Do you go to Mass while on Vacation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MGEISING
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I love going to mass when I’m on vacation! 👍
I enjoy seeing other churches and hearing a different priest.
I went to the UK last spring and was able to attend two Sunday masses while I was there. Finding a Catholic Church was a bit of a challenge. Where I live you can’t drive for 10 minutes without seeing a Catholic Church, not there. I got to one quite early and was able to chat with the priest, a convert from the CofE, very pleasant.
 
From a Bishop from Miami:

miamiarch.org/news/columndetail.cfm?abc_id=80

Don’t take a vacation from Mass-going
My dear friends,
Do you remember the third commandment? “Keep the sabbath day holy.”
For Christianity, Sunday is our sabbath day, and keeping it holy means going to Mass. A 2002 Gallup poll, however, showed that only 31 percent of U.S. Catholics attend Mass weekly.
Others, whose children are enrolled in Catholic schools, dutifully attend Mass every Sunday from September to May, then take a break from June through August. It is as if the third commandment applies only during the school year.
The Ten Commandments apply year-round, and the third commandment is no exception.

To say that, however, is to admit that many Catholics view Mass as an obligation. In reality, Mass should be the highlight of your week, the time specifically set aside to spend with God and with other members of your faith community.

Mass was not an appendage in their lives, nor was it something that got in the way of a fun weekend. Mass was the “source and summit” of their lives, the font of their spiritual empowerment. The weekly celebration of the Eucharist gave meaning and purpose to their lives. So it should be for us.

Every Sunday Mass is an opportunity for us to nourish our faith and draw spiritual strength for the week ahead. Only at Mass do we enter into intimate contact with our Lord when we receive him in the Eucharist. Only at Mass do we come together as a community of believers, becoming that which we eat: one body, the body of Christ.

“In the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer and work, are united with those of Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value.” (Catechism No. 1368)

That communal and Eucharistic element is unavailable to people who “can pray just as well sitting at home.” Would a golfer argue that he could play just as well in his living room as out on the links? The very idea is preposterous. But for some reason, Catholics use the same logic to justify sporadic attendance at Mass.

Keeping the Sabbath holy is indeed an obligation, but it is only the minimum requirement. I encourage people, if they possibly can, to find the time to attend daily Mass. For as the catechism states:

“Every time this mystery is celebrated, ‘the work of our redemption is carried on’ and we ‘break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.’” (No. 1405)
I pray that you will come to appreciate the Mass as the early Christians did. May your attendance at Mass each Sunday be spurred not by obligation but by a heartfelt longing to be one with God and with your brothers and sisters in faith. 👍 👍
 
I think it is a great way to demonstrate to your family what “universal” means. My daughter is going on a trip to Singapore and I told her not to come home without a church bulletin 🙂 . It’s nice so many people are dialed up to the masstimes.org thing.
 
40.png
bfdtex:
I think it is a great way to demonstrate to your family what “universal” means. My daughter is going on a trip to Singapore and I told her not to come home without a church bulletin 🙂 . It’s nice so many people are dialed up to the masstimes.org thing.
Click to expand...
We go on many vacations all over and I wouldn’t leave without knowing where our Mass will be. And you are right … Universal … it is awesome that WE AS CATHOLICS can go anywhere in the world and be right at home. When I lived in England while my husband was stationed over there in the Air Force, Going to church made me feel not as homesick! 👍

Moe
 
Yes, except for when we went on a cruise. We were shocked that there was no Catholic Mass on the ship, just a non-denom “service”. We would have been able to go to mass in town, but were forbidden to leave the ship because of the HURRICANE.

So, I guess we were excused that day. But I sure prayed a lot!
 
40.png
cecelia:
And speaking of vacation, I’ll be at my family reunion in Columbia, Maryland this August. Does anyone of a church that I could attend. Of course it goes without saying that the Church would have to be one faithful to the Magisterium.
Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Hi, Cecelia! Welcome to Maryland! I wouldn’t bother with either of the churches in Columbia. Take Route 29 North to Route 40 East headed toward Baltimore, and go to St. Agnes, Catonsville, which will be at most 20 minutes’ drive from Columbia. The phone number is (410) 744-2900. They can give you Mass times and better directions. Try to attend a Mass celebrated by Fr. Tim Fell. He’s a wonderful young priest with a great love for the truth. He does a lot of apologetics work with youth. He’s just being transferred to St. Agnes. Enjoy your reunion!

