Easter Sunday mass obligation

[honey2]

I don’t really know whether I did this correctly so I will continue with my question. It has been asked in other situations but I am wondering this. I am 83 and am excellent health I think but I live very far from my home parish. There are other parishes nearer but not traditional like my home parish and I really prefer to always go to my own. I know that is not pertinent to my remark but this is my problem. I love my own parish and go to mass every Sunday unless I just cannot ,due to some ailments which seem to go with the territory of 83 years. I am having a quandary now because I can’t go to the 8;30 PM vigil mass because it is dark when I go and come home. I live over 10 miles from there and have to drive myself, I also have the same problem with another parish that I like but it is also as far away with a late mass. I am not happy going to the two liberal parishes that are of the other choice. If I don’t go to Easter Mass will, it be a mortal sin? Also, I have had to stay home other times because I was also exhausted from minor ailments that tend to make me not sleep well. I think it is too bad that because someone who says they missed mass because they did not get any sleep the night before, is criticized for that. because being older I understand . I have confessed this to my Priest and he just gives me a penance. Maybe because he is also of this age group and understands. If it is a mortal sin I would definitely die to go. not stay home But when the closest parish is a liberal one you do not want to attend, then that is not a good choice. I will go to the easter Sunday mass and there again is another problem for me. It is usually so crowded in the parking lot, and inside that I have to leave home an hour early to be able to find a parking place and a pew to sit in. There are extenuating circumstances for some persons missing mass. I try never to but sometimes it is not safe or easy to go for older people. Not criticizing anyone who disagrees but I bet they are younger. I only say, wait until you are our age we seniors…Bea

 

[Arkansan]

A parish’s liturgy being bad does not excuse from attending Mass.

I am not in any way denying some of the truly awful liturgies that exist in some places (I’ve had to attend some while vacationing). But that doesn’t excuse one from the obligation.

 

[DeniseNY]

Even if you don’t particularly like the parishes closest to you, if you can make it there, you should for Easter. But if your physical issues make it impossible, or if it is unsafe for you to drive, it would not be a mortal sin.

 

[Irishmom2]

I understand your reluctance to drive to and from the vigil mass, but why don’t you just go to a morning mass? You do not have to go to the Vigil mass.

 

[OraLabora]

I understand your reluctance to drive to and from the vigil mass, but why don’t you just go to a morning mass? You do not have to go to the Vigil mass.

This. Your obligation is to attend an Easter Mass, not necessarily the Vigil. I am a Benedictine oblate and usually attend Mass at the abbey, which is a 40 minute drive for me. I am not 83, but even at 60 my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and I’m not fond of driving at night, especially over the mountain roads infested with deer that I must use to get to the abbey (and while the parishes near me are only 15 minutes away, it’s still night time with plenty of deer). Moreover, our choir sang Lauds at the cathedral this morning, which is an hour’s drive for me, and I had to be up at 4:30 in the morning to be on time for that. So the Vigil that finishes near midnight will make for a mighty long day,.

So this year I am giving the Vigil a pass, and will attend the Easter morning Mass instead.

And, psst, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I think the morning Mass liturgy is more beautiful (both the Vigil and the morning Mass are in Gregorian chant at the abbey).

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I am not sure what your question is. There is no obligation to go to the Easter Vigil Mass if you would rather go to Easter morning Mass. God certainly understands age and infirmity. I would avoid judging ‘liberal’ parishes, whatever that means. Any valid Mass has the Real Presence of Christ, the greatest miracle in this world.

 

[Reuben_J]

Hi. Just a little bit about the mass, which perhaps you already known. In the Mass, the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday coalesce, and those events comprise the core of our faith.

So basically the mass that you attend is your Sunday obligation - you can attend the Easter vigil mass which satisfies the Sunday mass obligation or Easter Sunday mass itself.

Thus for those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

Certain circumstances can excuse one from attendance at Mass on a particular Sunday.

The catechism mentions illness and the care of infants, but others might be: unavoidable work obligations, lack of transportation or inclement weather sufficient to put one’s safety at risk. (To skip Mass to go shopping, to play golf or to get a couple extra hours of sleep clearly does not qualify and shows that other priorities have been allowed to replace the Lord.)

Considering your age, I suppose you can only try to attend the mass, but if it is not possible due to old age, then it is not a sin.

Have a blessed Easter.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I am not happy going to the two liberal parishes that are of the other choice. If I don’t go to Easter Mass will, it be a mortal sin?

Missing Mass because you are “not happy” going to “liberal” parishes is not an appropriate reason to miss Mass on a Sunday, including on Easter. That would be a sin (whether mortal or not is up to your confessor).

If, on the other hand, you missed Sunday Mass because you were not feeling well enough to attend or were unable to drive yourself and couldn’t get transportation, that would not be a sin.