Dispensation from Mass - Need Advice Quick!

  • Thread starter Thread starter T1pp
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

T1pp

Guest
I’ll be going out of town for the weekend and am not sure I’ll be able to make it to Mass. I’m going to make every effort, but will be at the mercy of our host. I’m not at all familiar with the town and I won’t have a car.

I’ve heard that I can get a dispensation for this, but am not sure I can get it from my priest or if I have to get it from my Bishop, or if it is even necessary. Regardless, I am definitely going to try to make it but want to be covered in case it is not possible. I’m leaving in the morning, so I need to figure this out pretty quick.

Thanks!
 
Christos Voskrese!

Call your priest and ask him.

My understanding is that it is only a sin to miss Mass if you do so willfully. If I’m wrong about that, I hope someone will correct me!

Also, if there is an Orthodox church that you can get to while you are away, the Catholic Church, I believe, allows you to receive communion there–if there is no Catholic priest available. You may, however, run into some opposition from the Orthodox priest. Or, maybe not. (I hope I haven’t opened up a can of worms here 🙂 .)

If that is not an option for you, and you must, through no fault of your own, miss Mass, and you are not sure whether you have sinned or not, you may want to go to confession before attending Mass the following week and include that in your confession.

I hope that helps!

Good luck and God Bless,

Jeff
 
Your priest can give you permission to miss Mass if you are unable to attend due to circumstances out of your control. I would, however, do my very best to locate a Catholic Church in the town ahead of time and let your host know that you would like to attend Mass there at the designated time. The masstimes website will guide you.
 
I’ve already looked into churches and mass times there. I’m just not sure what our host has planned for us. I’m sure I could be a complete pain in the rear until they agreed to rearrange the schedule and take me. I’m just wondering, if it inconveniences their plans, how big of a protest am I obligated to make?
 
T1pp said:
I’ve already looked into churches and mass times there. I’m just not sure what our host has planned for us. I’m sure I could be a complete pain in the rear until they agreed to rearrange the schedule and take me. I’m just wondering, if it inconveniences their plans, how big of a protest am I obligated to make?
Click to expand...
You are obligated to throw a full blown temper tantrum! LOL, I’m just kidding.😃 See my post number 4.
 
Being a proper host - if you indicate your desire to attend mass - they should be able to accomodate you (and anybody else who is also Catholic) for time and perhaps even arrange travel to and from. All you have to do is ask - you may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck.
 
T1pp said:
I’ve already looked into churches and mass times there. I’m just not sure what our host has planned for us. I’m sure I could be a complete pain in the rear until they agreed to rearrange the schedule and take me. I’m just wondering, if it inconveniences their plans, how big of a protest am I obligated to make?
Click to expand...
You’re obligated to go to Mass. Personally, I have taken taxi cabs to get to Mass when I did not have a rental car at my destination.

It’s not a sin if you have a serious reason not to go, for example illness or caring for a sick person.

The best advice will come from your priest, my personal opinion follows:

I think you are trying to shift the blame onto your hosts much too readily. I understand that you don’t want to “inconvenience” them but really you could get a rental car, ask to borrow their car, ask them to take you, call a cab, etc, if you really wanted to make it to Mass.

And, any friends of mine already know that I don’t miss Mass. I’ve never encountered a problem with getting to Mass when staying with friends.

Just tell them you want to go and ask what the alternatives are for you. Unless you are camping in the remotest of places, I don’t see how 1 hour will inconvenience your hosts. They aren’t really much of a friend if they would get upset over you wanting to attend Mass.
 
T1pp said:
I’ve already looked into churches and mass times there. I’m just not sure what our host has planned for us. I’m sure I could be a complete pain in the rear until they agreed to rearrange the schedule and take me. I’m just wondering, if it inconveniences their plans, how big of a protest am I obligated to make?
Click to expand...
You’re required to point the gun at them, but you don’t have to actually pull the trigger.

😃
 
kage_ar said:
What 1ke said.
Click to expand...
Ditto.

Also, call your hosts and mention that you will want to go to Mass on Sunday. Don’t spring this on them when you’re half-way out the door to get there. 😉

Don’t make a big deal out of it, though. Just say, “I noticed that I can get to Mass at either this time or that time on Sunday, from your place. Which one works best with what you’ve got planned for us this weekend?” (Sales gurus tell us that you will always get your way if you present two versions of the same thing for your target to pick from. 😃 )
 
jmcrae said:
Ditto.

Also, call your hosts and mention that you will want to go to Mass on Sunday. Don’t spring this on them when you’re half-way out the door to get there. 😉

Don’t make a big deal out of it, though. Just say, “I noticed that I can get to Mass at either this time or that time on Sunday, from your place. Which one works best with what you’ve got planned for us this weekend?” (Sales gurus tell us that you will always get your way if you present two versions of the same thing for your target to pick from. 😃 )
Click to expand...
This is the best advice; we’re supposed to set low-key examples, not headline-making ones. Plus, among other things, maybe they’ll lend you a car to get to a further-away-but-more-temporally-convenient Mass. And who knows? Maybe they’ll come with.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top