How to attend mass long haul truck driver

[TheArcher]

Hi Mammoths

I don’t talk on here often, so I hope you don’t mind my chiming in as well. I’m anot over-the-road trucker too. I’m actually really happy to see another driver here.

My priest knows my profession, and of course he encourages me to go to mass. But, he also said he understands that is not always possible, depending on area, parking, if I have a load that can not be left, etc. It’s not because I’m being lazy I don’t go, so while it’s not good, it’s at least excused. I’m not in some constant state of sin because of it.

Do you have SirusXM? There are two channels there - The Catholic Channel on 129 and EWTN on 130. They do play the mass on there, so that may help, a bit. I know it’s not the same as being there, but better than nothing. Plus there’s a ton of other shows; I’ve learned so much from listening to them.

I’ve walked to some churches, and on occasion have taken a cab. I understand though, sometimes it’s simply not possible.

I’m not sure if I can help much (I’m not very knowledgeable compared to most on here). But if I can, let me know - being a trucker can be quite tricky. Safe travels.

 

[Mammoths]

There is a lot to discuss here.

You really should talk to your local Catholic pastor.

On your profile you list “under construction” as your religion–so that tells me you might not have been baptized or formally received into the Church yet. That makes a difference because the obligation to attend Sunday Mass only applies after becoming a formal member of the Church.

Nothing can outright substitute for Sunday Mass, so there is no thing like a “private celebration to substitute for Mass for those unable to attend”; nor does attending a non-Catholic service substitute for Mass. However, the Catholic pastor of either the place where you actually live or the pastor of the place where you are located at the moment can either dispense you from the obligation or can substitute something else on occasion and on an individual basis. Not every/any priest can do this, only the pastor of the place where you actually live (and the bishop is the pastor of his diocese). Given your situation, contacting the pastors where you are located on Sundays won’t be of much help–unless you have a dedicated route, but if you did, you wouldn’t be asking the question. That’s why the Catholic pastor of the place where you live would be the one to help you.

To other posters here: directing the OP to resources to locate local Masses won’t help. Such resources won’t have information on parking or on local roads. And long-haul truck drivers can’t always make “side trips.”

Again, speak to the local Catholic pastor. He can help you to discern whether you have an obligation, whether your situation is “impossible,” and whether you might be a candidate for a dispensation (which can be a simple, verbal one given by the pastor).

VERY IMPORTANT! thank you for having such an attitude of fidelity to the doctrine. One of my difficulties with my evangelical background is compromise. Ultimately attending mass when it’s convenient or doing some personal act of devotion will never be equivalent to faithful obedience. Also such things are no substitute for the reality contained in the sacraments. Compromising Protestantism is the reason we now have marriage of abomination in the west. I read the reformers made marriage enforcement a civil matter which lost its religious importance with seperation of church and state. But that is a topic for a different thread. If I am ever going to be catholic someday, it has to be the real deal or none at all. The fruit of compromise is eventual tragedy. It may take 500 years to see the difference, but God does not call us to holiness on our terms but His.

I will get in touch with the local pastor. I hope he likes to fish or drink. Perhaps we are friends?

I will be watching for masses I can attend anyway because maybe there is a church within a few miles from parking like the PA turnpike that was mentioned. It would be worth some effort to get there.

 

[MT1926]

God does not call us to holiness on our terms but His

Well said. That is the first step. I see the makings of a great Catholic someday.

 

[St_Francis]

Do you live near a Catholic church? If so, you can go to daily Mass to see what it is like—but don’t receive the Eucharist (don’t go up for Communion). You probably know that, but just in case…

And of course you can go to Sunday Mass as well, also not receiving.

You can ask questions here, and then when we suggest you need to speak to a priest, go with those questions. Most questions about personal circumstances you will eventually need to talk to a priest about, if for no other reason than that they know the right questions to ask

See if you can get a copy of Home Sweet Rome by converts to Catholicism Scott and Kimberley Hahn. He was a Presbyterian and another kind of pastor, and he explains the differences really well. I learned so much from that book!

 

[Mammoths]

Do you live near a Catholic church? If so, you can go to daily Mass to see what it is like—but don’t receive the Eucharist (don’t go up for Communion). You probably know that, but just in case…

And of course you can go to Sunday Mass as well, also not receiving.

You can ask questions here, and then when we suggest you need to speak to a priest, go with those questions. Most questions about personal circumstances you will eventually need to talk to a priest about, if for no other reason than that they know the right questions to ask

See if you can get a copy of Home Sweet Rome by converts to Catholicism Scott and Kimberley Hahn. He was a Presbyterian and another kind of pastor, and he explains the differences really well. I learned so much from that book!

