Paris, as I’ve observed many of your posts, I think you have essentially become Catholic by intent and should be living under the obligations required by all Catholics. The fact that you can’t recieve the sacraments is the same for those Catholics who can’t recieve the sacraments (as in living under an invalid Marriage). Thus, you probably should have gone to Mass. Talk to your Priest about this for more clarification based on where you really are with regards to whether or not you are Catholic by intent.
Actually If I were your Pastor or RCIA director I would consider how you handled the Holy Day Obligation of Catholics. Remember that the period of Formation is to be used to learn the practice of the Catholic Faith and incorporate Catholic practice into you own life. I feel that anyone not willing to live as a Catholic and looking for excuses for not attending Mass is not really ready to become Catholic. Maybe a little more “practice” at living the Catholic Faith is in order?
I suppose, technically speaking, you didn’t have to attend All Saint’s Day Mass, but I am disturbed by your choice of words here.
That’s true.
You’ve got the wrong idea here, but I’m glad it’s for reasons of scrupulosity and not from trying to do as little as possible. Anyone may attend Mass–anyone at all. You could most certainly have attended All Saints’ Day Mass, but you would not have received the Eucharist. You could have simply have stayed in your pew while others went up for communion (and no one would have thought anything bad about for doing so–there are many reasons why Catholics do not receive and receiving is not required even of Catholics) or gone up to receive a blessing from the priest (by folding your arms across your chest and bowing). So, go to any and all Masses you care to attend–it’s perfectly fine.
Don’t look at is as an obligation, but as an opportunity. Change your mindset, and everything makes more sense…
Oops! Now I feel guilty!
To be honest, I’m still a bit bothered by your choice of words—but since you are otherwise so gung-ho, I’ll try to give you the benefit of the doubt.
But you are a Baptized Catholic now, so you need to go to Sunday Mass and attend all the Holy Days of Obligation…so, yes you should have attended.
No, you’re not guilty of a mortal sin because you didn’t understand your obligations at your stage of formation, that’s all.
Once you are a Catholic you are obliged to go to Mass even if you are not receiving the Eucharist.
Well no you were not obligated as a Catholic would be. But you should be using this time to practice being a Catholic and acting as a Catholic would.
Bekalc, I totally agree that once you admit and profess that you are ready to be Catholic that you need to begin to act and worship Catholic. And while you “enjoy” Mass now, you might not always enjoy Mass. You will have dry periods of faith whereby the Holy Spirit will be working harder and your attendence at Mass will “grease the skids” and make God’s efforts easier. Sometimes, you will leave Mass with a feeling of ecstacy when you experience profoundly the Love of God. Also, sometimes the Mass will be torture as it opens old wounds that have been barriers for you to fully experience the Love of God. But always, it will be giving you Graces that prepare and strengthen you for your journey and the battle against the evil one.
Thanks guys for “opening” my “eyes” to see where I really am standing! See, I THOUGHT I was being faithful and thought I was needing everything I need to know what it was like being a faithful pre-Catholic but I didn’t realize that I was NOT being so faithful and willing when you told me that I should have gone to these Masses!