Betsy
 
40.png
MGEISING:
From a Bishop from Miami:

miamiarch.org/news/columndetail.cfm?abc_id=80

Don’t take a vacation from Mass-going…
In reality, Mass should be the highlight of your week, the time specifically set aside to spend with God and with other members of your faith community.
Click to expand...
:amen:

A couple of years ago, my sis and bil wanted to take my ds to Colorado Springs with them for a convention they were attending. DS was interested in the USAF Academy and they thought he’d like to see it. However, they weren’t planning to attend Mass on Sunday because they were travelling that day to Wyoming for the rest of their summer vacation and didn’t feel they had time to stop. Gee, one hour off schedule! :rolleyes: Going to their summer home there, so it’s not like they were trying to meet a reservation deadline. We told them ds would not be allowed to go if they did not see to it that he attended Mass on Sunday. They are his godparents as well! BIL really appreciated our candor on this and assured us he would stop for Mass, but sis (a cradle Catholic) was still miffed about it, so ds did not go. (Turns out he found something he wanted to do instead, so don’t feel too sorry for him.) When it comes to my babies’ souls, I’m a mama bear…
 
A couple of years ago, my sis and bil wanted to take my ds to Colorado Springs with them for a convention they were attending. DS was interested in the USAF Academy and they thought he’d like to see it. However, they weren’t planning to attend Mass on Sunday because they were travelling that day to Wyoming for the rest of their summer vacation and didn’t feel they had time to stop. Gee, one hour off schedule! :rolleyes: Going to their summer home there, so it’s not like they were trying to meet a reservation deadline. We told them ds would not be allowed to go if they did not see to it that he attended Mass on Sunday. They are his godparents as well! BIL really appreciated our candor on this and assured us he would stop for Mass, but sis (a cradle Catholic) was still miffed about it, so ds did not go. (Turns out he found something he wanted to do instead, so don’t feel too sorry for him.) When it comes to my babies’ souls, I’m a mama bear…
[/quote]

I exactly agree with you … my children **CAN NOT ** go to someone’s home over the weekend unless Mass is planned. I have been blessed, my kids don’t complain - they get up every Sunday (or Saturday) and they know where we are going … I just wish they would like it more :eek: :eek:
 
I must admit the response to this survey is impresive. Over 95% go to Mass over vacation.

Here is my honest (yet flawed response). I went some 30 years ignoring my Faith. My wife is protestant yet is considering converting. However she is not interested (it appears, she’d dispute this some) in making a real concerted effort to truly leant and understand the Faith. Issues such as going to Mass every Sunday, reading the Bible often etc is not something she feels is necessary. This puts me in an odd position at times. For example, this weekend, we are going away with some friends. Catholics, but Catholics who feel no need what-so-ever is attending Mass. If I were to take a stand and attend Mass it would be very uncomfortable indeed. I know how this must sound to a group of people who responded overwhelmingly that they would not let a vacation keep them from Mass. I’m not proud of this stand (or lack thereof). I do hope that time and His grace will help provide me with the courage and conviction I need.

ps. I do go to Mass 90% of the time and confess when I do not.
 
40.png
Mijoy2:
I must admit the response to this survey is impresive. Over 95% go to Mass over vacation.

For example, this weekend, we are going away with some friends. Catholics, but Catholics who feel no need what-so-ever is attending Mass. If I were to take a stand and attend Mass it would be very uncomfortable indeed. I know how this must sound to a group of people who responded overwhelmingly that they would not let a vacation keep them from Mass. I’m not proud of this stand (or lack thereof). I do hope that time and His grace will help provide me with the courage and conviction I need.
Click to expand...
👋 Mijoy2

Not to wave a finger or anything like that … but we must be good examples to all faiths. For instance, my family is heading to Boston, MA this 4th of July. We are heading with two other couples, one catholic and one protestant. My husband was brought up protestant, but comes to church with us sundays and holy days. He would never think that we could miss mass just because people we were traveling with didn’t intent to go … we have a obligation, not only as Catholics, but to follow the commandments. As someone said in one of these threads, God’s ten commandments - weren’t suggestions. Never mind what we would be teaching our children if we said it was OK to miss mass just because we were with other people who didn’t agree or believe. We have a camp in Pittsburg, NH we go up with my husband’s mom and dad, and we just go off to Mass and they don’t like it much, but how can you knock anyone for keeping a commandment of God.

I will keep you in prayer, that you will be free of this one day … God Speed!
 
just copying some of what I said to a concerned emailer … (all my words)

*Thanks for your concern. I am a fairly recent convert and really wasn’t raised with the idea that I have to actually attend church EVERY Sunday to meet some criteria for staying in my faith. *
*Next vacation we fully intend to check out the mass at the much farther away parish but if it seems similarly sacreligous I’ll be leaving there early too. *

*I don’t think I could go to a mass where no one is really celebrating and feel like I met an obligation any moreso than not going at all meets an obligation, but what I can do is celebrate with my family in a way that we find respectful … *

*I attended Catholic services for 6 years without ever receiving the Eucharist so I don’t go now for that reason alone. I’d rather not take it in a place where I feel they are not really respecting it than to just go to have gone. *

*I’ll be back in Jersey this September and I’ll certainly be trying the other church … I’ll be in California in March to attend my brother’s wedding and I look forward to finding a church there but I will not partake in communion at a church that I don’t feel really celebrates our Lord. *

*Anyhow! Thanks again for your concern, you’re right I do need to continue to try other places but I don’t think it will make me feel more like I went to ‘church’ if the church is that sour … *

– I can totally understand what you are saying and how this is important for each of you to attend mass when away from home … it’s important to me as well but I just can’t see going to a place that I feel isn’t the right sort of church to celebrate in.

