Is missing Mass really a Mortal Sin?

[ConstantineTG]

I can only see this being a factor if there is only one very early morning Mass available. This is hardly ever the case.

One should plan for attending Mass though, so if the only Mass available is a very early morning one then they should make sure they are in bed earlier enough so as not to be this tired.

But again, in most places Masses are offered from Saturday Evening to Sunday Evening, I can not see how being tired would be a factor unless there is a medical condition and then there is no obligation due to the illness (if it is that bad).

I agree. But I’m just addressing the response one gave that one should make every effort to go to Mass, even if they are tired. For whatever reason, if you have to drive to Mass and you are dead tired, its an act of mercy for everyone else on the road that you stay home instead.

That is absolutely something to consider. Fortunately, **most **of us have some choices of Mass times such as Saturday vigil, early Sunday, or later Sunday. Most (though admittedly not all) late-night jobs are either 3-11pm or 11pm-7am shifts, so if a person working such shifts really wanted to go to Mass, they would make it happen. There are long-haul truckers, health care workers, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders who choose to make it a priority to go to Mass.

I DO know what an energy-siphoning schedule is like, and I know what I’ve missed by letting Sundays pile up into months and eventually years of absence from God’s temple. Neither you nor the original poster would probably let things go as far as I did, but my point is that I know how it can be.

As for me, I’m not a person who is going to think you are a sinful person for not attending Mass: that’s not my place to even consider, but I am going to think that you are missing out on something wonderful. I’m also saying that if a person has a hard time finding the drive to get to Mass, maybe the issue could be helped through prayer. Don’t you agree?

I’ve been in a job before that I wanted to go to Good Friday Service but I wasn’t allowed to switch my shift. It wasn’t really my call then. I just prayed in my station, it was a quite day anyway.

I think if the person wants to attend Mass but can’t, the issue is best addressed with their pastor. He will help them find a way to solve the issues and grant spiritual direction.

 

[jmcrae]

so if I miss mass I don’t love god?

Right. The Mass is God’s re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross for our sins - this is what saves us from going to Hell, and it is the source of all of the grace that comes to us through the Sacraments.

We attend weekly, every Sunday, to remember that it was on a Sunday that He rose from the dead to open up the gates of Heaven to the whole human race.

We also do so in obedience to the commandment to observe the Sabbath (a weekly day of rest) and keep it holy (use the time away from work and other obligations to honour God and give thanks to Him for all of our blessings in life).

Think of whom you love. Would you spend less than one day a week with, say, your best friend, or your spouse? What about your children? Would you take off for a week or more and leave them alone in the house to fend for themselves? Unless there is something seriously the matter with your mind, it’s not likely that you would do any of those things. Why treat God any differently? He is, after all, our very best friend in the whole world. He created us, and He provides us with literally everything that we have. He created a whole world out of nothing, to provide for our needs - food, water, shelter, and more. One hour a week is actually very little to give Him in return for all of that.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I KNEW the answer…i wanted to know the reasoning behind it.

So. …you knew the answer that missing Mass is a mortal sin UNLESS the person has a good reason (caring for a sick person), is themselves ill (not simply ‘tired’), or cannot physically get there.

And people GAVE you those reasons, over and over, even linked to the catechism and explanations. . .

and yet you STILL above said, “I don’t think missing Mass OCCASIONALLY is a mortal sin.”

You wanted the reasoning, yet now you won’t accept it? That seems strange to me.

Well, unless your OCCASIONS are that you cared for a sick person, were ill (NOT simply ‘tired’), could not physically get there but would have if you COULD. . .then OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING, the ACTION of missing Mass was gravely sinful. . .whether you see it that way or not.

OK, I read your part further on.

Again, I think that I specifically addressed this at least twice in my postings to you.

If you are truly exhausted (from shift work, say) and could be a danger to yourself or others on the roads, not a sin to miss. We can’t all arrange our work schedules to suit.

But IF you are able a matter of an hour or two after Mass is ‘over’ to go out and perform your normal activities of daily living, you weren’t really ‘exhausted.’

And IF you had a sick child who needed to go to the hospital and you would have driven (safely) the same kind of distance as driving to Mass, and stayed in the hospital as long as going to Mass. . .then your ‘exhaustion’ wouldn’t have kept you from your obligation to your child (safely) and it shouldn’t have kept you from Mass.

