it.

Sorry, can’t get around Paul on this one.

 

[Zundrah]

The bible is not in flesh, God himself became flesh in Jesus Christ. As, I am sure you agree.

Paul makes huge admonishments to those who fall away from regular church gatherings. He is sharp in his scolding.

Every christian ought to take regular meetings seriously based on that alone, let alone what they believe about the Eucharist or do not believe about it.

Sorry, can’t get around Paul on this one.

Strawberry jam! I was saying that of course church attendance is very important because Christ did come down to us in flesh but also as the word, the word that we needed to hear in order to fulfil and reveal the scriptures. His words were written down for us! We must go and seek the true meaning of His word, by attending a church that does not twist its meaning or message…

It is twenty minites to four in the morning! I must go! Sweet dreams and I hope I can be more useful for you tomorrow!

 

[StrawberryJam]

Strawberry jam! I was saying that of course church attendance is very important because Christ did come down to us in flesh but also as the word, the word that we needed to hear in order to fulfil and reveal the scriptures. His words were written down for us! We must go and seek the true meaning of His word, by attending a church that does not twist its meaning or message…

It is twenty minites to four in the morning! I must go! Sweet dreams and I hope I can be more useful for you tomorrow!

Get rest, You are always useful and helpful Zundrah.

It’s just me being very careful about the whole Paul’s rule’s stuff, and all the other things…

See you around!

If I don’t see you before the day

Merry Christmas

 

[baltobetsy]

It’s not about missing church, it’s about missing communion as a result of missing church. It’s all about the Eucharist, the lamb, the bread from heaven… “that you may eat of this bread and not die”… The bible doesn’t tell us how often we must eat this bread…

It is indeed about missing Mass. The precept is to attend Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation, without regard to receiving Communion. One is required to receive Communion only once a year during Eastertime.

This brings up a few questions that I have?

Am I, a severely physically disabled girl who has a very strict diet and missed mass for most of my life because I did not see the truth in Catholicism until recently, sinning? I cannot participate in any aspect of fasting or giving up food for lent or not eating meat because it would be detrimental to my physical health. Also, there have been several times after I realizied the truth of Catholicism that I have been unable to attend church because of medical reasons.

Your medical condition would certainly excuse you from fasting and abstaining if it interfered with your diet. During Lent, you could fast from other things you enjoy, like the Internet, television, or some other enjoyment. If you wanted to keep it food-related, you could choose foods that you prefer less from among the things you are permitted to have.

Medical reasons are sufficient to excuse you from your Mass obligation. I can’t answer about the part of your life when you did not see the truth of Catholicism. Have you been to Confession recently? That would be a good thing to bring up.

Betsy

 

[Seatuck]

Some part of it must be about missing church, as Paul warned those who stopped meeting together regularly in the bible.

It can’t be this simple. Clearly both, are important.

Yes , a part is about missing church . It is about missing our communal worship and about missing the presence of Christ. We are not required to receive communion more than once a year but we are required to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day ( with some just exceptions)

 

[Seatuck]

This brings up a few questions that I have?

Am I, a severely physically disabled girl who has a very strict diet and missed mass for most of my life because I did not see the truth in Catholicism until recently, sinning? I cannot participate in any aspect of fasting or giving up food for lent or not eating meat because it would be detrimental to my physical health. Also, there have been several times after I realizied the truth of Catholicism that I have been unable to attend church because of medical reasons.

No, it takes full knowledge to sin for one thing. There are also some medical exceptions to attending Mass or participating in fasting.

 

[St_Francis]

I think this is exactly what she may have heard about, I have heard this often. It is more about the Eucharist than about attending Church, though to miss either is sin… .

I am not sure you wrote what you meant to write, as abstaining from receiving the Eucharist is not a sin, only missing Mass for no good reason.

 

[Zundrah]

I am not sure you wrote what you meant to write, as abstaining from receiving the Eucharist is not a sin, only missing Mass for no good reason.

No, actually I did mean to write what I wrote, but I was wrong! It’s a good job you corrected me.

 

[Zundrah]

It is indeed about missing Mass. The precept is to attend Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation, without regard to receiving Communion. One is required to receive Communion only once a year during Eastertime.

So it is missing mass that is a sin, but not communion?