If one cannot take communion, is it sinful to not attend a physical Mass?

[Trad_Julia]

Hi all. I’m someone who’s strongly considering conversion to Catholicism, and have only lately been told of the regulations regarding non-Catholics’ reception of the Eucharist.
I am also totally blind, and on unemployment-style income, and public transportation is unable to take me to my preferred church on Sundays. A taxi ride to and from said church costs 12 dollars all tolled, and that’s quite an expense for someone who is unable to fully participate in the Mass as yet.
I’ve also recently discovered the wonderful Masses broadcast on EWTN, complete with their prayers of spiritual communion, beautiful music, and thoughtful, clearly articulated sermons. Since I cannot afford either to take the Eucharist itself, nor the prices of trips to a physical church, would it be considered a sin if I simply listened and prayed along with the Mass on the radio until I’ve completed RCIA? (The classes meet on weekdays, and public busses nearly always run then.)
I should also add that there is an extra layer of guilt here, as (not knowing for certain until I began reading these forums several weeks ago) I had been taking the Eucharist at this preferred church, being driven their by family members and by cab. Noone in this church, least of all the priest (who knew I was not yet a Catholic) warned or refused me the Eucharist, so I felt a fool after finding out I should not have been given it at all.

I ask these questions because 1. I will be moving house in a very few weeks, so the help of family will not be available at 7 in the morning, as it is now that I live in the same house with all concerned. And 2, I went to one other parish before I found this one for nearly a year and a half, and did not receive the Eucharist there for most of that time, (I truly wasn’t sure whether the idea that only Catholics had the right to receive it was true, or prejudiced gossip by Protestant relatives). I felt like the proverbial sore thumb, though, seeming the only one sitting in the back of the church when all else were at the communion rail, so tentatively began walking up with the rest over time. I was never refused, and now that I know the gravely sinful truth of what I’ve been doing (however inadvertently) I do not want to continue physically attending Mass until I can fully participate in it. I do, however, still wish to experience the beauty and solemnity of the occasion, deepen and enrich my spiritual life by hearing the priest’s sermon, readings, praying along with the faithful, etc. The quality of EWTN’s masses is much higher than the ones I’ve attended at either church, though I also occasionally listen to those on Traditional Catholic Radio, or WFTS radio for a change of flavor.

What are the thoughts of all of you on these matters? Am I doing the right thing with any of this?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[1ke]

The obligation to attend Mass binds Catholics. You are not a Catholic yet. Talk to your priest about instruction in the faith and about ways the parish can help you get to Mass.

Illness, inability to travel, and other serious impediments to attending Mass remove the obligation-- one is not obligated to do what one **cannot **do. It is only if a Catholic purposely miss Mass that they have committed a sin.

 

[DominicVobiscum]

The obligation to attend Mass binds Catholics. You are not a Catholic yet. Talk to your priest about instruction in the faith and about ways the parish can help you get to Mass.

Illness, inability to travel, and other serious impediments to attending Mass remove the obligation-- one is not obligated to do what one **cannot **do. It is only if a Catholic purposely miss Mass that they have committed a sin.

This is really good advice Julia. You will be in our prayers.

 

[geekborj]

Follow the suggestion above.

In any case, a Catholic should still attend the mass because it will give him/her more opportunity to see Christ even if not receive yet, until the proper Absolution of sins. We attend masses not just for the reason of receiving Him in Body and Blood, but also in Spirit.

Also, take care to receive the blessing after the Mass. So, don’t leave early!

 

[Wowbagger]

Well, 1ke already gave the simple, direct, and useful answer to your main question, but I wanted to be the encouraging one:

Am I doing the right thing with any of this?

Spot-on. You’ll be an asset to the Faith.

 

[rpp]

The obligation to attend Mass binds Catholics. You are not a Catholic yet. Talk to your priest about instruction in the faith and about ways the parish can help you get to Mass.

Illness, inability to travel, and other serious impediments to attending Mass remove the obligation-- one is not obligated to do what one **cannot **do. It is only if a Catholic purposely miss Mass that they have committed a sin.

As usual, 1ke got it exactly right. Your physical and financial limitations certainly do make it difficult to attend Mass in person with any regularity. When you speak with your priest, ask him about receiving the sacraments at home. There are many who are homebound, either temporarily or permanently and priests often visit to administer various sacraments such Holy Eucharist, confession, anointing of the sick, etc. In some cases, a priests can even say Mass in your home if you have certain needed items like a table that can be sanctified.

Talk to your priest.

As you learn more and more about the Church, I hope you will continue on your journey to eventually come into full communion with Her. May God bless you on your journey and give you the graces you need.

Oh, and do continue to watch and participate in the Masses on EWTN.

