Is it a sin to miss Sunday mass in these cases?

[Flopfoot]

1. Let’s say someone planned to go to the 6pm Sunday mass (the last one of the weekend). On the way their car broke down and they had no way of getting to church. Now, it’s not their fault that their car broke down, but if they had tried to go to an earlier mass then if that had happened, they would have had another chance to go to mass later on. Does he have to confess missing mass at reconciliation here - is it a sin?
2. Similar situation. However, this time, after his car breaks down, a stranger comes by and offers him a lift to mass. So he does have a chance to make mass now. But he refuses the lift because he doesn’t think it’s safe to get in a car with a stranger. Is that an ok decision to make?
3. Someone boards a plane at 5pm Saturday (before any vigil masses). Nothing goes wrong, and the plane arrives at its destination on time. However, this ‘on time’ is actually Sunday night, after all masses for the weekend are over. (This is quite possible, especially if you cross over the international date line going west). There are no masses on the plane, so the person misses mass that weekend. Is this a sin if the person had checked the plane schedule? What about if they hadn’t checked the schedule?
4. This is a bit unrelated actually. In Australia, All Saints day is not a holy day of obligation, whereas in the USA it is. If someone from the USA is on holidays in Australia on November 1, do they have to go to mass? What about an Australian on holidays in the USA at that time? Do you follow the rules of the country you came from or the country you are in?

 

[DavidFilmer]

1)On the way their car broke down and they had no way of getting to church.

Since the person had no way to know the car would break down, there is no sin.

1. …he doesn’t think it’s safe to get in a car with a stranger. Is that an ok decision to make?

Of course. This presumes, naturally, that the person also won’t get into the other car to get gasoline or a tow truck or whatever. Suppose somebody came by with a canon and offered to shoot you over to the Parish…

1. Someone boards a plane at 5pm Saturday…

The Church allows specific exemptions for reasons of travel.

4)If someone from the USA is on holidays in Australia on November 1, do they have to go to mass?

No. When a person travels to another Bishop’s diocese, s/he is under the pastoral care of that Bishop for the duration of the stay, and s/he should abide by what that Bishop requires (so an Aussie visiting in the USA ought to go to Mass on November 1). However, there’s nothing *wrong *with going to Mass on a day of obligation within your own country…

 

[weddy]

flop, I doubt 1 - 3 would actually be considered sinful due to the circumstances occurring(unless he can make mass at a later time,somewhere)

as for #4, I would follow the catechesis of my country (even if travelling), otherwise I would let someone that knows more than myself answer that

 

[awalt]

First, I think many times your conscience can guide whether it’s a sin or no. That is because there is a lot of gray in giving blanket answers. For example, if your regular routine was to go to 6 PM Mass, and the car broke down, I don;'t think that is a sin. However, if you have a car that needs repair and you haven’t done it, and you know the car is a risk, that’s a little grayer IMHO - would you count on that car if you were planning to get a pregnant spouse to the hospital? Probably not.

I actually had the travel case happen to me - took a flight to England Saturday at 3 PM, landed finally after connection into the morning, I am taking a taxi to the country-side, and I have never been to the area before.

I actually confessed it, the Priest said don’t beat myself up about it. He said that;s a lot different than laying in bed and deciding not to go.

I would offer you this advice - always examine your conscience and ask yourself are you really doing what is reasonable in an attempt to go. Have a clear conscience you have not sinned if you are being honest with yourself, but confess it anyway.