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Jsmith17
Guest
Are Candidades under obligation to attend Mass on Sunday? Are they in a state of mortal sin if they do not?
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LilyM
Guest
Well, seeing as candidates are intending to become Catholic, they should certainly be living as if they already were - including Sunday Mass attendance each week that it’s possible to go.
Mortal sin requires 3 things - 1) that the sin is objectively grave matter (missing Mass is indeed) 2) full knowledge and 3) full consent.
I don’t know much about RCIA, so I’m not sure at what stage candidates are taught about the requirement to attend Mass. So the knowledge requirement may not be met by all candidates, who thus may not be in mortal sin.
Mortal sin requires 3 things - 1) that the sin is objectively grave matter (missing Mass is indeed) 2) full knowledge and 3) full consent.
I don’t know much about RCIA, so I’m not sure at what stage candidates are taught about the requirement to attend Mass. So the knowledge requirement may not be met by all candidates, who thus may not be in mortal sin.
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Trishie
Guest
I think if one are sincerely intending to become Catholic one would would wish to share in ‘the source of summit’ of Christian/Catholic life. If a person is not yet Catholic I would suggest that it isn’t binding. In this case, it is the spirit of the intention to become Catholic rather than the law.
One who isn’t going to Mass has yet to fully commit to something so central as the Eucharist, but may well grow into it as understanding of the faith deepens.
I think we as Christians/as Catholics need to ask less, “am I committing sin?”, rather, “Am I loving and honouring God as He wishes, and being part of the Christian/Catholic community?” The former is a negative response, the latter a positive and life-giving approach.
Patience and prayer, and deeper understanding of the truths and gifts of our faith are likely to contribute to a fuller response as the RCIA journey continues. God grant that our candidates sincerely apply themselves to this journey.
But no, not at present serious sin, more a regretable lapse!
God bless you…Trishie
One who isn’t going to Mass has yet to fully commit to something so central as the Eucharist, but may well grow into it as understanding of the faith deepens.
I think we as Christians/as Catholics need to ask less, “am I committing sin?”, rather, “Am I loving and honouring God as He wishes, and being part of the Christian/Catholic community?” The former is a negative response, the latter a positive and life-giving approach.
Patience and prayer, and deeper understanding of the truths and gifts of our faith are likely to contribute to a fuller response as the RCIA journey continues. God grant that our candidates sincerely apply themselves to this journey.
But no, not at present serious sin, more a regretable lapse!
God bless you…Trishie
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George_C
Guest
I missed a Mass because I was really tired and didn’t want to risk waiting and falling asleep at the wheel. I made the RCIA class, however.
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palmas85
Guest
You missed a Mass because you were really tired
but you did make the RCIA class.Well thats comforting.
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Just_Lurking
Guest
No, candidates are not obligated to go to Mass. The mass obligation is a ecclesiastical law, which binds the following people:
Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.
Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Technically they are at some point expected to live out their lives as Catholics. This would be an external action showing that they are living as Catholics. But there is no Obligation, not doing so does not constitute sin. This is why Candidates are not dismissed from Mass, they have a choice they can make to remain for the whole Mass.
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BSHoop96
Guest
My priest strongly encourages them to go to Mass. My question is: why would they not if they are sincere about joining the Church?
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Jsmith17
Guest
Many candidates in my RCIA do not attend Mass because they believe it to be only for those “already Catholic”. I told them that they should go, but I was wondering if they were obligated under pain of mortal sin.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
That is something that will grow in them as they mature in Faith.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
No they are not obligated, under pain of sin.
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SteveGC
Guest
Are people who were baptized in the Catholic Church, but never “confirmed” or initiated, obligated to go to Mass?
The CCC talks about how the “faithful” are obligated to follow Catholic dogmas and norms. I can’t find a definition of “the faithful”. I presumed it meant those who have received both sacraments of baptism AND confirmation, perhaps even being officially “initiated”, which includes the addition of reconciliation and communion. Or is it just Catholic baptism that obligates you?
I was baptized as an infant in the Episcopal church, then joined the CC when I was 37 years old. Up until my joining, I wasn’t obligated to go to Catholic Mass. But as soon as I was “initiated”, I was then obligated. How does it work if I had been baptized in the CC as an infant, yet waited until 37 to be “initiated”?
thanks.
The CCC talks about how the “faithful” are obligated to follow Catholic dogmas and norms. I can’t find a definition of “the faithful”. I presumed it meant those who have received both sacraments of baptism AND confirmation, perhaps even being officially “initiated”, which includes the addition of reconciliation and communion. Or is it just Catholic baptism that obligates you?
I was baptized as an infant in the Episcopal church, then joined the CC when I was 37 years old. Up until my joining, I wasn’t obligated to go to Catholic Mass. But as soon as I was “initiated”, I was then obligated. How does it work if I had been baptized in the CC as an infant, yet waited until 37 to be “initiated”?
thanks.
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cameron_lansing
Guest
Steve,
In canon law, the term “Christian faithful” is generally a term of art that refers to those baptized into the Catholic Church or received into communion with it.
From the perspective of the obligation as ecclesiastical law (setting aside the broader issue of divine law and the Lord’s day for now), the precept of participating at Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation (c.1247) binds those in both groups who possess sufficient use of reason and have completed seven years of age (see c. 11 for who is bound by ecclesiastical law).
You identify an admitted perpexity in the law that is illustrated in the case of someone baptized Catholic as an infant but who is not raised Catholic and is unaware of that Catholic baptism. The person is indeed bound to ecclesiastical law. True ignorance of one’s canonical condition makes observing the law morally impossible though.
