Having car problems - missing mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rhalie
  • Start date Start date
R

rhalie

Guest
Am I under obligation to go to mass if I am having car problems today and it’s going to cost me about $40 round trip?
 
I just got laid off and although I have severance, I don’t know how long I’ll be out of work and now it looks like I’m going to have to pay for car repairs…
 
rhalie said:
I just got laid off and although I have severance, I don’t know how long I’ll be out of work and now it looks like I’m going to have to pay for car repairs…
Click to expand...
It seems like it would be out of your reach. My husband works full time and I work part-time and we couldn’t afford a $40 unexpected trip without digging into savings. I could not justify $40 for Mass.

While it’s up to you to decide, I’d say it’s not wise.
 
Last edited:
Car breaks down.
You miss Mass.
Where is the sin?
No sin.
 
Last edited:
pianistclare said:
CAr breaks down.
Yo miss Mass.
Where is the sin?
No sin.
Click to expand...
I think the issue is that people feel “any way possible” comes into play. Most times (as it seems with this one) it’s not even close to feisable.
 
rhalie said:
Am I under obligation to go to mass if I am having car problems today and it’s going to cost me about $40 round trip?
Click to expand...
Only God can know your heart; and only He can judge your intentions regarding the sabbath obligation.
Without knowing your sincere, heart-felt intentions no one here can judge if your missing Mass is ‘okay’ with God.
This can only be known by God, and you.
 
There is no “intention to have a car break down”. And the Sabbath is not Sunday. We observe SUNDAY not the Sabbath in Catholicsm.
 
Last edited:
pianistclare said:
There is no “intention to have a car break down”. And the Sabbath is not Sunday. We observe SUNDAY not the Sabbath in Catholicsm.
Click to expand...
Of course. The “intention” is how badly you wanted to attend; and God knows that.
We attend the (Catholic) Sunday vigil on Saturday; and that is why I used the term “sabbath” as it appears in the Commandments.
 
If one’s transporation is down, you do not commit a sin.
 
pianistclare said:
Car breaks down.
You miss Mass.
Where is the sin?
No sin.
Click to expand...
I don’t believe it’s for you to judge.

Further, a person’s conscience would normally inform the person regarding the heart’s intention and would therefore not feel a need to look for validation on a public forum.
 
Nope.
Sin requires INTENT.
An inanimate object doesn’t compel someone to sin, nor can we force a machine to randomly break down.
How in the WORLD could this be sinful? It’s an accident. One that she is NOT culpable for.
It is NOT sinful.
 
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex 20:8)
Ignatius Bible, Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition
 
pianistclare said:
Nope.
Sin requires INTENT.
An inanimate object doesn’t compel someone to sin, nor can we force a machine to randomly break down.
How in the WORLD could this be sinful? It’s an accident. One that she is NOT culpable for.
It is NOT sinful.
Click to expand...
I never judged it as “sinful.”
I said that God would be the judge, not anyone here on a forum.
 
You didn’t read the article on what the church teaches on this did you?
She asked if it was sinful. It is not
That is not a judgment. It is the truth. God does not demand the impossible.
 
Last edited:
teresa63 said:
40.png
pianistclare:
Car breaks down.
You miss Mass.
Where is the sin?
No sin.
Click to expand...
I don’t believe it’s for you to judge.

Further, a person’s conscience would normally inform the person regarding the heart’s intention and would therefore not feel a need to look for validation on a public forum.
Click to expand...
Not for us to judge?

What?

A car is a mechanical device with no feelings or volition of its own. The owner of said car is unemployed and in no way able to simply ensure that his car is 100% up to snuff at all times.

This is a pretty open and close case, if there ever one. Car is broken, taxi/uber priced out, too far to walk.

Even if one was “meh” about going to Mass, it doesn’t really matter. It’s not happening. The intent was to go to Mass.

Right now because of my children’s health it is not wise for them to attend Mass. Last week we had an emergency and even though hubby could have made it on his own, he totally forgot.

Fortunately, we trust in God’s mercy enough to know that there is no sin.

I think today we have this idea that anything is possible if we try hard enough or are perfect enough. This is NOT reality. We are subject to disease, weather, mechanical failures, price, just like people were for centuries.
 
God already knows these things.
Why are you telling me?
I’m not a judge.
 
teresa63 said:
Further, a person’s conscience would normally inform the person regarding the heart’s intention and would therefore not feel a need to look for validation on a public forum.
Click to expand...
To address this part:

Unfortunately, many people were taught wrongly about Sunday Obligation. We have more than a dozen threads where people ask if they should go to Mass WITH THE FLU! They ask because they were told that there is never an excuse for missing Mass.
 
Also, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2189):

“Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy…”
 
I don’t believe there’s need to call anyone.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains well about “The Sabbath Day” in seven pages.

See paragraphs #2168-2195.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top