Cancelling Mass, Sunday Obligation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kmon23
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
SMHW said:
Vico, in this case I believe the assumption is that Mass is cancelled at a given parish due to dangerous travel conditions in the the whole region. The travel danger to the parishioners exists even if other parishes in the area are able to hold Mass.

Now there are cases where weather would result in the cancellation of Mass at a particular parish due to a local problem such as a washed out bridge or lack of electrical power. In that case I think we all agree that someone should attempt to attend Mass at another parish if it is reasonable to do so.

But in the case of wide-reaching problems where multiple parishes and/or dioceses are impacted, people have to use their best judgment so as not to put themselves and other people (including first responders) in danger. .
Click to expand...
Sounds very prudent. Please see the previous post for clarification of what I meant which should not be in conflict.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
30 minutes is a relative term when you are talking about the weather here in WNY. :rolleyes:

I live 2.2 miles from our Cathedral, where I also work. The other day it took me 45 minutes to get home.

Maybe, instead of putting totally absurd and unrealistic options, which are obviously your OPINION out there, maybe you can say a prayer for all of us dealing with the cold & snow. :mad:
Click to expand...
Please see post #20.
 
Vico said:
Kmon postulated that it was possible to which I responded with 30 minutes else no: “should the person go to another parish if possible.”

So does it take more than 30 minutes to handle snow and drive there combined? Then don’t go.
Click to expand...
But you don’t think I should be shoveling at all on a Sunday.
 
Hoosier_Daddy said:
How did you come up with 30 minutes? What is your basis?
Click to expand...
Thirty minutes is arbitrary (note that I posted “say thirty minutes” by way of an example.) Some have suggested that an hour is reasonable. Although a particular bishop or priest may mention a specific time, it is not universal. A person may be able to get their pastor to provide a specific number.
 
Vico said:
There remains a serious obligation to avoid labor on Sunday, but there are many acceptable reasons for labor on Sunday.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying your posts. Yes, the Lord Jesus taught that there are times when, for the sake of charity, we must work on the Sabbath (e.g., to take care of stock). I think shoveling a driveway and sidewalks is one of those times. In our city, it’s an ordinance that sidewalks should be cleared in front of businesses. So even if we don’t shovel, we have to hire someone to shovel.

Snow is a lot of work!
 
Vico said:
Thirty minutes is arbitrary (note that I posted “say thirty minutes” by way of an example.) Some have suggested that an hour is reasonable. Although a particular bishop or priest may mention a specific time, it is not universal. A person may be able to get their pastor to provide a specific number.
Click to expand...
Thank you for clarifying.
 
I am sure God does not ask us to risk our lives if the snow, extreme cold, and/or ice prevents us from going to Mass on Sunday (or the Saturday evening Mass).
 
Vico said:
There remains a serious obligation to avoid labor on Sunday, but there are many acceptable reasons for labor on Sunday.
Click to expand...
From the CCC:
2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. the faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.
Click to expand...
My bold. I would think that shovelling out the driveway or sidewalk fits that description. It may be necessary to shovel on a Sunday in order to be able to make it to work on Monday morning, and there may be city ordinances about shovelling the sidewalk in front of the house.
 
I live in Canada regarding snow we are veterans in terms of dealing with it. If the parish cancels mass due to a snow storm, it is doing the most logical and safe thing because the priest wants to keep his parishioners safe. Travelling anywhere to go to another church is stupid when the roads are terrible.

It is one thing to say it is Sunday obligation but let’s be practical here: too much snow means the roads will be icy which means people have a chance of getting into accidents which if someone gets injured or dies, gives the priest even more work to do.

People need to ask themselves is a Sunday obligation it really worth fulfilling if one is going to put their lives at risk due to the road conditions? As far as I’m concerned, God understands so it is best to remain home where it is safe and sound. Furthermore, if people are really into the sunday mass, on TV and online there are lots of masses you can turn into which will give you everything minus the Eucharist.

As for the comment of shoveling snow on a Sunday- again you need to be practical. It is easier to go outside and shovel say 5 to 10 cm at a time, and go out a few times, verses waiting until Monday and having to shovel the entire day’s worth. This is where heart attacks and other accidents happen. Plus after a while, the snow gets packed and often during the night, the temperature plummets so one needs to go after it as it comes down. Otherwise, on Monday morning, one is going to have hell of a time.
 