Remember too that reception into communion with the Catholic Church might occur apart from confirmation and Eucharist. An infant baptized non Catholic (but not Orthodox since they also receive those sacraments at the time of baptism) can also be received into the Catholic Church prior to catechetical age, and then confirmed and given Eucharist later.
You might want to view canons 204-205.
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SteveGC
Guest
*CCC 1229 From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, Baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion. *
Just so I get it right, can you confirm that an infant baptized through the trinitarian formula (not necessarily through the Catholic Church Herself) is not “admitted” to Eucharistic communion until they are “confirmed”. BUT, they **ARE obligated **to follow the precepts of The Church otherwise (i.e. attending Mass)? Thanks…
Just so I get it right, can you confirm that an infant baptized through the trinitarian formula (not necessarily through the Catholic Church Herself) is not “admitted” to Eucharistic communion until they are “confirmed”. BUT, they **ARE obligated **to follow the precepts of The Church otherwise (i.e. attending Mass)? Thanks…
I’m never sure stepping into the middle of a conversation started by Deacon Cameron is a wise idea since he knows so much more than I but…
An infant who is a member of the Catholic Church is bound by the laws of the Catholic Church. But there are certain aspects of the laws (such as Mass attendance) which are not binding on an infant until he reaches the age of reason.
For an infant, (usually a child up to and including age 6 or so), membership in the Catholic Church is probably because of baptism into the Catholic Church. But an infant validly baptized in a non-Catholic church could be formally received into the Catholic Church. (How that occurs is a subject for another thread.) An infant received into the Church would be treated just as an infant baptized into the Catholic Church.
I’m not sure what your understanding of “Eucharistic Communion” is. Do you mean full initiation or do you simply mean permission to receive Communion? Because in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church is is usual for young children (not infants) to make their first Reconciliation and First Communion prior to being confirmed. This is not the case in (most?) Eastern Rites where children must be both baptized and chrismated (confirmed) prior to receiving First Communion. Unbaptized older children who are received into the Church are treated as adults.
When things get messy is in the case of young children above the age of reason but below the customary age for Confirmation who have been validly baptized and are to be received into the Church. In general they are to be received the same way baptized adults are received into the Church which means they will be confirmed and then receive First Eucharist.
In any case, if someone is bound by the laws of the Catholic Church but is unaware of those laws (or unaware of his membership in the Catholic Church) he would still be bound by those laws but his moral culpability for any failure to follow the rules would be diminished.
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SteveGC
Guest
Ok, so to sum up. Here’s what I’m getting from the explanations:
Abbreviations I’ll use:
VB = validly baptized (trinitarian formula) but not “confirmed”
CC = Catholic Church seated in Rome
EL = Ecclesiastical Law
Thanks a million.
Abbreviations I’ll use:
VB = validly baptized (trinitarian formula) but not “confirmed”
CC = Catholic Church seated in Rome
EL = Ecclesiastical Law
- VB **in **the CC = “the faithful” in communion with CC
- VB outside the CC = “the faithful” imperfectly in communion with CC
- VB (in or out) = bound by EL (should go to Mass, etc), but no communion until confirmed
- VB (in or out) **+ **aware of EL = morally culpable of disobedience to the EL
- VB (in or out) + UNaware of EL = morally INculpable of disobedience to the EL
- VB (in or out) + Confirmed in CC = same as #4, but also permitted to partake of communion.
Thanks a million.
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cameron_lansing
Guest
Steve,
As to the first question, to the contrary. The lack of confirmation conferred in the case of a baptized Latin Catholic, or even one received into the Church from another Church (think Orthodox here in general) or ecclesial community (think Protestant in general here) is not an impediment to receiving the Eucharist. (While it is normative to confirm adults who are baptized or received into the Church, a case may arise in which confirmation is not administered, apart from the Orthodox, etc., who would have been validly chrismated with holy Myrhh. Rare but possible.)
An infant baptized in the Latin Catholic Church normally receives first communion before confirmation. In baptism in the Latin Catholic Church, the infant is chrismated, but not with the effect of confirmation.
A validly baptized infant from another Church or ecclesial community who is received into the Latin Catholic Church follows the same path. with the exception of an infant who was baptized into one of the non Catholic Churches of the East (Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, e.g.). (This is because in the non Catholic Churches of the East infants are confirmed and receive Eucharist at the time of baptism. The Catholic Churches of the East have the same discipline as a rule.)
All of that illustrates that the discipline involving the adult catechumenate and reception into the Latin Church is handled differently than the initiation of infants is. There are historical reasons that other fine posters will be able to share with you.
As to the second question, nevertheless, in either of the scenarios above, the person becomes subject to the precepts of the Church on participating at Mass as above once reaching that age by virtue of canon 11.
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SteveGC
Guest
OK, so now I need to know what **“received into the Church” **means. I presumed that meant confirmed, but according to your guidance, it must mean something else.
I know the communion guidance listed on the inside jacket of the missalette recognizes that non-Catholics share in one valid Baptism, yet still does not allow them to partake in communion. That always suggested to me that it was not only because they couldn’t discern the presence of Christ, but also because (even if they really believed in the true presence), they were not “united” to the Catholic Church. I suppose I presumed wrongly on the latter part? Or more likely, I have no idea what united to the CC means.
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Aramis
Guest
You become bound to your obligations and to the church at baptism. (Even when that baptism is outside the visible church!)
You become liable for mortal sin in failing to meet those obligations when you become aware of them and of their being grave matter.
But be careful here.
There are certain laws and obligations that are only binding on those who have been baptized into or formally received into the Catholic Church. For example, a validly baptized non-Catholic is not bound by the Catholic form of marriage. On the other hand, someone baptized Catholic but then raised in some non-Catholic faith IS bound to follow the Catholic form of marriage (or to obtain a dispensation from it).
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