Exceptions to Sunday Mass Obligation?

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

TonyC

Guest
For a number of years, my brother has invited me to join him for an annual hiking trip he takes with some of his friends. The trip lasts several days and usually they are out in the wilderness all day on Sunday. Because attending Mass would not be possible, I have declined to join his hiking trips. He is inviting me yet again, for a trip in a couple of months, for my wife and me to join his wife and he, and I would like very much to join him.

If the answer is, no, I cannot miss Sunday Mass, it would be a mortal sin to do so, then this raises a number of questions in my mind.

How could one climb Mount Everest and fulfill one’s Sunday obligation? I am sure that climbing Everest must take more than 7 days in the wilderness, and thus, unless one brings along a priest, it would not be possible to attend Mass on Sunday.

Or what about any number of professions that involve being in the wilderness for long streches of time, or that otherwise make Sunday Mass an impossibility – are such jobs essentially closed to observant Catholics? Say Antarctic scientist, or backwoods trapper, or undercover agent posing as an Al Qaeda terrorist, or soldier serving on the frontlines, or astronaut?
 
if it is reasonably impossible to attend mass, and your motive is not to skip, i see no problem.
 
Consult with your local priest before leaving on such a trip. He might dispense the obligation for you for that particular Sunday.
 
40.png
TonyC:
For a number of years, my brother has invited me to join him for an annual hiking trip he takes with some of his friends. The trip lasts several days and usually they are out in the wilderness all day on Sunday. Because attending Mass would not be possible, I have declined to join his hiking trips. He is inviting me yet again, for a trip in a couple of months, for my wife and me to join his wife and he, and I would like very much to join him.

If the answer is, no, I cannot miss Sunday Mass, it would be a mortal sin to do so, then this raises a number of questions in my mind.

How could one climb Mount Everest and fulfill one’s Sunday obligation? I am sure that climbing Everest must take more than 7 days in the wilderness, and thus, unless one brings along a priest, it would not be possible to attend Mass on Sunday.

Or what about any number of professions that involve being in the wilderness for long streches of time, or that otherwise make Sunday Mass an impossibility – are such jobs essentially closed to observant Catholics? Say Antarctic scientist, or backwoods trapper, or undercover agent posing as an Al Qaeda terrorist, or soldier serving on the frontlines, or astronaut?
Click to expand...
If it is not possible to plan a road crossing and a trip into a local town with a Catholic Church, then I would speak with your pastor and ask him to dispense you from the obligation for that Sunday.
 
If you happen to be where no masses are available, and its Sunday, its not a problem.

In 19th century America, there were very few priests around, so most Catholics just weren’t able to attend. But they weren’t banned by church law from coming here.

Similarly, Catholics aren’t prohibited from visiting Greek isles, Siberia, Saudi Arabia, or other places where it would be nearly impossible to find a Catholic priest.

The only problem would be is if you chose to visit those places for an extended period just because you knew that there were no priests available there.
 
One’s pastor has no authority to despense one from hearing Sunday Mass if the wilderness trip is not in the pastor’s parish.

If there is no parish within walking or canoeing distance,etc. to a Catholic Church with a Catholic Mass in the parish where the wilderness trip is being held, there is no obligation to hear Sunday Mass.

As an alternative, invite a priest to come along. It will kill two birds with one stone. The priest will have a nice vacation, and one will hear not only Sunday Mass but daily Mass as well.
 
Chris Jacobsen:
One’s pastor has no authority to despense one from hearing Sunday Mass if the wilderness trip is not in the pastor’s parish.
Click to expand...
You brought up an interesting point. I was reading in the CCC today where a priest can dispense from the Sunday Mass obligation (Ican only hope a valid reason is needed), but why do you think it needs to be a priest from the geographical area one is traveling through? Have you seen this in canon law or have personal experience?

It would seem difficult to consult a priest while traveling to address this. Does anyone have information on which priest has the authority to dispense this obligation?
 
The priest has no authority outside his own parish. Even to to baptise a baby living in another parish, he has to ask permission of the priest of the parish where the baby is living.

Who told me this? A priest. A couple who wanted to have their baby baptised. The couple lived outside the priest’s parish. The priest told me that the couple did not understand that they needed the permission of the priest in the parish where they lived.

When one goes to another diocese for example, one must follow that diocese’s rules for holydays and days of abstenence. If a priest wants to say Mass or hear Confessions in another diocese, he must obtain permission of the local bishop.

A diocese is like a country or state. When one is in another country or state, one obeys the laws and is subject to the authorities of the alien country or foreign state. The same is true of a diocese, and even a parish, which, by the way, is similar to a county.
 
Chris Jacobsen:
The priest has no authority outside his own parish. Even to to baptise a baby living in another parish, he has to ask permission of the priest of the parish where the baby is living.
Click to expand...
This may be a difference from diocese to diocese. I understand that a priest needs faculties for the sacraments in the diocese, but in my diocese, one need not worry about parish boundries.

I have noticed in other threads, though, that parish boundries are strictly observed in some diocese.
 
The legal stuff is probably worked out behind the scenes between the priests.
 
Chris Jacobsen:
The priest has no authority outside his own parish. Even to to baptise a baby living in another parish, he has to ask permission of the priest of the parish where the baby is living.

Who told me this? A priest. A couple who wanted to have their baby baptised. The couple lived outside the priest’s parish. The priest told me that the couple did not understand that they needed the permission of the priest in the parish where they lived.

When one goes to another diocese for example, one must follow that diocese’s rules for holydays and days of abstenence. If a priest wants to say Mass or hear Confessions in another diocese, he must obtain permission of the local bishop.

A diocese is like a country or state. When one is in another country or state, one obeys the laws and is subject to the authorities of the alien country or foreign state. The same is true of a diocese, and even a parish, which, by the way, is similar to a county.
Click to expand...
Are you certain on that?

My understanding is we must get the dispensation from our Pastor. And this does make sense, since it would be hard to know the regulations in a diocese we are visiting.

Although I have heard of a local Priest giving the dispensation from abstinance for a wedding or other dinner. (not sure if this is valid, since I also understood it must be a Pastor or Biship to give the dispensation)
 
Thank you all for the very valuable (name removed by moderator)ut. I think it much more likely that my wife and I will join my brother and his wife. Thanks!
 
40.png
pnewton:
You brought up an interesting point. I was reading in the CCC today where a priest can dispense from the Sunday Mass obligation (Ican only hope a valid reason is needed), but why do you think it needs to be a priest from the geographical area one is traveling through? Have you seen this in canon law or have personal experience?

It would seem difficult to consult a priest while traveling to address this. Does anyone have information on which priest has the authority to dispense this obligation?
Click to expand...
That is correct it is the persons PASTOR who should be spoken to. The laws of the parish and the pastor of the parish in which a person lives is the spiritual authority so to speak. That is also the case with Bishops, a Bishop cannot Confirm the subject of another Bishop without the other (domicile) Bishops permission.

If say a person from Canada is in the US today it is still a Holy Day of OBLIGATION for them even though they are not in Canada.
 
Chris Jacobsen:
The priest has no authority outside his own parish. Even to to baptise a baby living in another parish, he has to ask permission of the priest of the parish where the baby is living.
Click to expand...
That’s why the dispensation must come from one’s own pastor. No other pastor (outside of the Pope) has authority over your soul.

The dispensation is given by one’s pastor, and the actual geography of where one is going is meaningless.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top