I accidentally missed part of the consecration- should i go back to mass today?

[Joey_M]

At mass a few hours ago I helped the users collect the money and on my way back I thought I would wash my hands. I didnt realize that the priest already was in the consecration and i missed the beginning of it. SHould I go back to a later mass because I accidentally missed the consecration. If I dont, would I be in the state of mortal sin? Please respond and if you can with any sources to back up your statement from the church. thanks

 

[benedictgal]

What part did you miss? I think that if you at least got back when the priest got to the part of “he took…” you might be okay. I know that sometimes parents with small children have to walk out for a bathroom emergency.

 

[Joey_M]

i think i was back by then, but not totally sure.

 

[benedictgal]

i think i was back by then, but not totally sure.

Did you hear him say the words: “Take this and eat…”? If you did, then you’re okay. Like I said, there are times when emergency bathroom breaks happen. I know that yours wasn’t the case, but, it might be the same since you were handling the collection.

 

[Joey_M]

thanks. is that when the consecration begins or is it before that?

 

[Claire_from_DE]

IMHO there is no obligation to go to another mass. You were there at mass, you were helping with the collection, you went to the washroom for a good reason, you didn’t intend to miss part of the consecration, you were there for the rest of it. No sin, no desire to sin. Maybe you were taught that the obligation is to be there for the offertory, consecration, and communion. This was an old answer to the question of what is the least a person can do and still be considered to have attended mass. It doesn’t apply to your situation.

 

[benedictgal]

thanks. is that when the consecration begins or is it before that?

The Eucharistic Prayer begins with (e.g.) Lord, you are holy, indeed, the fountain of all holiness, let your spirit come upon these gifts…(EP II). Or, it could begin, "We come to you, Father with praise and thanksgiving…(EP I); or "Father, we acknowlege your greatness…(EP IV) or "Father you are holy indeed…(EP III).

The actual consecration begins with:

he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

That’s when it begins. If you got to that part, then you might be okay.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

At mass a few hours ago I helped the users collect the money and on my way back I thought I would wash my hands. I didnt realize that the priest already was in the consecration and i missed the beginning of it. SHould I go back to a later mass because I accidentally missed the consecration. If I dont, would I be in the state of mortal sin? Please respond and if you can with any sources to back up your statement from the church. thanks

If you knew that the Mass was at the point of the Consecration and intentionally left so as to not participate, or were indifferent about the importance of it. Such as you left to chat with someone you noticed in the entrance way or gathering space that you haven’t seen in awhile.

 

[puzzleannie]

did you leave the premises and go to the gas station down the road? no, you were present in the Church, although not as attentive as you would have wished, just as the mother who had to take her crying baby to the back was not present as fully as she would have wished, yet both of you were still present for the whole Mass.

I will admit that on days like today when there are 1st communions and I am otherwise distracted I like to go to another Mass that I can fully “enjoy” and attend to without other worries, but that is a luxury I don’t always get. I have been to 4 Masses this weekend, but the Spanish Mass was the only one that received my full attention, now MIL is listening to Mass on EWTN, at least I have heard several different takes on today’s readings.

 

[brockmac]

I think it is important to avoid being overly legalistic. I have a son who is severely ADHD. We occaicionally have to remove him to the back, or on some occaisions outside the church during mass. Sometimes this is during the consecration that either me or my wife must take him outside of the church to keep him from being a serious distraction to others in the Mass. When this happens, I do not believe that I have an obligation to go to another Mass, as I have made a good faith effort to go to Mass and worship God to the best of my ability given my situation.

Likewise I would assume that if you, through an oversight were washing your hands after helping with the collection during the consecration, I don’t think this negates your attendance. Although, you could always receive on the tongue and wash your hands after Mass.

 

[SMHW]

At mass a few hours ago I helped the users collect the money and on my way back I thought I would wash my hands. I didnt realize that the priest already was in the consecration and i missed the beginning of it. SHould I go back to a later mass because I accidentally missed the consecration. If I dont, would I be in the state of mortal sin? Please respond and if you can with any sources to back up your statement from the church. thanks

There were probably people in the pews with their eyes directed towards the altar that were less present at the consecration than you were.

While most people don’t think of things that way what you were doing by carrying the collection was to perform a liturgical function of sorts. Stopping by the restroom was a reasonable thing to do in conjunction with such a function. You were there at Mass.

At some parishes being as close to the inside of the church building as the washroom is considered a luxury at Christmas or Easter. But so long as they are on the property we still say those who must stand outside or huddle in the hall across the yard are at Mass even if they can’t hear the priest (or have to rely on electronic equipment to see or hear what is happening.)

 

[puzzleannie]

There
At some parishes being as close to the inside of the church building as the washroom is considered a luxury at Christmas or Easter. But so long as they are on the property we still say those who must stand outside or huddle in the hall across the yard are at Mass even if they can’t hear the priest (or have to rely on electronic equipment to see or hear what is happening.)

this makes me laugh as we have the new church committee currently involved in violent debate on whether to pipe in audio feed to restrooms and other parts of the building in our new church, or video hookups, or both.

 

[SMHW]

this makes me laugh as we have the new church committee currently involved in violent debate on whether to pipe in audio feed to restrooms and other parts of the building in our new church, or video hookups, or both.

LOL! Our parish facilities are relatively new and we have a number of technophiles amongst the staff and parishioners so we have speakers or speaker jacks just about everywhere, both inside and outside the Church. But for better or for worse they don’t pipe the audio from the Mass into the restrooms. But I have attended Mass at parishes that do use speakers in the restrooms.

But the audio from the Mass is sent to speakers in our worship garden beside the Church (since it tends to be used as a ‘cry room’ for parents with overactive toddlers.) And at Christmas and Easter we do send a video feed out to our courtyard (or our meeting rooms if the weather is bad.)

 

[MusicMan]

The wisest course of action would be to simply ask your priest, and then follow his guidance.

 

[Guitar]

this makes me laugh as we have the new church committee currently involved in violent debate on whether to pipe in audio feed to restrooms and other parts of the building in our new church, or video hookups, or both.

I am currently specifying the new PA for my parish and I thought I had thought of everything but I didn’t think of that one. We only have one small toilet but hey, it’s the principle I suppose …