Dispensation from Mass

[cecilia56]

I know we are in uncharted territory in many ways, so there will likely be several different points of view about this. I’m just hoping to learn something new as I am not very familiar with dispensations, and dispensations applying to a large group are uncommon.

My diocese has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass to all Catholics, which is still in effect. I’ve been attending Mass weekly for months now, but this weekend I was on vacation and didn’t return with my family until Sunday evening. (Normally we would try to go to the evening Mass, but it hasn’t been available for a few months.)

The dispensation’s wording says, “all Catholics,” not only those who feel sick, but if I hadn’t been on vacation I would have gone. Does it still apply to me?

 

[Glennon_P]

Does it still apply to me?

You are dispensed from your obligation. Period.

 

[edward_george1]

The dispensation’s wording says, “all Catholics,” not only those who feel sick, but if I hadn’t been on vacation I would have gone. Does it still apply to me?

It doesn’t say “all Catholics who feel sick.” It says “all Catholics.” Full stop. If all Catholics are dispensed, and you are Catholic, you are dispensed.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[1ke]

The dispensation’s wording says, “all Catholics,” not only those who feel sick, but if I hadn’t been on vacation I would have gone. Does it still apply to me?

Yes of course it does: all Catholics.

 

[27lw]

My bishop has dispensed the obligation. I’ve gone about once a month. My husband is concerned about getting it, so I think it’s prudent to avoid going to group meetings as much as possible for now.

 

[Anesti33]

Despite the wording “all Catholics”, the dispensation only applies to Latin Church Catholics. If you are a canonically ascribed Eastern Catholic, then follow the decrees of your own bishop.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, it applies to you. Be at peace.

(Re the point about Eastern Catholics, I am presuming Cecilia56 is a Latin Catholic because ECs do not typically say they went to “Mass”, but rather Divine Liturgy or similar wording. Also she said “diocese” which is typically the Latin Catholic word. Finally, I’m sure she knows who her own bishop is when he hands down the dispensations. )

 

[Gorgias]

It doesn’t say “all Catholics who feel sick.” It says “all Catholics.” Full stop. If all Catholics are dispensed, and you are Catholic, you are dispensed.

I think that the OP’s question is along the lines of the sorts of questions like “in my diocese, we celebrate Ascension on Sunday, but I was present in another diocese that Sunday and they had already celebrated it previously on Thursday. Did I miss my obligation to attend Mass?” In other words, it seems like a question of jurisdiction or presence in a territory.

If memory serves, (and, of course, IANACL), the dispensation is for all under the authority of the diocesan ordinary, as well as for those who also happen to be present in the territory of his diocese. Since the OP (ostensibly) resides in that bishop’s territory, his dispensation still applies to her (even on vacation).

Sound about right, as such?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, when on vacation we follow the rules of our home diocese.

It’s highly likely that wherever she traveled also had a dispensation in place as well. No place that I know of is requiring people to attend Mass at this stage, at least not in USA.