Is it bad that i like going to mass more without my family?

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passivesquid

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so heres the thing, for lent my promise is to go to mass everyday, and becasue of my schedual (school and all) the only mass i can go to is the 7am. no one in my family is awake at this time or my youngre brothers are already off to school, so i go alone. i find that i enjoy mass more with out my family. i feel more free when im there to worship alone. i dont know what it is about going to mass with my family that makes it a, well a chore almost. is it bad that i feel and thnk this way? thoughts and opnions welcome…
 
If my 15 yr. old son had written your letter about wanting to attend Mass alone I would be thrilled beyond belief! This is what parents live for! Yes, we love you to attend with us, but to supplement on your own when you can really concentrate without distractions is awesome. I, as a parent, often feel the same way. I love to go to Mass with my teenagers, however it is a more intimate time with just God and myself when I go alone (which I do often on other days of the week such as you are doing). God is smiling on your Lent, dear one! Think about continuing this practice as you become a young adult and throughout your life. What a great example you are showing to all of us…
 
i kinda am a young adult… im 20 years old lol, but its good to hear that im not like crazy or anything.
 
passivesquid said:
i kinda am a young adult… im 20 years old lol, but its good to hear that im not like crazy or anything.
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I thought when you said “school” and talked about siblings you were younger… I wasn’t thinking about college, sorry! I’m still proud of you for having such spiritual maturity at such a young age.
 
passivesquid said:
i kinda am a young adult… im 20 years old lol, but its good to hear that im not like crazy or anything.
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Ah, Squid, over the last few days you were nearly a girl and now you’re much younger - what fun you’re having 😉

Most of the time I go to Mass alone, because I live very far from my family and it’s a totally different and more profound experience when it’s just me. Although I love it when we fill up the pew with my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and the other grandparents - it feels good to be a whole Catholic family together. There’s place for both kinds of Mass experience, so keep it up.
 
I have preferred going to Mass without my family since I was a teenager. For one thing, my younger siblings can be distracting, and for another, it makes it feel more like something I am doing myself, because I want to, and not something I am doing just because my family is. There’s no obligation to go to Mass with your family, especially as you get older! So don’t worry about it at all.
 
I don’t think it’s bad at all for you to think that way. If you feel better when you worship alone, then do what works for you. 👍 I have younger sibling too and feel the same about going to mass with all of my family, it can be very distracting sometimes.
 
It is all part of growing up! You are maturing in age and in faith. As a Mom, I sometimes WISH I could go alone…argh there are many family distractions, Mass without them is more peaceful. The Thanks Be To GOD at the end of Mass used to have a very different meaning (praise the Lord I am no longer convined to this pew with all these sqibbling squirming creatures). I am glad they are past tha and I am more free to pray now…
So yes, go to daily Mass alone, but do worship with your family when posssible on Sunday. It does strengthen your family and will help you grow into the man God desires you to be.
 
passivesquid said:
so heres the thing, for lent my promise is to go to mass everyday, and becasue of my schedual (school and all) the only mass i can go to is the 7am. no one in my family is awake at this time or my youngre brothers are already off to school, so i go alone. i find that i enjoy mass more with out my family. i feel more free when im there to worship alone. i dont know what it is about going to mass with my family that makes it a, well a chore almost. is it bad that i feel and thnk this way? thoughts and opnions welcome…
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The Mass is arranged for the contemplative. IMO, that is best achieved in community with others that are contemplative. If you ever get to go to Mass at a friary take advantage. Since we don’t live in that sort of community the early morning daily Mass is the next best thing. Having a smaller number of people and the hour of the day lends to quietude. The outer quiet allows the quickening of the inner quiet. In that inner quiet we (well at least I) find it easier to commune with The Divine. The Mystery deepens; the Miracle of the Eucharistic altar becomes palpable.

Enjoy your time with God. It will strengthen you in your other familial relationships. Bear no guilt, mate. Take that holy quietness with you as you leave and draw upon it through the day.
 
That’s great you want to go to Mass more often. That’s fine you go alone too. For me, it’s a battle trying get both my parents to attend Mass with me. Only a few times a year, do we every go as a family.
 
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