Trad Julia, I do have an unrelated question. I ask this because my elderly mother lost her eyesight to macular degeneration a few years ago and she now lives with me. If you are blind, how is it that you are able to use a computer and post on this forum? I ask because my mother would love to be able to use a computer and get news from the internet. You can PM me if you like or post the answer here so that others may benefit. Thank you in advance.

 

[rpp]

Hi all. I’m someone who’s strongly considering conversion to Catholicism, and have only lately been told of the regulations regarding non-Catholics’ reception of the Eucharist.
I am also totally blind, and on unemployment-style income, and public transportation is unable to take me to my preferred church on Sundays. A taxi ride to and from said church costs 12 dollars all tolled, and that’s quite an expense for someone who is unable to fully participate in the Mass as yet.
I’ve also recently discovered the wonderful Masses broadcast on EWTN, complete with their prayers of spiritual communion, beautiful music, and thoughtful, clearly articulated sermons. Since I cannot afford either to take the Eucharist itself, nor the prices of trips to a physical church, would it be considered a sin if I simply listened and prayed along with the Mass on the radio until I’ve completed RCIA? (The classes meet on weekdays, and public busses nearly always run then.)
I should also add that there is an extra layer of guilt here, as (not knowing for certain until I began reading these forums several weeks ago) I had been taking the Eucharist at this preferred church, being driven their by family members and by cab. Noone in this church, least of all the priest (who knew I was not yet a Catholic) warned or refused me the Eucharist, so I felt a fool after finding out I should not have been given it at all.

I ask these questions because 1. I will be moving house in a very few weeks, so the help of family will not be available at 7 in the morning, as it is now that I live in the same house with all concerned. And 2, I went to one other parish before I found this one for nearly a year and a half, and did not receive the Eucharist there for most of that time, (I truly wasn’t sure whether the idea that only Catholics had the right to receive it was true, or prejudiced gossip by Protestant relatives). I felt like the proverbial sore thumb, though, seeming the only one sitting in the back of the church when all else were at the communion rail, so tentatively began walking up with the rest over time. I was never refused, and now that I know the gravely sinful truth of what I’ve been doing (however inadvertently) I do not want to continue physically attending Mass until I can fully participate in it. I do, however, still wish to experience the beauty and solemnity of the occasion, deepen and enrich my spiritual life by hearing the priest’s sermon, readings, praying along with the faithful, etc. The quality of EWTN’s masses is much higher than the ones I’ve attended at either church, though I also occasionally listen to those on Traditional Catholic Radio, or WFTS radio for a change of flavor.

What are the thoughts of all of you on these matters? Am I doing the right thing with any of this?

Thanks in advance for any help.

One other thing. I understand that you feel out of place when you seem to be the only one not going up for Holy Communion. What you may not realize is that nor everyone who gets in line actually receives Holy Communion. If you are in the line for Holy Communion and do not wish to receive, cross your across your chest, with the palms in and nearly touching your shoulders and bow your head slightly as you approach for Holy Communion. Instead of giving you Holy Communion, the priest will give you a blessing. You should avoid receiving Holy Communion until after you have been Confirmed and made your first Confession.

Catholics are not to receive Holy Communion when we are not worthy such as having grave sin on our conscience. Non-Catholics should not receive Holy Communion. Here is a link to an article that describes who can and cannot receive Holy Communion. catholic.com/library/Who_Can_Receive_Communion.asp

I will add that no one will think badly about you if you choose to stay in your pew at Communion. At least no one who is worth getting to know.

 

[tshaughn]

First time post! (waiting to hear Patrick’s mouth trumpet…)

Just to make one more clarification in addition to the good responses already:

“and now that I know the gravely sinful truth of what I’ve been doing (however inadvertently)”

To put your conscience at ease (and you may not have meant this in a literal sense), if you inadvertently received Holy Communion before knowing it was wrong to do so, then you didn’t have full knowledge of its sinfulness, and therefore did not commit a grave sin. If the priest knew you weren’t Catholic, though, then it is curious why he allowed you to receive. And, since you now DO know, it would be considered sinful if you did receive before entering through RCIA.

You may also check with your parish, as an Extraordinary Minister may be able to take communion to you if you are unable to attend Mass. In the meantime, though, you certainly SHOULD continue to attend Mass even if you cannot receive. Go up and receive a blessing! If nothing else, you would be a great witness to others since you obviously take your faith and Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist so seriously.

 

[PJM]

=Trad Julia - Hi all. I’m someone who’s strongly considering conversion to Catholicism, and have only lately been told of the regulations regarding non-Catholics’ reception of the Eucharist.

I am also totally blind, and on unemployment-style income, and public transportation is unable to take me to my preferred church on Sundays. A taxi ride to and from said church costs 12 dollars all tolled, and that’s quite an expense for someone who is unable to fully participate in the Mass as yet.