I mean, why is MASS the automatic ‘give up’? Because it comes ‘earlier’ in the day than shopping? I would rather get up and go to early Mass and then come home and take a nap around noon until say 1:30 or 2, then go to bed at the usual time. You’ll be more rested and more likely to be able to go to bed at the proper time and get up the next day for work than if you let yourself 'sleep in’for the extra 3-4 hours that you normally would have spent getting up, showering, eating breakfast, going to Mass, staying for Mass, and driving back again.

 

[jmcrae]

So if it is really that literal, then I suppose we are committing a mortal sin because most of us go on Sunday instead of Saturday.

(Sabbath = Saturday)

Actually, the Sabbath is “one-seventh” or, one day out of every seven. The Jews chose Saturday. Because of Christ’s Resurrection on a Sunday, Christians observe the Sabbath on Sundays.

 

[Newbie2]

no…please let me clarify.

I KNEW missing mass over and over is a Mortal sin.

I was not sure if missing mass OCCASSIONALY is a full mortal sin.
For reasons such as exhaustion , work related. I should also say I do not have many mass times available to me.

If you read thru ALL the responses, you can see people were just telling me “missing mass is a mortal sin, a sin against the 3rd commandment”.

BUT no one really addressed the issue about occasionnally missing mass.

I am sorry if my question offended people, which it obviusly did.

Try on this analogy:

Fornication is mortal sin, right, even if one does it just once? Is it mortal sin to fornicate occasionally rather than “over and over”?

The answer applies to all mortal sin.

There ya go.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I mean, why is MASS the automatic ‘give up’? Because it comes ‘earlier’ in the day than shopping? I would rather get up and go to early Mass and then come home and take a nap around noon until say 1:30 or 2, then go to bed at the usual time. You’ll be more rested and more likely to be able to go to bed at the proper time and get up the next day for work than if you let yourself 'sleep in’for the extra 3-4 hours that you normally would have spent getting up, showering, eating breakfast, going to Mass, staying for Mass, and driving back again.

Because, it seems, to a lot of people, mass is seen as a semi-necessary chore.

 

[Newsy]

no…please let me clarify.

I KNEW missing mass over and over is a Mortal sin.

I was not sure if missing mass OCCASSIONALY is a full mortal sin.
For reasons such as exhaustion , work related. I should also say I do not have many mass times available to me.

If you read thru ALL the responses, you can see people were just telling me “missing mass is a mortal sin, a sin against the 3rd commandment”.

BUT no one really addressed the issue about occasionnally missing mass.

I am sorry if my question offended people, which it obviusly did.

I tried to give you an answer on page 1 of this thread, but I probably failed in my explanation. So, here’s another shot at it. If you are unsure of whether your reason for missing Mass is serious, then you need to consult your priest. I, too, live in an area with a limited Mass schedule. If work interferes with Mass, then consult your priest.

If you miss Mass, it is a Mortal sin because you are disobeying the Church (His Body on Earth). Frequency of missing Mass has no effect on the nature of missing Mass. If we allow something like frequency to determine if something is a sin, then it leads to personal interpretation and no standard teaching. As other posters have pointed out, if we only murder a couple times in our lives, it is still a sin.

As to “WHY” missing Mass is a sin… If you miss Mass without a serious reason then you are putting your priorities in front of spending time with our Lord. You asked if missing Mass means you don’t love God, it means God wasn’t high enough on your priority list to merit going to Mass. When we miss Mass we can spend that time praying at home or doing other spiritual stuff, but we cannot receive our Lord physically. God gave His only Son over to suffer and die for our sins, this is commemorated in the Mass. By missing Mass, our priorities are shown in our actions.

These are the reasons it is a Mortal sin to miss Mass, if you need clearer direction please speak to your priest. If you are working late on Saturday and the only Mass you can attend is a 7am, with only 3 hours sleep, you may have a serious reason. I believe a priest will be your best source for answers in this situation.

I hope this helps. We all need encouragement and charity, even those of us trying to help!

 

[Sir_Knight]

For reasons such as exhaustion , work related. I should also say I do not have many mass times available to me.If you cannot make it because of work then yes that obligation can be dispenced.

