Can I miss mass because of this reason?

[Kyo]

Hi there.

I have developed a rash on my face, presumably due to medication. It looks similar to a badly-shaven mustache and is pretty noticeable and unpleasant. I haven’t been out in public for a few days now because of it (haha). I’m a girl who is still in my teens so I’m extremely self-conscious about it, and to be honest I would rather not anyone see.

I know that it’s okay to miss miss because of sickness, but does this count? I do not want to put anything over my face as my doctor has instructed me to let the rash air out.

Is it appropriate for me to miss mass? I am thinking not, but I am wondering about others’ opinions. Again, I’m very self-conscious about this, and pretty embarrassed as well.
Thank you in advance

 

[laszlo]

I would say yes. If the medical problem is serious enough not to go to public places, then you can spend an hour at home praying, instead of attending Mass. If you call your pastor, he certainly will give you a dispensation from the obligation, but you can anticipate that, and mention in your next confession only.

Get well.

 

[Cat]

I wouldn’t go out with a bad rash because of risk of infection.

I work in a microbiology lab at a hospital.

A rash is a disruption or “break” in the skin, and this can give dangerous bacteria like MRSA or Strep A, or certain fungi, or viruses, a means of entering the body where they could cause serious infection.

If you are out in public and touch anyone, or touch something that someone else has just touched, and then touch your face, you could be at risk for infection by one of these bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection would be uncomfortable and perhaps cause scarring if it remained local, that is, just on the skin. But if it becomes systemic (through the whole body), it could be life-threatening.

I would not take a chance. I would wait until the rash heals before going out in public.

 

[Love_Divine]

What does your doctor/priest say? If you’re a health risk to other people, or if you sickness physically imedes you (ie: you can’t stop coughing, you’re throwing up, etc) then I would say stay home. If it’s because you’re worried about how you look to other people, get to Mass and accept that right now God is giving you a chance to practice humility. People at Mass should not be focused on you. Think of all the people who are permanently scarred/deformed from birth or accidents and be thankful your rash is only temporary. Other people have to live with these things every day and still go out in public.

 

[odhiambo]

Hi there.

I have developed a rash on my face, presumably due to medication. It looks similar to a badly-shaven mustache and is pretty noticeable and unpleasant. I haven’t been out in public for a few days now because of it (haha). I’m a girl who is still in my teens so I’m extremely self-conscious about it, and to be honest I would rather not anyone see.

I know that it’s okay to miss miss because of sickness, but does this count? I do not want to put anything over my face as my doctor has instructed me to let the rash air out.

Is it appropriate for me to miss mass? I am thinking not, but I am wondering about others’ opinions. Again, I’m very self-conscious about this, and pretty embarrassed as well.
Thank you in advance

I am afraid I am of the opinion that you cannot miss Mass because of a rash which, from what you say, seems to be a reaction to medication and not an infectious rash which would be a risk to those you come into contact with. Sunday Mass is a serious obligation. Unless you are seriously sick, you are obliged to attend. I sympathize with you of course, but do not miss Mass because you are self conscious about how you look.

 

[RazzsMom]

I totally agree with Cat. I am an RN. What she told you is correct. Even though you cannot pass this rash on to someone else, you do raise the risk of infection to yourself by the means she described. God will understand. I would watch Mass on TV and join it spiritually.

 

[BraveNewFamily]

I would probably not go, due to risk of infection, or go to a mass at a time when nobody goes, and nobody would recognize you.

 

[Joan_M]

I am afraid I am of the opinion that you cannot miss Mass because of a rash which, from what you say, seems to be a reaction to medication and not an infectious rash which would be a risk to those you come into contact with. Sunday Mass is a serious obligation. Unless you are seriously sick, you are obliged to attend. I sympathize with you of course, but do not miss Mass because you are self conscious about how you look.

I agree, completely.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

What does your doctor/priest say? If you’re a health risk to other people, or if you sickness physically imedes you (ie: you can’t stop coughing, you’re throwing up, etc) then I would say stay home. If it’s because you’re worried about how you look to other people, get to Mass and accept that right now God is giving you a chance to practice humility. People at Mass should not be focused on you. Think of all the people who are permanently scarred/deformed from birth or accidents and be thankful your rash is only temporary. Other people have to live with these things every day and still go out in public.

I am afraid I am of the opinion that you cannot miss Mass because of a rash which, from what you say, seems to be a reaction to medication and not an infectious rash which would be a risk to those you come into contact with. Sunday Mass is a serious obligation. Unless you are seriously sick, you are obliged to attend. I sympathize with you of course, but do not miss Mass because you are self conscious about how you look.

You do not just not go to Mass when you are seriously ill or a possible cause of infection to others. You should also not go to Mass when there is a chance that you could be infected because of a condition you have.

