Catholic Opinions

[AveOTheotokos]

You are not going to go to hell for not attending church. Christianity is a personal relationship with Christ Himself and does not have to involve church at all.

If you are a baptized Catholic and with full consent and knowledge refuse to attend Mass, (which is grave matter) and remain non repentant of your actions, then Hell is indeed a real possibility.

 

[whyeyeman]

If you love him, then follow his commandments. Belong to his church and go to mass.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sure, I disagree with several of the church’s teachings on sex, homosexuality, and women priests. As a good Catholic, I set my disagreement aside, accept that I might be wrong and that in any event changes in any of these areas are up to God, follow the Church teachings myself and pray and go to Mass a lot. And Adoration and devotions and reading about saints and stuff like that, I was raised doing all those things and then it seemed like they weren’t around so much for a while and now they’re back, which makes me happy.

I think where you lose me is the not going to Mass. It’s really central to being a Catholic in my mind. Mass gives one a lot of graces, and the homilies seem better than they used to be 25 years ago, though the point of going to Mass is NOT to hear the Homily, it’s to participate in Jesus’ sacrifice and honor him and be with him.

 

[edwest211]

I understand where you’re coming from but a few things. Not that long ago, marriage was a commitment before God and man. For better or worse. People aren’t perfect but things like “casual sex” means forming honest relationships is unknown to some. The priest acts as an agent of the Church and the State. You have to have a Marriage License to get married in a Church.

Regarding annulments, I hope the following is helpful:

Answering Common Questions about Annulments | Catholic Answers Magazine

 

[MarkInOregon]

I am, you don’t know how many things the lord
Has seen me through. I’ve got more blessings than you’ll
Ever know, you’ve probably seen my replies. I have an undying
Love for him. I don’t think you can understand, we all follow Christ in
Their own way. I accept all the opinions and replys, but
You are judging me for what I say. I don’t think it’s right,
You are wrong. I love Jesus with all my heart. Please,
If you write again, don’t be judgmental, if you
Want to know something, just ask. I’d be happy to answer
Them.

Jellybean

You keep claiming to love the Lord and I’m not here to question that, but you do seem more concerned with your feelings and your will than with Gods will. Love of the Lord should translate into a desire to know his will and to do his will. And this love should fill us with a peace even amidst our trials. In many ways it seems like you simply want to justify your will, and I don’t see the peace that this love should fill you with. Perhaps this unrest, whatever it is, that has brought you here–should give you pause. Have you taken this belief of yours regarding Mass and the other things you disagree with to prayer? Have you asked the Lord for guidance? Have you spent time meditating on his word? Have you listened for an answer?

Do you not believe Christ instituted the Mass and commanded us to “do this in memory of me”?
Do you not believe the Eucharist is what Christ said it was?
Do you not believe Christ instituted confession?
Do you not believe Christ instituted a Church to protect his teachings and to guide us?
Do you believe Jesus is telling you not to participate in and listen to the Church he founded and appointed successors to?
Would you have spoken to Peter or Paul or James or John as you speak to or about the Church?

We need to do the Lords will to show him we love him. Are you sure you are doing his will? (If you are you’re way ahead of me) Regarding going to Mass you said you “owed it to the Lord to at least try.” Can I ask why you thought this if you really think you don’t need to go to Mass? It’s not about being religious–whatever that means–it’s about being a committed follower of Christ and doing his will at the expense of our own. It is about dying to self. It’s about losing your life to find it. It’s about spending time in prayer to discern Gods will. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[notforgotten]

A forgivable sin at worst. No one is going to hell for not attending mass. Christ has already informed me that I would be in heaven with my mother and I seldom go to Church.

 

[Jellybean]

Oh yes it does, you don’t know how many wonderful things
He’s done for me, he knows how thankful I am, you don’t
Think that showin undying love and devotion is enough, fine,
You are speaking your opinion. I’ve given my opinion and beliefs.
I just think that we all have our views, and that’s fine.

Jellybean

 

[AveOTheotokos]

I don’t know what you’ve been smoking,

But you like grim outlooks.

This personal attack is completely uncalled for. This is the teaching of the Church, not some mind-altering substance use derived personal opinion. The Catechism states:

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.90

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.91

2168 The third commandment of the Decalogue recalls the holiness of the sabbath: "The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD."92

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ:107

Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord’s Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death.108

2176 The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all."109 Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.

2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."110

"Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints."111

2178 This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age.112 The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another."113

 

[AveOTheotokos]

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Regarding sin:

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."132 The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

 

[notforgotten]

It wasn’t judgment. I saw Jesus when I was an innocent 9 year old boy. Since then I have spoke to Him through the Holy Spirit. No one can tell me otherwise. I will be in heaven with my mother, for Jesus has already told me so.

 

[notforgotten]

“Grave sin” doesn’t put the fear of God in me because I know better than that.

 

[AveOTheotokos]

So you are a Catholic who does not believe in mortal sin or the necessity to attend Mass, but you are certain that you will be in heaven?

 

[MarkInOregon]

I am Catholic. And I do believe that it is the best Church in existence. Although, I do believe in the Bible first, and it says that we all fall short of the glory of God. This making neither us or any Church perfect as some Catholics believe. There is not one Church that is perfect, although, I believe the Catholic Church to be the closest to being perfect. May love, peace and joy spring up into your life.

Does the Church claim to be perfect? Or does it profess to, through the Holy Spirit, protect the teachings of Christ and the apostles, the deposit of faith?

By what authority do you possess the Bible as the inspired word of God?

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[notforgotten]

Where in the Holy Bible does it say that you will go to hell for not attending mass?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

This thread has totally jumped the shark when people start claiming they saw Jesus and he told them it was okay to miss Mass. I’m taking a little board break till tomorrow.

 

[notforgotten]

I have witnessed many truths of the Bible. Enough, to believe that it the inspired word of God, for myself…

 

[AveOTheotokos]

Christ has already informed me that I would be in heaven with my mother and I seldom go to Church.

I will be in heaven with my mother, for Jesus has already told me so.

I saw Jesus when I was an innocent 9 year old boy

So as a young impressionable child, “Jesus” came to you and informed you that you actually did not have free will and that He would overwhelm you with grace to override your free choice to accept or reject His will and that, despite rejecting the teachings of the Church that He established and the Commandments of God, you would be going to Heaven no matter what?

Have you taken this experience to a priest to receive guidance on it’s meaning/authenticity?

 

[Duckling]

you

Don’t need to go into church to show the lord you love him.

WELL.,
God does say that you shall not forsake the assembly. It’s important to have fellowship with people in your faith, and going to Mass keeps you strong in the faith. God made us to be together. You don’t need to go to church to show God you love Him, you don’t need to prove anything to anybody. You go to church because you want to grow in your faith and stay connected with God and His people.

My personal opinion is, you can be religious without

Going to church, nobody should bevpressured into

Believing how you show your love is mass and heavy church

Attendance

I agree, you can be religious without going to church.

But I personally believe that if God thought his people didn’t need a church, then there wouldn’t be one.

Hope this doesn’t sound too much like an attack. I just felt convicted to share.

 

[notforgotten]

Show me scripture that says we must attend mass!

 

[Duckling]

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25.

Other translations say for verse 25:
not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.