Daily mass

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LilyM said:
With all possible respect to St Josemaria - he was a priest. For him there would never have been a conflict between other God-given obligations and Mass attendance - to say Mass WAS his God-given obligation (or the most significant part of it anyway).

Nor would he have had to work to other people’s Mass schedules - all he needed was a spare altar and he could say Mass for himself pretty much any time. Even if he was a parish priest, he was the one who set the schedule for Masses at his convenience.

Fact is, for every St Josemaria (who I doubt would ever advocate letting business or family obligations suffer in favour of daily Mass) you’d find a St Francis of Assisi, who radically for his time, dispensed his brothers from any requirement even for daily Liturgy of the Hours, let alone daily Mass. He certainly didn’t think their work with and for the poor should be shoved to one side in favour of Mass or Liturgy.
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LilyM - excellent points. Josemaria Escriva was also the founder of Opus Dei and one of the main ideas of this organization is to find holiness through work and daily obligations. I used to attend Opus Dei.
 
jkiernan56 said:
LilyM - excellent points. Josemaria Escriva was also the founder of Opus Dei and one of the main ideas of this organization is to find holiness through work and daily obligations. I used to attend Opus Dei.
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It’s good to know you used to attended Opus Dei. What did you do in the Plan of Life?
 
LilyM said:
Fact is, for every St Josemaria (who I doubt would ever advocate letting business or family obligations suffer in favour of daily Mass) you’d find a St Francis of Assisi, who radically for his time, dispensed his brothers from any requirement even for daily Liturgy of the Hours, let alone daily Mass. He certainly didn’t think their work with and for the poor should be shoved to one side in favour of Mass or Liturgy.
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I must pipe up here in defense of St. Josemaria, and the plan of life he established for those of us in Opus Dei. None of it is binding upon us under penalty of sin. He wanted us to make the struggle to pray, attend Mass, etc. purely because we want to, out of love for God. Believe me, there have been many, many days when my circumstances simply did not permit me to attend a weekday Mass, much as I might have wished to. Nobody yells at me or anything if that happens. Just wanted to be clear on that.

That being said, for those who can pull it off, daily Mass is such a rich source of grace. Especially when my life has been a bit overwhelming, as it has lately, and I cannot make it each day, the days that I can make it to Mass are even more treasured. I realize what I’ve been missing, and how much I personally need it, and want to try harder.

Margaret

PS A good overview of the plan of life can be found here, for the person who asked…
 
If you’re really tired then you really shouldn’t go. you should rest. It’d be better to rest at home than to fall asleep and snore really loudly in church.

But I was under the impression that we are not required to go to daily mass like we are to Sunday mass.
 
Red_Meg said:
I must pipe up here in defense of St. Josemaria, and the plan of life he established for those of us in Opus Dei. None of it is binding upon us under penalty of sin. He wanted us to make the struggle to pray, attend Mass, etc. purely because we want to, out of love for God. Believe me, there have been many, many days when my circumstances simply did not permit me to attend a weekday Mass, much as I might have wished to. Nobody yells at me or anything if that happens. Just wanted to be clear on that.

That being said, for those who can pull it off, daily Mass is such a rich source of grace. Especially when my life has been a bit overwhelming, as it has lately, and I cannot make it each day, the days that I can make it to Mass are even more treasured. I realize what I’ve been missing, and how much I personally need it, and want to try harder.

Margaret

PS A good overview of the plan of life can be found here, for the person who asked…
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👍
 
“What do you think about the morality of not going to daily mass ebcause you’re tired, it’s a bad time and far away, etc?”

Least of my worries. I have a problem getting to weekly Mass, because of sloth and impatience with ritualitistic routines.
 
Kathrin said:
What do you think about the morality of not going to daily mass ebcause you’re tired, it’s a bad time and far away, etc?

I have started going to daily mass almost every day about 3 months ago or so. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening, sometimes in the middle of the day.

Now I have started working and I wonder if it is ok to sometimes just tell myself, I am too tired tonight to go all the way to the city for daily mass and get home so late? Or to tell myself, I really don’t want to get up early today?

I know we’re not obliged to go to daily mass.
I have just gotten kind of used to it. I don’t want it to become compulsive though. but then, how can I even THINK that, I mean, could there be such a thing as overdoing it here??

Kathrin
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Hi, Kathrin.

I wouldn’t worry about skipping daily Mass because of the reasons you stated. Yes, there is such a thing as overdoing it. If you’re too tired, I’m sure the Lord does not want you to exert yourself, to the point of becoming disenchanted with daily Mass altogether. If you feel like you need a break, take a break. Nothing wrong with that - don’t feel a bit guilty about it!

This is what I did and it helped. I prayed to the Lord to help me be able to attend daily Mass. There was a time when it was very inconvenient for me, so I didn’t go. After praying about it for a couple years, all the issues that made it inconvenient slowly started to fade away. In time, it became convenient, so I started attending. Sometimes you just need to wait until the time is right. Sometimes it takes years. Jesus is patient.