Just as two medical professionals advise here. A rash is a break in the skin that can make one susceptible to infections that a person without a rash would not be a risk of contracting.

I am suffering from stage 4 colorectal cancer. There are times with chemotherapy that individuals are not to go out into big public gatherings because of a compromised immune system. There is no risk of infecting others and depending on how their bodies handle the drugs there may not be great side effects to deal with but there is a higher chance that they may become infected with something themselves.

The standard I use is this, if you do not have a priest handy to talk this over with (I usually do as I live in a religious house) and you have not spoken to your pastor for a dispensation and you have a doubt, I would not go and mention it in your next confession. As long as you are doing this in good faith there will be no problems.

 

[Shin]

I am afraid I am of the opinion that you cannot miss Mass because of a rash which, from what you say, seems to be a reaction to medication and not an infectious rash which would be a risk to those you come into contact with. Sunday Mass is a serious obligation. Unless you are seriously sick, you are obliged to attend. I sympathize with you of course, but do not miss Mass because you are self conscious about how you look.

It is so.

If a person is incredibly ugly with a nose the size of a rhinoceros and warts all over one’s face, one still has to go to mass.

‘Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.’

Ecclesiastes 1:2

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

It is so.

If a person is incredibly ugly with a nose the size of a rhinoceros and warts all over one’s face, one still has to go to mass.

‘Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.’

Ecclesiastes 1:2

That is not the case here. This is a medical condition that can make the person more susceptible to infection.

This has nothing to do with vanity and to imply such, even in a joking manner, is very uncharitable.

 

[novusCatholic]

God knows your heart.

 

[Love_Divine]

That is not the case here. This is a medical condition that can make the person more susceptible to infection.

This has nothing to do with vanity and to imply such, even in a joking manner, is very uncharitable.

Given that the OP is concerned about how she looks rather than causing infection, I see that this does primarily have to do with vanity.

Hi there.

I have developed a rash on my face, presumably due to medication. It looks similar to a badly-shaven mustache and is pretty noticeable and unpleasant. I haven’t been out in public for a few days now because of it (haha). ** I’m a girl who is still in my teens so I’m extremely** self-conscious about it, and to be honest I would rather not anyone see.

…] Again, I’m very self-conscious about this, and pretty embarrassed as well.
Thank you in advance

 

[Mrs_Sally]

You are self conscious and that’s why you asked the question. However, it may very easily also be the case that you could make yourself sicker by going out into a very public places with lots of germs. No one’s church is particularly clean–even if if it looks that way.

It is Sunday afternoon here, so your decision is probably already made. As soon as you are a bit better, go to the next scheduled confession time or make an appointment for confession. If you can’t get there before next Sunday, definately go to Mass but I would not receive communion.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Given that the OP is concerned about how she looks rather than causing infection, I see that this does primarily have to do with vanity.

That does not remove the legitimate health concerns.

 

[MusicMan]

Don’t ask us! As a teen, if you’re still living with Mom and Dad, ask them. Or, call your pastor and ask him. He can dispense you.

Lastly, go to confession this week, and lay it out for the confessor. He’ll take care of everything and give you sound advice.

 

[Cat]

Given that the OP is concerned about how she looks rather than causing infection, I see that this does primarily have to do with vanity.

The OP says that she is a teenaged girl. ALL teenaged girls are self-conscious about their looks and their bodies. That’s absolutely normal. They feel strange and uncomfortable and embarrassed because their bodies are changing rapidly and the young ladies are not quite sure what’s “normal” and what isn’t normal. That’s not vanity, it’s just growing up, and it’s hard for teenaged girls.

 

[puzzleannie]

if you are ailing to the extent you can’t go out, then you can’t go to Mass, use your own prudential judgement.

 

[TrueLight]

So anyone who ever broke out or had a rash missed work or school? It’s more a matter of embarrassment, which I totally understand.

My daughter gets really ugly cold sores and she usually wants to stay home from school.

 

[Love_Divine]

The OP says that she is a teenaged girl. ALL teenaged girls are self-conscious about their looks and their bodies. That’s absolutely normal. They feel strange and uncomfortable and embarrassed because their bodies are changing rapidly and the young ladies are not quite sure what’s “normal” and what isn’t normal. That’s not vanity, it’s just growing up, and it’s hard for teenaged girls.

That’s just the result of original sin. It’s like saying masturbation is okay because the urges are natural and normal. Self-consciousness is the result of pride and vanity. It is not a reason to miss Mass.

People can say it’s a legitmate reason to miss Mass because she’s prone to infection when the actual reason is because she’s too self-conscious to be seen by other people, but the OP can’t fool God. Why would we feed the devil’s desire to make us self-conscious to not go to Mass? I’d be telling Satan where to go and get myself to Mass.