Do I need to go to confession?

[ICXCNIKA]

Monday was all Saints’ Day. I was planning on going to Mass, naturally. However, my wife and I were taking care of an elderly man with emphasema. He was very poorly and we didnt’ want to leave him alone. My wife had a make up class to go to so I stayed with him and didn’t go to Mass.

I did want to go to Mass and only missed to be with my patient.

I don’t believe, given the circumstances, that it was a mortal sin. Should I go to confession?

 

[Bulldog]

ICXCNIKA:

Monday was all Saints’ Day. I was planning on going to Mass, naturally. However, my wife and I were taking care of an elderly man with emphasema. He was very poorly and we didnt’ want to leave him alone. My wife had a make up class to go to so I stayed with him and didn’t go to Mass.

I did want to go to Mass and only missed to be with my patient.

I don’t believe, given the circumstances, that it was a mortal sin. Should I go to confession?

No, Your not in Mortal Sin b/c All Saint day landed on Monday so the Holy day attendance was not required.

check out this for more info on holy days of obligation
wf-f.org/CanonSundayHolyDay.html

 

[ICXCNIKA]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Scout]

I was informed by our priest this past Sunday that anytime a Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the Sunday Mass covers your obligation.

Just thought you’d like to know in case something like this happens again.

On another note, I think it is very amiable of you to be concerned about this issue. Many people probably missed Mass on Monday, for whatever reason, and didn’t even care-and they didn’t know that Sunday Mass fulfilled their obligation. I think it shows you have a great heart to want to do what’s right. :clapping:

Scout :tiphat:

 

[ICXCNIKA]

Scout:

I was informed by our priest this past Sunday that anytime a Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the Sunday Mass covers your obligation.

Just thought you’d like to know in case something like this happens again.

On another note, I think it is very amiable of you to be concerned about this issue. Many people probably missed Mass on Monday, for whatever reason, and didn’t even care-and they didn’t know that Sunday Mass fulfilled their obligation. I think it shows you have a great heart to want to do what’s right. :clapping:

Scout :tiphat:

While I know I didn’t commit a sin in which I maliciously disregarded the command of God, there should be a concern of all Christians to be obedient. Obedience to the teaching of our Bishops is important. Where the Bishop is, there is Christ.

 

[Timidity]

Scout:

I was informed by our priest this past Sunday that anytime a Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the Sunday Mass covers your obligation.

Wrong!

Or, more accurately, that’s incomplete.

In the United States, the Holy Days of Obligation are:

• Every Sunday
• January 1, (Mary, Mother of God)*
• Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, (Ascension)
• August 15, (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)*
• November 1, (All Saints)*
• December 8, (Immaculate Conception)
• December 25 (Christmas)

Of these, only those marked with a * are exempt when falling on a Saturday or Monday.

 

[kaymart]

It was on a Monday so it was not required of anyone to attend but going is always good. BUT about your missing Mass it’s not a sin, Our Pastor put it this way, a 19 year old boy broke his leg although he can get around on crutches, its snow and ice outside he misses Mass. A young Mother up all night with sick children misses Mass. and the 94 year old woman who misses Mass to go to Atlantic City on the Weekend? Who is the only one who sinned? God understands. I have a 16 year old with severe Autism somedays he’s easy going and well behaved other days his behavior is so violent and out of control no medication can calm him down. I say an extra Rosary that later that day (when he finally calms down). I been told I’m not sinning because I had full intent on going to Mass. I did try one time to take him once, 8 years ago thinking it would calm him down, I still bear the scars on my cheeks where he “ripped” with his nails. I walked out of Church that Sunday with blood dripping from my face and tears in my eyes.

 

[Timidity]

ICXCNIKA:

…my wife and I were taking care of an elderly man with emphasema. He was very poorly and we didnt’ want to leave him alone … I stayed with him and didn’t go to Mass.

The Catechism seems to be on your side:
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. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.)

CCC 2181

There is no doubt in my mind that the care of the ill is up there with the care of infants.

​

 

[baltobetsy]

I absolutely agree with the idea that caring for the sick person dispensed the original poster from the obligation of going to Mass. However, since he was unaware that there was no obligation to attend Mass on All Saints’ Day this year because of its being on Monday, if he had missed Mass without such a good reason, he would have committed a mortal sin anyway. The first condition for committing a mortal sin is that the action be seriously wrong or *thought to be * seriously wrong. It’s the intention that really counts here - if you think it’s wrong and you’re willing to do it anyway, you’ve sinned, whether the action is really wrong or not. If you think you have an obligation, you have the obligation, whether or not it actually exists in the law. Conversely, if you are truly unaware of an obligation, you are not bound to observe it. If you are truly unaware that an action is sinful, you do not sin by committing that action. You must act according to your conscience. That’s why it’s so important to form your conscience correctly.

Betsy