Invitation to Mass

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ConfirmedAgnes

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Hello fellow CAF members!

I have a question that has been burning on my mind for months, but I haven’t been sure how to phrase it without sounding like a judgmental person…but I am starting to feel like it is so important that I must try to ask it anyways.

My sister is a Catholic, but she hasn’t been to Mass in a long time…probably since Easter. I think she’s becoming one of those Easter-Christmas Catholics, and she is less devoted to her faith than I’ve ever known her to be. It pains my heart as I grow in the other direction, wanting more and more of my faith involved in my life.

Basically my issue is that I’ve been feeling the best thing to do would be to try and invite her to Mass with me. Maybe she’ll say yes, maybe she’ll say no, it’d be worth a shot. Here’s my thing though–the thing where I fear sounding judgmental, so please don’t think badly of me for asking it: If I were to invite her to Mass and she were to come, I can guarantee you she would go up and receive the Eucharist without proper discernment. It’s a mortal sin to miss Mass which she’s been doing for months now, and there’s the possibility she’s done other things too. Would it be worse for her to not come to Mass, or for her to come to Mass and receive the Eucharist unworthily?

I feel like if I were to invite her to Reconciliation she would just be offended, but I fear the eventual consequences if I invite her to Mass she partakes of the Eucharist without being in a state of grace. I partook in the Eucharist for months knowing I was in a state of sin. I didn’t feel like putting out the effort to go to Confession, and when we got to Mass I always went up to receive it so I “wouldn’t stick out.” Now that I understand the magnitude of how bad of a sin that is, I still feel guilty about it at times.

Basically I guess my question is–what’s your advice? Do I invite her to Mass? Would it be better off for her to come even if she receives the Eucharist when not in a state of grace? Or what? I just desperately need your help, because I really want to help my sister out since I love her!

I sincerely hope I didn’t phrase this in an offensive way, because it’s not what I meant at all! It’s just the most straight-up way I could think of to ask my burning question!

Thanks so much for you help!
 
It is so nice of you to be concerned about your sister 🙂

Say, Hey, I’m going to Mass Saturday evening–they’re praying the Rosary before Mass so I’m going at x o’clock so I can go to Confession and pray the Rosary. Afterwards, we can go out for ice cream or something. So, how about it? Wanna come?

And after that, let her worry about the state of her soul. There’s only so much you can do.
 
Can you ask a priest or nun to visit with her and ask her why she has not been coming to Church?

Can you invite her to social or teaching functions at Church to meet more active Catholics?

Generally speaking, it is not your concern whether or not someone else is properly disposed to take Communion. So, there would technically be no problem with simply inviting her to Mass. You are considerate to be concerned but there is only so much you can do. The rest is up to the Holy Spirit.
 
Give her bolitimore catcheism to read.
Also for it to be a mortal sin, you must need full
knowledge and full consent and a grave matter.
It looks like she doesn’t know it is a sin to miss mass
So slowly introduce knowledge about the faith
Patience is key!
 
Maybe you can think of a way to gently mention to her that she would have to confess not having been to mass, in order to be able/allowed to receive the Eucharist… I know it is a difficult dilemma; I have been in the almost exaclty same situation before.
 
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