A point of clarification, the obligation CAN be dispensed but UNLESS it actually IS dispensed, it still remains an obligation and failing to meet that obligation IS a mortal sin.

 

[agnes_therese]

Even for “occasionally,” it depends on the reason you’re missing Mass. A previous poster suggested you talk to your priest; that is the best advice going. You can explain things in detail to him, and he can give you an authoritative answer. We can’t.

no…please let me clarify.

I KNEW missing mass over and over is a Mortal sin.

I was not sure if missing mass OCCASSIONALY is a full mortal sin.
For reasons such as exhaustion , work related. I should also say I do not have many mass times available to me.

If you read thru ALL the responses, you can see people were just telling me “missing mass is a mortal sin, a sin against the 3rd commandment”.

BUT no one really addressed the issue about occasionnally missing mass.

I am sorry if my question offended people, which it obviusly did.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I KNEW the answer…i wanted to know the reasoning behind it.

And that is the reason why people referenced the commandments and the Catechism for you.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I did not need commandments quoted to me.

How else are people suppose to answer your question?

 

[Sir_Knight]

If you read thru ALL the responses, you can see people were just telling me “missing mass is a mortal sin, a sin against the 3rd commandment”.

BUT no one really addressed the issue about occasionnally missing mass.

Occasionally missing mass is STILL “missing mass” and a sin against the 3rd commandment.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I’ve been in a job before that I wanted to go to Good Friday Service but I wasn’t allowed to switch my shift. It wasn’t really my call then. I just prayed in my station, it was a quite day anyway.

There is no obligation to go to church on Good Friday.

 

[Sir_Knight]

But now I will say I do not htink missing mass** occasionally** is a mortal sin.

And as shown by the numerous supporting references that people have provided for you, your opinion is incorrect on this matter.

. I failed to mention I do NOT have unlimites available mass times like alot of people do.

If you have at least one, then you are obligated to go under penality of mortal sin.

Look, this past summer, due to vacations and illnesses and injuries, I had to work 12 hours on Saturday AND 8 hours on Sunday covering for co-workers almost every week-end. The ONLY Mass available to me was the 7am Mass on Sunday morning. Going to the 8:30am mass would caused me to be late for work. After putting in a 12-hour day on Saturday, the last thing that I wanted to do was get up at 5:30 in the morning to go to Mass and then immediately put in another 8-hour work day. But if I claim to love God, then my actions MUST reflect that love.
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ – Luke 10:27.
If I put sleep before God, how am I obeying God’s commandment to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

no…please let me clarify.

I KNEW missing mass over and over is a Mortal sin.

BUT no one really addressed the issue about occasionnally missing mass.

It seems to me that this question was answered. There are many reasons why someone mas be able to miss Mass and not be in mortal sin. Work & family responsibilities, illness, the list goes on & on.

However, as it has been stated, to miss Mass just because it is inconvienent or does not fit into our weekend plans, is indeed treading on shakey ground.

I work 2 jobs, 6 days a week usually, and Saturday evening Mass is out of the question for me, so Sunday it is. I am fortunate that, within 5 miles of my home, Masses are offered from 7am - 7:30pm on Sundays, so there is always a Mass I can get too.
That doesn’t mean I always “feel” like it. Some Sundays, I don’t want to get out of my jammies! But then I think about Jesus in the garden, He didn’t want to do what He knew He had to, and even prayed to His Father “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me…”

So if Jesus could do what He did, I don’t think that taking an hour out of my only day off is really too much to ask.

 

[Christofer]

I think this link addresses the issue very well.


Sunday Mass and Holy Day Obligation
It is only a mortal sin to purposely miss Mass on Sunday and Holy Days.

God Bless
Please pray for me.

 

[Vico]

If you really have the OP’s best interest at heart, comments like these won’t help her, but rather, only push her away. :nope:

OK, I can accept that, how can I fix it now that I have been frank?

 

[lisahiku]

I regret 100% asking this question on here. my apologies to everyone.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Is that because you did not receive the answer that you were expecting?

 

[Bearontherun]

I regret 100% asking this question on here. my apologies to everyone.

Sorry you feel that way.

If this thread helps even one person(I trust it will help many and has already strengthened my own understanding) then I think that the posters(myself included) will believe it is worthwhile. Not to worry.

Peace.