I read that book. I also have another one that is a compilation of different conversion stories. My former college roommate was Calvary chapel. We used to sit up late and try to unravel the mysteries of scripture until sleep came by force. We discussed team writing a systematic theology that would correct some of the inconsistencies we saw in standard post-catholic doctrines. Then he graduated. A couple years went by without much contact. When the conversation resumed he was studying to join the Roman Catholic Church. I did my best to save his soul. In spite of my efforts and his outstanding capacity for philosophy and theology he was lead “astray.” You can imagine my anger. Several of our conversations ended with me derailing over the phone. Finally he and his wife officially entered full fellowship. And yet his lifestyle and opinions continue to smack of sincere Christianity! Who would have thought a person could be committed to the pre-eminence of Christ as a Catholic? It is very odd. I will say Scott Hahn s experience of Protestantism is different than mine as described in the book. Several popular teachings in “reformed theology” have always seemed wrong to me. The thing is there are thousands of denominations in the west and within them there is still variation. A real obvious fallacy in my opinion is that Devine Sovereignty seems to imply God has no limits. But we know he can’t deny Himself. So If God is unwilling that any should perish but some do, instead of extrapolating some theory that separates multiple wills that is not in the scripture, why not except, that His sovereignty is only limited by His Goodness and that mysteriously His Goodness allows us freedom to resist His grace. All that to say reading Scott hann was like reading someone’s story of conversion from a denomination with inventive hermeneutics–hardly shocking he would get wise. In campus crusade apologetics we learned that Gods mercy is neither just nor unjust, but non-just. This notion of substitutionary penalty seemed in impossible idea to reconcile in the real world, until one night as my eyes closed inexorably, I said in my sleep that John writes that God considers forgiveness of a repentant sinner to be both faithful and just. We realized at that point that the issue was that the definition of justice we had grown accustomed to as men was a thin shadow of God’s omnibenevolant view of justice which is beyond us. No need for God to cover our sins with snow–He is faithful and just to make us actually clean. That’s his idea of clean and righteous which is better than ours. I realize there is much to understand, but honestly how do I KNOW that what seems true IS-not a delusion of habitual non-Sequetor formula. It’s happening again, the shutters are about to lock down over windows automatically. I pray I will hear the shepherds voice and follow with the fold.

 

[St_Francis]

I read that book. I also have another one that is a compilation of different conversion stories. My former college roommate was Calvary chapel. We used to sit up late and try to unravel the mysteries of scripture until sleep came by force. We discussed team writing a systematic theology that would correct some of the inconsistencies we saw in standard post-catholic doctrines. Then he graduated. A couple years went by without much contact. When the conversation resumed he was studying to join the Roman Catholic Church. I did my best to save his soul. In spite of my efforts and his outstanding capacity for philosophy and theology he was lead “astray.” You can imagine my anger. Several of our conversations ended with me derailing over the phone. Finally he and his wife officially entered full fellowship. And yet his lifestyle and opinions continue to smack of sincere Christianity! Who would have thought a person could be committed to the pre-eminence of Christ as a Catholic? It is very odd. I will say Scott Hahn s experience of Protestantism is different than mine as described in the book. Several popular teachings in “reformed theology” have always seemed wrong to me. The thing is there are thousands of denominations in the west and within them there is still variation. A real obvious fallacy in my opinion is that Devine Sovereignty seems to imply God has no limits. But we know he can’t deny Himself. So If God is unwilling that any should perish but some do, instead of extrapolating some theory that separates multiple wills that is not in the scripture, why not except, that His sovereignty is only limited by His Goodness and that mysteriously His Goodness allows us freedom to resist His grace. All that to say reading Scott hann was like reading someone’s story of conversion from a denomination with inventive hermeneutics–hardly shocking he would get wise. In campus crusade apologetics we learned that Gods mercy is neither just nor unjust, but non-just. This notion of substitutionary penalty seemed in impossible idea to reconcile in the real world, until one night as my eyes closed inexorably, I said in my sleep that John writes that God considers forgiveness of a repentant sinner to be both faithful and just. We realized at that point that the issue was that the definition of justice we had grown accustomed to as men was a thin shadow of God’s omnibenevolant view of justice which is beyond us. No need for God to cover our sins with snow–He is faithful and just to make us actually clean. That’s his idea of clean and righteous which is better than ours. I realize there is much to understand, but honestly how do I KNOW that what seems true IS-not a delusion of habitual non-Sequetor formula. It’s happening again, the shutters are about to lock down over windows automatically. I pray I will hear the shepherds voice and follow with the fold.

Wow, you have a really good understanding of this issue from both sides!

I read once once that the Anglican priest, later Catholic Cardinal, John Henry Newman had learned a lot about Catholic teachings, but he was at a similar point to yours. He had learned what he could, but was unsure of what to do. Finally it came to him what he needed to do: pray, asking God to let him know which was correct: Anglicanism or Catholicism. That may be what you need to do now.

 

[Mammoths]

Wow, you have a really good understanding of this issue from both sides!

I read once once that the Anglican priest, later Catholic Cardinal, John Henry Newman had learned a lot about Catholic teachings, but he was at a similar point to yours. He had learned what he could, but was unsure of what to do. Finally it came to him what he needed to do: pray, asking God to let him know which was correct: Anglicanism or Catholicism. That may be what you need to do now.

Sometimes I have an issue with what is being taught in the churches based on a straight forward reading of the Bible. Next thing I know turns out the catholic doctrine is the biblical one. For example, Divorce is a violation of God’s will. I once had a Pentecostal friend tell me he was alright with God because God had forgiven him all sins past present and future. Therefore he could be married to his second wife and it was as if his first marriage never happened. Um, if the assumption is true, isn’t it the second marriage that never happened? And of course the denomination was fine with this. In light of the prophecy of Malachi, I am confused how many so called pastors will officiate a wedding God calls adultery. There is no mystery here. It’s just what the Bible says. Compromise. The wisdom from above is first pure.