Is missing Mass really a Mortal Sin?

[Tantum_ergo]

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

Lisa, there’s nothing for you to regret. It was not a bad question or a stupid question, it was something you really did not know or understand and you wanted clarified. Truly, getting these things out clearly is helpful.

And I hope that you understand that nobody is going around chanting, “Lisa missed Mass just because she was tired, she’s going to hell” because NOBODY is doing that.

We just don’t know the hearts of another. Maybe you’re an older person with underlying health problems that you don’t know about or haven’t been able to treat, and what would to a normal person be a stressful but doable ‘getting up’ after a hard week of work is truly painful and crippingly difficult. Maybe you have incredible mental stress going on which contributes to the physical stress. We don’t know. God does though and He will understand completely.

I hope that things ease up a bit in your life and that Mass will be a blessing for you. May God be with you now and always.

 

[OraLabora]

We just don’t know the hearts of another. Maybe you’re an older person with underlying health problems that you don’t know about or haven’t been able to treat, and what would to a normal person be a stressful but doable ‘getting up’ after a hard week of work is truly painful and crippingly difficult.

Good point and worthy to point out. This was my case; for years I had been hobbled with crippling fatigue. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with hereditary hemochromatosis. It was successfully treated, and now I am well again and able to ride two centuries (100 miles) on my bike in two days in a row, and still make it to Mass on the third day.

But before my diagnosis, although I did always make it to Mass, it wasn’t always easy. At the time I had a very long commute and had to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get to work. I would spend my entire Saturday afternoon, and Sundays after Mass, sleeping. Moreover I had terrific stomach cramps and sometimes had to leave the church in the middle of Mass; my quality of life at the time was just about zilch.

Many times “chronic fatigue” is due to an underlying and undiagnosed condition. Only God can read our hearts and if indeed something is amiss physically, He will know about it long before you or your doctor does!!!

 

[jmcrae]

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.

For myself, I appreciated the “one minute youth minute” video link, and I’m planning to use them in my teaching this year. So, this thread has certainly helped me and those I work with.

 

[Bearontherun]

For myself, I appreciated the “one minute youth minute” video link, and I’m planning to use them in my teaching this year. So, this thread has certainly helped me and those I work with.

Thanks for letting me know that you found it helpful and can put it to good use. That is very much appreciated.

 

[At_Trent]

Sigh

Nevermind. Having a conversation with some of you can be quite impossible.

God Bless.

just admit you are wrong this time

 

[At_Trent]

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

Thank you.

And thank you to the Sisters who taught in our parochial schools back in the day, who taught us these things in a simple manner, in ways children could understand them.

 

[Bezant]

Dangerous advice and certainly not Eastern in any way.

And?

I’m quite sure of what I think. You need not agree.

 

[Bezant]

Dangerous advice and certainly not Eastern in any way.

And?

I’m quite sure of what I think. You need not agree.

 

[Bezant]

Missing Mass on Sundays it is not automatically a mortal sin. You can miss Mass because none is available, you can miss mass because you are sick, you can miss Mass for a lot or reasons without committing mortal sin. The problem of the sinfulness has nothing to do with the frequency often vs. few times but it has to do with the reasons of why someone would miss it. For example a bed ridden person will not be able to attend Mass for years but that does not mean that the person is committing a sin; however, a person can miss Mass only once because he does not want to be late for a party and that becomes a sin.

You are talking about being tired, that could be a justification for not attending Mass but it depends a lot on the circumstances. If you are exhausted because you spent the night up taking care of someone sick and driving to Mass would endanger you or something else then you probably have quite a valid reason based on the cardinal virtue of prudence. However, if you are exhausted because you were out drinking all night then your priorities are wrong and you would put yourself in a sinful situation.

When in doubt go to confession, and if you think that you might have to miss Mass for a valid reason talk to your pastor if he can dispense you from the obligation.

An excellent, thoughtful, humble response.

 

[choliks]

I know about the “valid reasons” for missing Mass (illness, caregiving…etc.)…But what if you had a big fight with your spouse right before Mass, making you not predisposed for the Holy Sacrifice. Would that make it a sin?

