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lisahiku
Guest
Actually, it wasn’t.
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jmcrae
Guest
In my case what happens is, when I finally conquer one vice, I find another vice that I thought was just “a bad habit” and upon closer examination, it turns out to be a worse vice than the original one.
For example, I thought that my bad habit of swearing was my worst vice, so through the Confessional, I was able to finally conquer it, and then when I conquered it, I examined my conscience again, thinking I would find nothing to confess, and discovered that I had a bad habit of impatience and unrealistic expectations, which was the root cause of the swearing (and if I didn’t get rid of it, I knew I would be back to the habit of swearing, again) - so I had to work on that in the Confessional. And it goes on, like those Russian dolls - you uncover one, only to find another one, and so on. And then there is the occasional slip up, where I get drawn into talking about other people when they are not present, or making a sarcastic “funny” comment about a serious situation, and things like that.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
But maybe now after reading my post, it will be.
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lisahiku
Guest
afraid not.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
What a sad exchange. You seem proud of your stance, lisahiku. You are Catholic, yes? How can you post what you did, then? Why? I just don’t understand. If you are not Catholic, why are you posting in this thread baiting Catholics? (It is not clear if you are Catholic or not, since you appear to go to Mass, but you list your religion as “other” and are challenging the teachings of the Church in this thread.)
This is a depressing thread. Reading about Catholics who try to justify not going to Mass every Sunday and other Holy Days of Obligation (Sunday is always a Holy Day of Obligation), and Catholics who only receive our Lord in the Eucharist once a year, and Catholics who go to confession once a year or less make me sad for our Church and for our Lord. It makes me sad for them to willingly miss out on so much grace. I just don’t understand. Why?
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
What makes me sad is when someone takes a non-negotiable and lumps it with negotiables and acts as if they are equivalent.
Such as lumping people who think missing Mass on Holy Days of Obligation with those who might chose to receive the Eucharist and attend confession once a year.
Missing Mass on Holy Days of Obligation with out proper reasons is a mortal sin.
Receiving the Eucharist once a year is a Church requirement.
Going to confession once a year is a Church requirement.
The Church does encourage frequent confession and reception of the Eucharist but it does not say that it is mandatory nor is it a mortal sin to just follow the requirements.
To lump those groups of people into one group is wrong as one of them is guilty of mortal sin, the others are guilty of following what the Church requires.
They are in no way comparable.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
I humbly stand corrected. I posted based on what I had read on this thread and the choices people are making. I apologize for lumping all groups together. I thought the distinction was made based on individual posts. I apologize.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Oh well. I don’t expect a seed planted to grow overnight!
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Thank you for this reply.
I do not want you to get the wrong impression of my beliefs and opinions though.
I too am saddened by people who do not partake frequently of the Eucharist and confession.
My main point is that we can not lump them together with those who are committing mortal sin.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
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MissRose73
Guest
I wish more people would take advantage of going more often to Confession, to Mass, and receive Communion. It is good for one’s soul to do all of those things, and I know I feel better spritually when I do them.
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ReginaCoeli
Guest
If you believe in the real presence, and if you call yourself a Catholic, then you should, then why would you ever miss an opportunity to be in the presence of Jesus? You would think you would run, not walk, to Mass!! I understand sickness or something like that, but to say, “I’m too tired to go see Jesus?” makes me wonder if you truly believe he is present. Maybe you should really examine what it is you believe, and pray for an increase of faith. Because I know that for myself, given an opportunity to be with Jesus in the flesh, as he is in the Eucharist, I’d never want to miss it. I’ll be praying for you.
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braidwood
Guest
We all want to get to Heaven and be with Jesus…but some folks think they can achieve this on their own terms.
That is taking a huge risk with eternity and it is sad that so many have fallen for Satan’s lie that missing Holy Mass occasionally is no big deal.
That is taking a huge risk with eternity and it is sad that so many have fallen for Satan’s lie that missing Holy Mass occasionally is no big deal.
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shepherd_girl
Guest
I think, ultimately, the original question raised - is missing Mass really a mortal sin? - is looking for a reason to justify the behavior so as not to feel guilty about doing it. That we can somehow still be good Catholics if we kind of skip the rules now and then. What comes to mind is the pick and choose misnomer “Cafeteria Catholics,” who are not true Catholics.
