Foregoing mass when possibly sick

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Huh? “Insisting”

Why the need to distort grossly my point?

We should be praying always…we’re told in Scripture to do this.

We’re also told to keep holy the Sabbath…

We should be like the widow with only two mites to give…

…that is, we give Our Lord “all we have”.

If we have the flu, we might not go to Mass, but we should still give all we have left to Our Lord…praying, reading Scripture, forming ourselves a bit better by reading the CCC, something to make ourselves more useful and closer to God.
 
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Too many Catholics are minimalists.

My bet is the visitors/contributors to this CAF site are on the higher end of faithfulness, and yet nearly half of the topics are like this one, searching for an ok to struggle less in their interior life.

The very ask about “being required” is a sign of this.

We are told to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And moreover, many Catholics don’t realize that - aside from the contagion question - being a bit under the weather one can physically and spiritually benefit by going to Mass while one is sick.

We receive graces to “sanctify the illness”.
 
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And too many Catholics on CAF push their holier-than-thou agendas.

There are way too many conversations that go like this:

Poster 1: How long do I need to fast before communion?
Poster 2: The minimum is one hour.
Poster 3: You should fast from midnight because that’s so much better.

People need to be careful about putting requirements on others that the Church doesn’t impose. I personally would rather see messages saying"You might consider…" or “You might try…” rather than “Use that time…” or “You should…”
 
And some people have become ego-hypersensitive.

They take any generically given suggestion as a personally-aimed one, and then they take high offense, and claim the suggester is taking a holier than thou approach.

And they want everything re-phrased to suit their hypersensitivity.

These people need to take their latin names and go on a good retreat, perhaps talking with them the topic of “interior complaint”.
 
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Alright everyone, while I appreciate the enthusiastic debate, you’re getting off topic. I’ve had my question answered. Good thing I didn’t go because I’ve been getting worse throughout the day.
 
Edward_H said:
Too many Catholics are minimalists.

My bet is the visitors/contributors to this CAF site are on the higher end of faithfulness, and yet nearly half of the topics are like this one, searching for an ok to struggle less in their interior life.

The very ask about “being required” is a sign of this.

We are told to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And moreover many Catholics don’t realize that - aside from the contagion question - being a bit under the weather one can physically and spiritually benefit by going to Mass while one is sick.

We receive graces to “santify the illness”.
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“struggle less in their interior life”

The issue I have is that many put standards and pressure on people that don’t exist. The fact is that lawfully when one is excused from Mass they are not required to do more.

To imply so can lead a person to believe that they have sinned if they do not do some sort of substitute penance or prayer (as it is a requirement for Friday penance) is cruel.

There is no requirement, there is no obligation, there is no sin. It is important that we do not imply otherwise.
 
Tell it to Jesus Who gave us the expressions.

“Be perfect as Your Heavenly Father is perfect”
“whole heart, mind, soul and strength”

Who gave us the example of the widow, with just two mites…and yet He was greatly pleased when she freely choose to give all away as a gift to God.

Tell Jesus to stop “putting pressure on people”.

What does Scripture tell us about the lukewarm? “that God will vomit them out of His mouth”
 
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Edward_H said:
Tell it to Jesus Who gave us the expressions.

“Be perfect as Your Heavenly Father is perfect”
“whole heart, mind, soul and strength”

Who gave us the example of the widow, with just two mites…and yet He was greatly pleased when she freely choose to give all away as a gift to God.

Tell Jesus to stop “putting pressure on people”.

What does Scripture tell us about the lukewarm? “that God will vomit them out of His mouth”
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:roll_eyes:

Tell it to Jesus?

Seriously, this is not about being lukewarm. You are the one applying judgment that the church, in its wisdom, does not. I have already shown you an example of the church requiring an alternate penance and when it does not.

It is cruel to make statements that could lead people into believing that they have sinned when they have not. The obligation is forgiven.

Perhaps you would do well in reading more about God’s perfect forgiveness and not be so focused on His wrath.