 

[Vico]

I know about the “valid reasons” for missing Mass (illness, caregiving…etc.)…But what if you had a big fight with your spouse right before Mass, making you not predisposed for the Holy Sacrifice. Would that make it a sin?

We always assist with the Holy Sacrifice, even if not receiving the Holy Eucharist.

 

[choliks]

Thanks, Vico.

 

[mirandajb]

Actually we have the the Sunset series (Sat evening) and the whole of Sunday to attend service, so yes it is a sin to miss Mass, unless you planned to attend service during the Sunday evening and an emergency came up. That is why the Bible (OT) always talks about offering the first fruits!!!

 

[jmcrae]

Actually we have the the Sunset series (Sat evening) and the whole of Sunday to attend service, so yes it is a sin to miss Mass, unless you planned to attend service during the Sunday evening and an emergency came up. That is why the Bible (OT) always talks about offering the first fruits!!!

Good point. We must always practice to do the important things first.

It seems as if we always want to get the unimportant things “out of the way” so that we can “focus on” the important things - but what happens is that we end up spending our entire lives doing unimportant things, and never actually get to the important things.

 

[jmcrae]

Ohmygoodness. Is it a mortal sin only because of that one sentence???!! I better read all the other posts, there must be more to it. The quote above from the ten commandments doesn’t make it sound like a mortal sin at all!

To break any one of the Ten Commandments, if you lived in the time of Moses (that is to say, under the rules of the Old Testament), was to receive the sentence of death in your physical body. (Typically they would either stone you to death or leave you without food or water in the desert.)

Under the New Testament, we don’t receive the death penalty in our physical bodies, but instead, we experience spiritual death - meaning that we go to Hell.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

And?

I’m quite sure of what I think. You need not agree.

It does not really matter what we may think.

It all comes down to what the Church teaches.

The Church teaches that it is a mortal sin to willingly miss a Day of Obligation.

It also teaches that death with unrepented sin will lead one to Hell.

The Church also does not rate the severity of mortal sins. So while might agree with you that rape or murder might be greater sins than missing a Day of Obligation that does not change the fact that they are all mortal sins and to be avoided.

To casually state that missing a Day of Obligation is not really a big thing and that we have the Sacrament of Penance to cover it is very dangerous. What happens to the person who does such a thing and does not make it to confession and passes away with this mortal sin on their soul?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I’m getting that…but the way it’s worded, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day” sounds must less mortal-sin-like than if it was worded, “Thou must attend mass ever Sunday!”. The way it’s worded sounds a bit more flexible. Is it worded differently in various versions of the bible?

Remember that what you are reading, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day” is a translation. It was not written in English. The original was written in Hebrew.

 

[mysteryreligion]

yes, i AM catholic.

I wish someone could explain WHY it is a mortal sin? If I miss mass I am not hurting anyone. Again, if I NEVER went to church, I could understand it, but occasionally miss because I am too tired…???

you are hurting yourself, the o nly person you are solely responsible for

sleeping late, which, no matter where you sleep is in a place where the Real Presence is NOT

is unhealthy in comparison to the Mass, where all of Heaven participates

 

[joeantony]

yes, i AM catholic.

I wish someone could explain WHY it is a mortal sin? If I miss mass I am not hurting anyone. Again, if I NEVER went to church, I could understand it, but occasionally miss because I am too tired…???

Hi,

Missing a Sunday Mass intentionally is a mortal sin. It is a different case if you are genuinely unable to go for the mass. But If you choose not to go, then it is a mortal sin.

But why? We are Catholics because we accept the authority of the church and we believe that Church has the authority given by Jesus through Peter and his successors to lead the faithful. So if the church has put a precept that we have to celebrate Sunday as the Lord’s day, we must do it. If we choose not to, we are standing against the Authority of the church. It is first, a big DISOBEDIENCE. Now can you figure out where the problem lies?

Joe

 

[Bookcat]

No doubt about it.

Catechism 2181:

“For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”