I’ve also recently discovered the wonderful Masses broadcast on EWTN, complete with their prayers of spiritual communion, beautiful music, and thoughtful, clearly articulated sermons. Since I cannot afford either to take the Eucharist itself, nor the prices of trips to a physical church, would it be considered a sin if I simply listened and prayed along with the Mass on the radio until I’ve completed RCIA?

***Dear friend,

One’s obligation to attend Mass does not hinge on the most Wonderous of all Godly gifts, that gift of Christ Himself in Holy Communion. That is The NORM. Your situation allows for some degree of dispensation.***

Here are some options that Christ and the Catholic Church would find acceptable to your particular circumstances.

If you are able to attend a “daily Mass” rather than miss Mass for the week, do so and it would be acceptable as fulfilling ones “Sabbath Obligation.”

*Mark chapter 2: 27 "And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.”
*

Jesus reads and knows our hearts and our ententions. If we are pure of heart, we satisfy the Will of God. Jesus does not expect us to do that which for circumstances that He God, either made or permitted, prohibit our willful compliance.

If your circumstances do not permit even a daily Mass, Jesus will understand and then, EWTN Mass will serve to fulfill your obligation.

Once you are brought into the fold of the Only Church founded by Jesus, if you are homebound, most parishes have “Extrodinary Ministes of the Most Holy Eucharist” who can and will come to your home and allow you receive Jesus. This too fulfills ones Sabbath Obligation.

Their seems to me another very Chrsitian option that should at least be investigated. Discuss your personal issues with your pastor. Call and ask him to visit you if you can’t get to him. Explain your personal issues, and ask if he might know of someone who in Christian Charity would be willing and able to pick you up and take you home from Mass?

Doing a charity and accepting a charity are both Godly acts. I suspect that such might be the case. “ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened to you.”

I should also add that there is an extra layer of guilt here, as (not knowing for certain until I began reading these forums several weeks ago) I had been taking the Eucharist at this preferred church, being driven their by family members and by cab.

How sad. The embarrasement is on your RCIA instructors NOT YOU! They should have shared this information in your first or second class.*. As for the priest, they are instructed NOT to be judgemental. If one presents themselve for Communion to permit it. Still this case calls into play the judgement of the priest IF he knew you were in RCIA, but not yet Catholic he could have just blessed you or at least spoken to you after Mass.

I’m a bit concerned about your issue of “preferred church.” Only being willig to fulfill ones Sabbath obligation at a specific Church, if and when other alternative Catholic Churches exist is NOT sufficient cause or excuse one to NOT fulfill ones Grave Moral duty for Sabbath attendance. It is fine to have a preference but not to the extent of missing Mass because one does not like such and such and so and so.

I ask these questions because 1. I will be moving house in a very few weeks, so the help of family will not be available at 7 in the morning, (I truly wasn’t sure whether the idea that only Catholics had the right to receive it was true, or prejudiced gossip by Protestant relatives). I felt like the proverbial sore thumb, though, seeming the only one sitting in the back of the church when all else were at the communion rail, so tentatively began walking up with the rest over time. and now that I know the gravely sinful truth of what I’ve been doing (however inadvertently)

I do not want to continue physically attending Mass until I can fully participate in it.

NO! No Mortal sin here. For a matter to be a MORTAL SIN three conditions MUST exist.

Serious Matter [yes]

*Aware that that the act will be Mortally sinful BEFORE you do it [NO!] *

A freewill desire to do it anyway [in this case does not apply beacuse the the second reason.]

I do, however, still wish to experience the beauty and solemnity of the occasion, deepen and enrich my spiritual life by hearing the priest’s sermon, readings, praying along with the faithful, etc. The quality of EWTN’s masses is much higher than the ones I’ve attended at either church,

The third Commandement is “Keep Holy the sabbath Day” is not an option, not a request, it is a firm Commandment of our God. If one can, then one MUST attend Mass to fulfill ones grave Moral obligation to do so. Catholic and non- catholic!

We pray that Christ will Bless you, guide you, be merciful to you and help you courageously embrace His Roman Catholic Faith and Church.*

 

[Trad_Julia]

To be clear, either church I might attend still costs the same in cab fare. When I move house, I will be looking for a church which celebrates the TLM, as that is one huge draw for me as a possible convert.

 

[holy_moly]

To be clear, either church I might attend still costs the same in cab fare. When I move house, I will be looking for a church which celebrates the TLM, as that is one huge draw for me as a possible convert.

What they all said, plus keep in mind that once you finish RCIA, the obligation is to keep holy the Lord’s day (of which attending Mass is paramount), even if for some reason you can’t receive the Eucharist, for which the obligation is at least one per year at Easter. Good luck w/ everything & God Bless!