Hope I was helpful.
 
KingAlfred said:
“What do you think about the morality of not going to daily mass ebcause you’re tired, it’s a bad time and far away, etc?”

Least of my worries. I have a problem getting to weekly Mass, because of sloth and impatience with ritualitistic routines.
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Oh, KingAlfred! Been there!!! Now I go to daily Mass and LOVE it! I wish I knew exactly what turned me around. I started really paying attention to the Mass (especially liturgy of the Eucharist) and do Eucharistic Adoration one hour a week. This helped me to fall in love with our Lord and it made me really want to be there at Mass. It also helps to know that the passion, death and ressurection of Our Lord are truly made present at the Mass. It is as if we are truly at the foot of Our Savior’s cross! Truly! It’s an awesome mystery. Good luck to you!
 
Chancellare said:
It’s good to know you used to attended Opus Dei. What did you do in the Plan of Life?
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More importantly, what has God’s plan been for me and have I been open to listening?* I can answer in two ways: general and specific.* I know God’s plan for me in general is the same one God has for everybody - a call to holiness.* I have had a few experiences of God’s love that have turned my life upside down and inside out. I have personally encountered Jesus in different ways and if we are on the same page, you know how that changes your life. I see and know myself as a bruised reed He did not break and a flickering wick He did not put out.* God’s grace has touched me in a very personal way and slowly is changing me.God’s plan for me specifically has been a calling to marriage.* I have a wife and two sons.* There’s alot more there, but that’s it in a nutshell.* The Lord has opened my mind and heart to the wonder and beauty of marriage.* I see God clearly in the Christian Marriage as an Image of the Trinity; Husband, Wife, and Child mirroring the 3 Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.* There is so much here in Christian Marriageto describe God’s call to holiness and God’s vision of the Church. God’s specific call to marriage is a very concrete way for me to answer the general call to holiness.** As far as this thread is concerned, the question about attending Daily Mass should be according to what is in your heart to do.**
 
Chancellare said:
It’s good to know you used to attended Opus Dei. What did you do in the Plan of Life?
Click to expand...
More importantly, what has God’s plan been for me and have I been open to listening? I can answer in two ways: general and specific. I know God’s plan for me in general is the same one God has for everybody - a call to holiness. I have had a few experiences of God’s love that have turned my life upside down and inside out. I have personally encountered Jesus in different ways and if we are on the same page, you know how that changes your life. I see and know myself as a bruised reed He did not break and a flickering wick He did not put out. God’s grace has touched me in a very personal way and slowly is changing me.God’s plan for me specifically has been a calling to marriage at least I believe. I have a wife and two sons. There’s alot more there, but that’s it in a nutshell. The Lord has opened my mind and heart to the wonder and beauty of marriage.* I see God clearly in the Christian Marriage as an image of God; Husband, Wife, and Child mirroring the 3 Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is so much in Christian Marriage to describe God’s call to holiness and God’s vision of the Church. God’s specific call to marriage I believe is a very concrete way for me to answer the general call to holiness.

As far as this thread is concerned, the question about attending daily Mass should be determined by what’s in your heart to do. If your heart moves you to want to go, then you should go.* If your heart doesn’t move you to go and you feel the need to use the time for other practical reasons, thats what you should do. Guilt for not going to daily Mass should never be the reason for doing it.

Chancellare - what has been your plan of life?
 
jkiernan56 said:
More importantly, what has God’s plan been for me and have I been open to listening? I can answer in two ways: general and specific. I know God’s plan for me in general is the same one God has for everybody - a call to holiness. I have had a few experiences of God’s love that have turned my life upside down and inside out. I have personally encountered Jesus in different ways and if we are on the same page, you know how that changes your life. I see and know myself as a bruised reed He did not break and a flickering wick He did not put out. God’s grace has touched me in a very personal way and slowly is changing me.God’s plan for me specifically has been a calling to marriage at least I believe. I have a wife and two sons. There’s alot more there, but that’s it in a nutshell. The Lord has opened my mind and heart to the wonder and beauty of marriage.* I see God clearly in the Christian Marriage as an image of God; Husband, Wife, and Child mirroring the 3 Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is so much in Christian Marriage to describe God’s call to holiness and God’s vision of the Church. God’s specific call to marriage I believe is a very concrete way for me to answer the general call to holiness.

As far as this thread is concerned, the question about attending daily Mass should be determined by what’s in your heart to do. If your heart moves you to want to go, then you should go.* If your heart doesn’t move you to go and you feel the need to use the time for other practical reasons, thats what you should do. Guilt for not going to daily Mass should never be the reason for doing it.

Chancellare - what has been your plan of life?
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Thank you jkiernan for sharing your thoughts openly. It was only a simple question about Plan of Life - a list of 20 daily activities that are usually followed even by Cooperators who see St Josemaria’s Way of sanctitification of the ordinary life useful. Since you mentioned attending Opus Dei, I thought you have come accross it. Anyway, you may want to try it too.
 
