Is missing mass a mortal sin?

[japhy]

I would still be worshiping God the whole weekend, just unfortunately apart from the Catholic Church.

But as a Catholic, you know of your obligation to worship God with the Church. The Mass is the Church’s corporate (that is, bodily) worship of God, because the Church is the Body of Christ. When someone who is part of that Body separates himself from that corporate act of worship, he sins against the Body and against God.

At an objective level, Protestant worship of God falls short of Catholic worship of God, because of what the Mass really is, regardless of how we feel during the Mass.

 

[japhy]

Participating in a non-Catholic religious service/event

Participating in a Protestant service is not necessarily a sin. Certainly receiving Communion in a Protestant service is a sin, but your presence there is not. The law of the Church in that regard has loosened considerably since before Vatican II.

 

[HalfAngel_18]

But as a Catholic, you know of your obligation to worship God with the Church. The Mass is the Church’s corporate (that is, bodily) worship of God, because the Church is the Body of Christ. When someone who is part of that Body separates himself from that corporate act of worship, he sins against the Body and against God.

At an objective level, Protestant worship of God falls short of Catholic worship of God, because of what the Mass really is, regardless of how we feel during the Mass.

I know. Thank you.

 

[Jenny_Z]

Participating in a Protestant service is not necessarily a sin. Certainly receiving Communion in a Protestant service is a sin, but your presence there is not. The law of the Church in that regard has loosened considerably since before Vatican II.

I respectfully disagree. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4652092

Fr. Vincent answered a similar question, but I can’t find the original link, it’s quoted in the post above. He says it better than I could.

#2 Mar 28, '08, 2:30 pm
Fr. Vincent Serpa
Catholic Answers Apologist Join Date: May 4, 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,610

Re: Protestant Communion

---

Hi,

In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue.

To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship.

Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist.

Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

 

[sharmin]

It is most assuredly a mortal sin to miss Mass to go to a Protestant retreat. In fact, it’s 2. Participating in a non-Catholic religious service/event, and missing Sunday mass.

Can you show me where it is written that it is a mortal sin to attend a non-denominational event?

 

[sharmin]

I respectfully disagree. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4652092

Fr. Vincent answered a similar question, but I can’t find the original link, it’s quoted in the post above. He says it better than I could.

First, this does not say anything about non-denominational events, only worship services. Second, I don’t mean a priest’s fallible opinion, but rather official infallible church documentation.

 

[japhy]

The Directory of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (from 1993) speaks positively of limited participation in prayer services and worship of other Christian communities. Here is an excerpt that deals with worship in other communities:
Sharing in Non-Sacramental Liturgical Worship

1. By liturgical worship is meant worship carried out according to books, prescriptions and customs of a Church or ecclesial Community, presided over by a minister or delegate of that Church or Community. This liturgical worship may be of a non-sacramental kind, or may be the celebration of one or more of the Christian sacraments. The concern here is non-sacramental worship.

…

1. In liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.
   Perhaps there is no allowance for participation in **non-**liturgical worship in a Protestant community…

 

[Jenny_Z]

First, this does not say anything about non-denominational events, only worship services. Second, I don’t mean a priest’s fallible opinion, but rather official infallible church documentation.

I was going on the assumption that what the poster was talking about was a weekend long worship conference of some sort. Like a revival or something. Non-denominational events like concerts or whatever is fine, I think maybe we’re discussing two different things.

I’m having trouble finding a site to search the Catechism that will let me search for multiple words at a time (very frustrating), but I will say this…

The Catholic Church has 100% of the deposit of Faith. All other churches only have a portion, and some are even in direct disagreement with the Catholic Church’s teachings (they’re called Protestants for a reason). I know I’m not going to endanger my soul with that. Especially not on a day when I should be at Mass.

 

[japhy]

I’m having trouble finding a site to search the Catechism that will let me search for multiple words at a time (very frustrating)

Use my search tool.

 

[Jenny_Z]

Use my search tool.

That is fantastic!! I’m bookmarking that for later, thanks

The catechism doesn’t seem to go into detail in the chapters about sin, other than to define sin in a broader sense. But I’ll trust the examination of conscience in my prayer book and Father Vincent on this one.

It’s hard for me to say this without sounding overly harsh to our Protestant brothers and sisters, but they’re Protestant for a reason, and it’s because the founder of their “denomination” broke from Christ’s Church, even after Christ told us not to have such divisions. Most disagree with Catholic doctrine in some form, be it their view on the Eucharist or the Virgin Mary, and some are even anti-Catholic. That’s enough for me.

(note: I used to be Baptist, so I’m speaking from an experience of pretty harsh anti-Catholicism)

 

[japhy]

That is fantastic!! I’m bookmarking that for later, thanks

You’re welcome.

It’s hard for me to say this without sounding overly harsh to our Protestant brothers and sisters, but they’re Protestant for a reason, and it’s because the founder of their “denomination” broke from Christ’s Church, even after Christ told us not to have such divisions.

I feel like I should make it clear why I’ve attended other Christians’ houses of worship. These events were two years ago.

I’m on the RCIA team, and I attended a few local Christian denominations to see how they worship, so I would have an idea where converting Christians are coming from. (I did, by mistake, receive their Communion on two occasions, but when I learned that wasn’t permitted, I confessed and have not done it again.) I went on a non-denominational men’s retreat which included scheduled “worship”; but I did also attend Mass on Saturday evening. I also attend the worship services of the community which held the retreat, out of curiosity (but certainly not inquiry) more than anything else.

I’ve also attended a couple Orthodox Divine Liturgies and vespers in the past couple of years (in addition to Catholic Mass), primarily because of an appreciation for the atmosphere (the liturgy, the chant, the incense, etc.).

I do none of this to replace my Catholic worship. I will admit supplementing the lack of satisfying liturgical atmosphere, from time to time, with the experience of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, but that is because the particular liturgies in my area are not always aesthetically edifying, and I don’t have convenient access to Mass in the E.F. nor Eastern Catholic Rites.

 

[Jenny_Z]

I don’t think what you’ve listed is a problem… learning about other folks is always a good thing, especially in a program like RCIA. I think that’s different from the original situation we were talking about.

And the Orthodox are a bit of an exception, of course, since they have a valid Eucharist, as long as one attends Mass at a Latin rite church on Sunday (if it’s available).

I’ve actually wanted to visit an Easter Catholic or Orthodox church lately, just to learn more about it. The traditions are fascinating.

 

[jim1836]

I will say this, if missing mass is a mortal sin and murdering someone is also a mortal sin then there is really wrong headed thinking going on. The two are simply worlds apart in gravity.

On one hand you missed a church service, the only person hurt could be yourself on a spiritual level or possibly someone who you could have helped during the service. On the other hand, you wantonly snuffed out the precious life of a sentient being.

I will never accept in a million years that missing mass could lead to eternal damnation.