In fact I sometimes go to my mother’s fundamentalist-pentacostal-holy-roller church and call that church too, sometimes we manage to go to the evening mass those days and sometimes we don’t. It’s still church to me even if I don’t agree with everything they have to say. I do try to keep my kids out of their classes though, you never know what they might hear :eek: … I was raised by these people and it took me years to de-program!
 
MGEISING said:
👋 Mijoy2

I will keep you in prayer, that you will be free of this one day … God Speed!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the well intentioned finger pointing and the kind thought in the end. There is a bit more to this story then meets the eye. But we are limited in forums such as this and life stories are a bit inappropriate.

BTW, Boston you say? Happens to be my home. My weekend away I refered to is on Cape Cod. Enjoy your stay!!
 
Naphali said:
*I’d rather not take it in a place where I feel they are not really respecting it than to just go to have gone. *
Click to expand...

Why would you let the irreverence of others around you stop you from having this intimacy with Christ? The Eucharist was a gift from our Lord to each one of us. Why would you not accept this loving gift because there are people in the church who don’t appreciate it?

I can’t imagine not taking Holy Communion because of something someone else is doing. As long as it’s our Lord, I’m accepting Him.

JELane
 
Mass is the high point of my vacations! Back when my family made a road trip to california for my high school graduation, I really wish I could have gone to mass, but I’m the only Catholic in my family…so it would have been unchartitable to demand a trip to mass. Otherwise, I make it a point to go to mass while on vacation! In fact, I’m making a private retreat on the Oregon coast next week, and I’m staying accross the street from the local church! Yay for Jesus!
God Bless,

Justin
 
40.png
Mijoy2:
Thanks for the well intentioned finger pointing and the kind thought in the end. There is a bit more to this story then meets the eye. But we are limited in forums such as this and life stories are a bit inappropriate.

BTW, Boston you say? Happens to be my home. My weekend away I refered to is on Cape Cod. Enjoy your stay!!
Click to expand...
Mijoy2 😦

Sorry - I did start out with good intentions 😦 not to wag my finger … and it really wasn’t a real wagging … but it did come close … sorry.

We are staying at the Marriott Copley for two nights … which church should my family go to? There are so many of them, but I DO NOT WANT A LIBERAL one. Any suggestions my friend? 👍
 
Maybe I’m coming from a different prespective being a convert but really, if I totally disagree with the entire order of service, with the attitude and words coming from the priest and feel as though there is nothing in the place that makes me feel closer to God why WOULD I take communion with them?

Perhaps I’m spoiled by my wonderful parish where everyone is joyful and you feel Christ’s presence in every part of the service.

I know not every church is going to feel just like my home parish to me but I do expect at least a little respect, reverence and joy at being assembled to receive Christ … to have those things so totally lacking I don’t feel like I should be taking communion in that frame of mind. I need to be in a proper state myself and being in a church that inspires the opposite feeling in me is not an option.

I also don’t want to expose my children to a service so dead in spirit and tell them that it’s ok just because of the sign on the door … it’s not ok with me.

Anyhow … this is just how I feel. I’ll try again. I’ll try whenever we’re away, but if I feel like there is no joy of Christ in the body of the church then I won’t be receiving him with them at their Eucharist.
 
40.png
Naphali:
Anyhow … this is just how I feel. I’ll try again. I’ll try whenever we’re away, but if I feel like there is no joy of Christ in the body of the church then I won’t be receiving him with them at their Eucharist.
Click to expand...
Hi Donna, I understand what you’re saying (and I’m a revert after 28 or so years). Maybe try it from this perspective. Think of Him just waiting for someone who truly loves Him and serves Him with reverence to approach Him in Communion. If the participants are as disrespectful as you say or feel, then He’d be truly joyous for someone who obviously loves Him so much to accept His gift of Himself. Maybe use the time right before Communion to really pray that he clears your soul of stress and anxiety caused by these other people.

Sometimes my 6 y.o gets me pretty jacked up at Mass and, at least initially, I don’t feel in the proper disposition, but just those few minutes where I pray before Communion and ask for a better disposition of soul seems to work.

Good luck!

JELane
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top