RosaryFan said:
Hi, Kathrin.

I wouldn’t worry about skipping daily Mass because of the reasons you stated. Yes, there is such a thing as overdoing it. If you’re too tired, I’m sure the Lord does not want you to exert yourself, to the point of becoming disenchanted with daily Mass altogether. If you feel like you need a break, take a break. Nothing wrong with that - don’t feel a bit guilty about it!

This is what I did and it helped. I prayed to the Lord to help me be able to attend daily Mass. There was a time when it was very inconvenient for me, so I didn’t go. After praying about it for a couple years, all the issues that made it inconvenient slowly started to fade away. In time, it became convenient, so I started attending. Sometimes you just need to wait until the time is right. Sometimes it takes years. Jesus is patient.

Hope I was helpful.
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You’re so understanding. 🙂
 
KingAlfred said:
“What do you think about the morality of not going to daily mass ebcause you’re tired, it’s a bad time and far away, etc?”

Least of my worries. I have a problem getting to weekly Mass, because of sloth and impatience with ritualitistic routines.
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I’ll say a prayer for you! 🙂
 
Chancellare said:
Thank you jkiernan for sharing your thoughts openly. It was only a simple question about Plan of Life - a list of 20 daily activities that are usually followed even by Cooperators who see St Josemaria’s Way of sanctitification of the ordinary life useful. Since you mentioned attending Opus Dei, I thought you have come accross it. Anyway, you may want to try it too.
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Sorry for the misunderstanding, I thought you were asking me a question on a personal level. I got away from Opus Dei very quickly once I got educated about the organization. After having attended Opus Dei for a few months in Potomac Maryland, I did some research and interviewed a few former members of Opus Dei to get an inside scoop. It raised a lot of red flags and I knew it wasn’t for me.
 
Kathrin said:
What do you think about the morality of not going to daily mass ebcause you’re tired, it’s a bad time and far away, etc?
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As others have stated, daily mass is not an obligation and missing mass on a regular weekday is not a sin. That been said, if one can go every day to mass and partake on the Eucharist, why wouldn’t one want that?
Kathrin said:
Now I have started working and I wonder if it is ok to sometimes just tell myself, I am too tired tonight to go all the way to the city for daily mass and get home so late? Or to tell myself, I really don’t want to get up early today?
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While there can be valid reasons not to attend daily mass, you shouldn’t have to make excuses to justify not going. To give you an example, if Tuesday is a “bad time” to go to mass (e.g. doctor’s appointment, long day at work, you wake up sick, etc.), you could decide not to go to mass that day and there would be nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, you may wake up a little “tired” on Tuesday and not feeling like going to mass. Since love is about sacrifice, this could be a good opportunity to offer your sacrifice to God.
Kathrin said:
I know we’re not obliged to go to daily mass.
I have just gotten kind of used to it. I don’t want it to become compulsive though. but then, how can I even THINK that, I mean, could there be such a thing as overdoing it here??
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Attending daily mass shouldn’t be “compulsive”; if you go to daily mass you should do it out of love for Jesus Christ. But there are other ways to be intimate with the Lord. I would love to go to daily mass, but because of work and schedule conflicts it’s not always possible for me. If I can, I go to daily mass. If not, I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Sometimes I pray the Morning Prayer; sometimes I pray the Evening or Night Prayer. Today, I prayed the Rosary in the morning. The bottom line is that you set time aside for prayer. There are many wonderful ways to dedicate this time to the Lord; the Eucharist being on the top of the list. Just keep in mind that it shouldn’t be done out of obligation, but out of love.
 
Ad_Gentes said:
While there can be valid reasons not to attend daily mass, you shouldn’t have to make excuses to justify not going.
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No, of course, and that’s not what I want to do either.
I am not talking about just not feeling like going today.

And I did make it every day last week (except Saturday, because Saturday night I went for Sunday, when I was working). I made it this morning too, on my day off.
But for example tomorrow, I think I may skip it… I am working, and then I am only off on Christmas Eve but still have a lot of things to do and then celebrating with my family, and hopefully be able to go to Midnight Mass (afraid of being tired. but I want to!). Because I am working again on the 25th, the 26th and the 27th.) And just getting over a cold too and feeling run down a bit right now… today was even more stressful than working, running around town… so I thought, tomorrow after work maybe I want to go home and not take the train to the city and go to mass and then maybe not get home until 8pm… and maybe still ahve to wrap up Christmas presents… see what I mean? Is it ok on such a day?
 
Kathrin,

Canon 1247 states:
On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
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Unless it’s a holy day of obligation, attending daily mass is not required. That means that you can choose to attend or not to, depending on your particular circumstances. You shouldn’t feel bad if you have to “skip” mass tomorrow. That’s not what the Lord wants. Instead, be joyful when you can attend. And make sure you dedicate enough time for prayer on those days that you can’t. 😉
 
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