It is NOT lukewarm to not substitute a penance of your own when you cannot attend Mass. Why do you keep implying something the church itself does not teach?
 
And now - one could set a clock by it - comes the accusation of “judgment”.

Could anything be more predictable and off base?

And then for added measure the “you’re being cruel” claim, as empty as the first, but even more boring.

How lukewarmness sneaks into the children of God.
 
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Jesus also rebuked the Pharisees for placing burdens on people and said to look at the log in your own eye before criticizing the mote in someone else.

I think the key is that we can set higher standards for ourselves. But I think it is inappropriate to try and hold others to standards beyond what the Church requires.
 
I could eyeroll again but it’s pointless.

You seem to see me as some kind of perpetual victim claimer. I am not. I am simply honoring with the Church teaches.

You imply that one must substitute prayer or sacrifice when not attending Mass. However, this is NOT a teaching of the Church. You have stated over and over that not doing so is a sign of lukewarmness, a terrible blight and something that God may even wholly reject a person for.

You use a statement about God sending people to Hell over something that is NOT teaching!

Do you not see the frighting hubris in that? Do you not see the fear you intend to create in your piety? Literally, you intend to instill the fear of Hell for someone not doing something optional. If that’s not cruelty, what is it?

You suggest people get Latin or go on a retreat or do something to get right with God if they don’t feel the need to pray and sacrifice for missing Mass.

What I suggest, on the other hand, is that one has a healthy prayer life so that one is in constant communication with God, knows God and is able to truly be awash in God’s mercy for when they cannot meet their obligations. For some, yes, this may mean simply taking it easy for the hour+ they would be at Mass. For others, it will be a sacrifice. For others, it may mean a short prayer and yet for others, they may take 2 or 3 hours in special prayer. None of those actions are wrong. Some are more virtuous than others. But God does not condemn any of those actions and would not go throwing people to Hell for it as you imply with your quote.
 
I don’t imply that one “must” do anything…I am simply saying what Jesus and St Paul said.

Some do look for an excuse to not love the Lord…“I’m not going to Mass, therefore I don’t need to give any effort at all to loving God in another way, one that can fit within my remaining means.”

These are “Pharisees” of a different sort. They have their “alibi” and they’re only happy to sit behind it.
 
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In fact the “I have my Mass excuse” are the Pharisees of a different sort, clutching on to their alibi.
 
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I was only saying that people can be very judgmental, and would look at the person rather harshly for coughing. I’m sure you have experienced this.
The bottom line is, if you know you are contagious stay home.
If you have a chronic condition that causes you to cough, simply sit away from people in order to not be a disruptionto prayer.

I mean we’re not even in that church and people are already saying the person is dead wrong for having the misfortune of being sick. Sad that we are so quick to think we know what is going on with other people. If you are a person with a cough, people should show you mercy. If you are contagious, you should show them mercy. God bless you.
 
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pianistclare said:
I was only saying that people can be very judgmental, and would look at the person rather harshly for coughing. I’m sure you have experienced this.
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I haven’t. If they did I either wouldn’t pay attention or ignore them. I think you have certain domineering people who are trying to walk over you Clare 🙂 What’s the word? “Hovering”?

A normal human being coughs from time to time even if they’re not sick.
 
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pianistclare said:
I was only saying that people can be very judgmental, and would look at the person rather harshly for coughing. I’m sure you have experienced this.
I mean we’re not even in that church and people are already saying the person is dead wrong for having the misfortune of being sick. Sad that we are so quick to think we know what is going on with other people. If you are a person with a cough, people should show you mercy. If you are contagious, you should show them mercy. God bless you.
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You are right, I have.

It is probably why I tend to get a bit defensive whenever this topic makes its rounds. 🙂
 
I’m just saying…people tend to get all worked up and think every little thing is going to infect them.
It’s a delicate balance. Infection people should stay home, but fellow parishioners and co-workers tend tobe harsh with people who have conditions.
JUst sayin
 
I hear ya, If I have one more person say to me “WHERE IS YOUR COAT???” I’m gonna need to go to confession asap. 🤣🤣🤣
 
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