SecretGarden said:
I live in Canada regarding snow we are veterans in terms of dealing with it. If the parish cancels mass due to a snow storm, it is doing the most logical and safe thing because the priest wants to keep his parishioners safe. Travelling anywhere to go to another church is stupid when the roads are terrible.

It is one thing to say it is Sunday obligation but let’s be practical here: too much snow means the roads will be icy which means people have a chance of getting into accidents which if someone gets injured or dies, gives the priest even more work to do.

People need to ask themselves is a Sunday obligation it really worth fulfilling if one is going to put their lives at risk due to the road conditions? As far as I’m concerned, God understands so it is best to remain home where it is safe and sound. Furthermore, if people are really into the sunday mass, on TV and online there are lots of masses you can turn into which will give you everything minus the Eucharist.

As for the comment of shoveling snow on a Sunday- again you need to be practical. It is easier to go outside and shovel say 5 to 10 cm at a time, and go out a few times, verses waiting until Monday and having to shovel the entire day’s worth. This is where heart attacks and other accidents happen. Plus after a while, the snow gets packed and often during the night, the temperature plummets so one needs to go after it as it comes down. Otherwise, on Monday morning, one is going to have hell of a time.
Click to expand...
I see we’re from the same province 😃

Indeed one has to be practical about these matters. I live in a rural parish that was previously about 4 or 5 parishes that amalgamated. The closest one is about 10 km (6 miles for US folks) away on rural highways. I also have 1.6 km (1 mile) of a dirt road before I make it to the main two-lane highway. In summer I can bike to the nearest church in 20 minutes (though I choose to worship at the local Benedictine abbey to which I’m attached as oblate).

But there are some winter days where the dirt road I live on isn’t even ploughed and my little VW Golf won’t be going anywhere in a hurry. The road is ploughed pretty quickly on weekdays for the school bus but on weekends we’re not priority no. 1.

But those days are rare. We Canadians don’t let a little snow get in our way eh? Takes more than 6 inches to stop us 😛 . The aforementioned Golf has 4 good winter tires and stability and traction control and ABS brakes.

Still, the Mass obligation shouldn’t be a source of scrupulosity. We’re not expected to put aside reason when it comes to deciding what to do. Have the flu? Stay home! Dangerously icy roads? Ditto. Taking care of a sick child or parent? Guess the right answer…
 
Re: dangerous icy roads –

Heck, my old parish was within walking distance, and I managed to break my arm trying to get to Mass after an ice storm. So there I was, calling an ambulance, the ambulance guys having to drive me to the hospital, my family coming to get me from the hospital…

Sometimes it’s about humility as well as judgment! The Lord wants us to be prudent; that’s why He gave us brains.
 
Mintaka said:
Re: dangerous icy roads –

Heck, my old parish was within walking distance, and I managed to break my arm trying to get to Mass after an ice storm. So there I was, calling an ambulance, the ambulance guys having to drive me to the hospital, my family coming to get me from the hospital…

Sometimes it’s about humility as well as judgment! The Lord wants us to be prudent; that’s why He gave us brains.
Click to expand...
Pride does get in the way… It is the same pride that makes the coworker who comes in spreading germs bragginhg he never takes a sick day. I do hear people brag about not letting snow snow stop them from whatever (I would have tried the walk too)
 
marytk said:
Pride does get in the way… It is the same pride that makes the coworker who comes in spreading germs bragginhg he never takes a sick day. I do hear people brag about not letting snow snow stop them from whatever (I would have tried the walk too)
Click to expand...
Hmmm. I seem to remember their giving out a perfect attendance award of some kind at my high school. But at my high school everyone came by bus or transit or walked.
 
coachdennis said:
Common sense people, common sense. If it is too dangerous to travel to one church it is too dangerous to travel to another church.

Because of the combining of parishes in many areas of the country, priests do not necessarily live next door to every church. It would not be prudent to be on the road in the kind of weather we had yesterday in the Boston area.

Sometimes we have to use our God-given intelligence.
Click to expand...
that is rare commodity these days. If one could bottle it, you could be a millionaire.
 
ProVobis said:
Hmmm. I seem to remember their giving out a perfect attendance award of some kind at my high school. But at my high school everyone came by bus or transit or walked.
Click to expand...
Same, there was an award at my school. We were having rehearsals of handing out the rewards, and when the person for perfect attendance was called up, turns out that person was absent that day. 😃
 
I will never let snow prevent me from going to Mass.

Tim
Atlanta, Georgia
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top