Dispensation from attending Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter fin
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fin

Guest
I’ll be gong on a trip and I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend Mass on that Sunday. I will try to go if there’s time and if I know how to go, but if not, I would be missing it. It’s hard, especially since I attend daily Mass, and I really value it.

How do I ask the parish priest for a dispensation from attending that Sunday Mass? Is it something verbal, or does the priest have to write down something? Sorry I have no clue. Thanks in advance.
 
I’ll be gong on a trip and I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend Mass on that Sunday. I will try to go if there’s time and if I know how to go, but if not, I would be missing it. It’s hard, especially since I attend daily Mass, and I really value it.
Click to expand...
How do I ask the parish priest for a dispensation from attending that Sunday Mass? Is it something verbal, or does the priest have to write down something? Sorry I have no clue. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
The dispensation will be verbal.

As always, just talk to your priest and tell him exactly what you wrote here. If he grants you a dispensation, he might advise you to do some other “pious work” (reflecting on Scriptural readings for that day, reciting the Rosary, ect.) if you cannot attend Mass.
 
Before asking a dispensation from the pastor, I suggest researching for churches there that offer Mass on Sunday and how to get there. If you think the church is hard to reach or the Mass is said in a language you do not know, then ask for the dispensation
 
GoGoDiego said:
If you think the church is hard to reach or the Mass is said in a language you do not know, then ask for the dispensation
Click to expand...
FWIW, Mass in a language you don’t know still “counts”. Tons of Catholics didn’t know Latin.
 
Here are some resources to use:

masstimes.org – It’s not always kept up to date on times, but it’s good for finding churches close to where you’ll be staying.

Archdiocese or parish websites - Usually kept fairly up to date. Read the bulletins on the website, if they have them.

Call the parish answering machine.

Ask at the front desk of your hotel about local churches. They usually have a list of nearby churches and service/Mass times.

Of course, if you can’t physically get to church without serious problems, or if there’s no church around within a reasonable distance, there is automatically no obligation to attend Mass. But asking for a dispensation ahead of time is a good idea.
 
I second masstimes.org. It is easy to use and often has links to the parish website which is a good resource for finding out actual times of mass.
 
Yes, you just tell him your situation and he will advise, mine said “ok” and made the sign of the cross blessing me. 🙂
 
I know if our area, dispensation is really hard to come by unless you are going some place so remote that it may take hours to get to a church. I recall someone telling me how he had asked his pastor for dispensation, and he was told about how certain people in Central and South America may walk 4 hour each way just to get to mass. I thought that was a stretch until I was attending mass recently and a missionary from South American mentioned this as well in his Homily. Just something to consider and to think about.
 
KD8TZC said:
… he was told about how certain people in Central and South America may walk 4 hour each way just to get to mass.
Click to expand...
That can be really beautiful, especially if done with the right intentions.

But I think we should trust the OP’s judgment that attending Mass may not be a reasonable option.
 
LaetenturCaeli said:
That can be really beautiful, especially if done with the right intentions.

But I think we should trust the OP’s judgment that attending Mass may not be a reasonable option.
Click to expand...
I agree… ultimately, it is between you and God.
 
Please correct me if I am wrong.

It is my understanding that you do not need to get dispensation from the Priest if you can’t get to mass. It is between you and God if you have the intention of going to Mass, and if you don’t have the intention to go to mass then dispensation or not, you may fall to grave sin. But as long as, if you could go to mass you would, but current circumstances don’t allow then it’s OK and a dispensation is not necessary but advisable.
 
Don’t forget that you can go to a vigil on the Saturday evening if that would work for you. Or in a language you don’t understand, or at an Eastern-rite church if any of those options would make it easier. You can get a dispensation, but it really should be a last resort.
 
Catholic_Duck said:
Please correct me if I am wrong.

It is my understanding that you do not need to get dispensation from the Priest if you can’t get to mass. It is between you and God if you have the intention of going to Mass, and if you don’t have the intention to go to mass then dispensation or not, you may fall to grave sin. But as long as, if you could go to mass you would, but current circumstances don’t allow then it’s OK and a dispensation is not necessary but advisable.
Click to expand...
What do you think a dispensation is for if not this scenario?
 
I am not saying that that dispensations are not for this situation, in fact this situation is a very good example of getting a dispensation. I am just saying they are not necessary for not going to Mass if you can’t make it for a valid reason. In fact in CCC 2181 ( can’t quote as it’s on my phone) it says that for a valid reason OR dispensation. So if for whatever reason you can’t get a dispensation, it’s not the end of the world. But I would still advise it if possible.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top