As was stated, missing Mass due to legit reasons is perfectly acceptable. Aside from that, yes missing Mass really is a mortal sin.
As was stated, missing Mass due to legit reasons is perfectly acceptable. Aside from that, yes missing Mass really is a mortal sin.
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Sheeniac
Guest
If we look at Mark 14:37, we find Jesus in the midst of his agony in the garden of Gethsemane, the night he was betrayed.
Mark 14:32 - 37:
Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father,* all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
And here we are discussing whether it’s a big deal for a person to miss Mass, an hour with Jesus, because she is tired.
I’m sure Jesus wasn’t tired that night because he knew that soon he would be beaten to a point near death, ridiculed, and then have nails pounded into his hands. These nails would push bits of his flesh into the splintered wood of the cross. Imagine the weight of his body pulling against his hands in a downward angle, causing the ripped flesh of his hands to dig deeply into the sharp wood.
People today are being persecuted and killed for being Catholic. People in China must attend underground Masses, and risk a lot to do so.
Jesus gave Peter a mission to take care of his flock, and gave him the keys to the kingdom. Jesus gave him the power to bind and loosen, and would honor that in Heaven. So the Church (the successors to Peter and the rest of the Apostles) has decided that for the good of our souls, we must attend Mass weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation, on pain of sin.
Perhaps one thinks it unimportant. But God expects obedience, and has given Authority to the Catholic Church. But we don’t like authority, nor doing something if we aren’t sold on the idea. It’s quite human, and we all feel the same way. But there is great benefit to simply accept what is required of us, especially in terms of God and salvation.
Sometimes it’s better to go along, knowing that understanding may come later. God is a mysterious being, and there’s a lot we may not understand till we stand before him. And there’s a lot that may not make sense in the Church. But when confronted with dogma and Church rules that I personally may not agree with, I ask myself who is more likely to be right - me or my 2000 year old Church?
So please go, tired or not.
Mark 14:32 - 37:
Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father,* all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
And here we are discussing whether it’s a big deal for a person to miss Mass, an hour with Jesus, because she is tired.
I’m sure Jesus wasn’t tired that night because he knew that soon he would be beaten to a point near death, ridiculed, and then have nails pounded into his hands. These nails would push bits of his flesh into the splintered wood of the cross. Imagine the weight of his body pulling against his hands in a downward angle, causing the ripped flesh of his hands to dig deeply into the sharp wood.
People today are being persecuted and killed for being Catholic. People in China must attend underground Masses, and risk a lot to do so.
Jesus gave Peter a mission to take care of his flock, and gave him the keys to the kingdom. Jesus gave him the power to bind and loosen, and would honor that in Heaven. So the Church (the successors to Peter and the rest of the Apostles) has decided that for the good of our souls, we must attend Mass weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation, on pain of sin.
Perhaps one thinks it unimportant. But God expects obedience, and has given Authority to the Catholic Church. But we don’t like authority, nor doing something if we aren’t sold on the idea. It’s quite human, and we all feel the same way. But there is great benefit to simply accept what is required of us, especially in terms of God and salvation.
Sometimes it’s better to go along, knowing that understanding may come later. God is a mysterious being, and there’s a lot we may not understand till we stand before him. And there’s a lot that may not make sense in the Church. But when confronted with dogma and Church rules that I personally may not agree with, I ask myself who is more likely to be right - me or my 2000 year old Church?
So please go, tired or not.
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StarFireKK
Guest
It helped me. I was always under the impression you could not miss Mass unless you had the permission of your priest (or you were in a hospital.) I’m not sure why I thought that, but I did.
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CompSciGuy
Guest
“8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
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11 For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
-Exodus 20:8,11
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11 For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
-Exodus 20:8,11
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Newsy
Guest
Keep in mind, in the OT, the Sabbath was Saturday. This is less a Sabbath issue than a Church Authority issue. If the Church recognizes any day of the week as a day of obligation, then we submit to Her Authority. If we feel it shouldn’t be a day of obligation, that still doesn’t change the fact we need to attend. Bottom line, you can miss Mass as much as you want, but you will be called to answer for your actions. This sin is no different than any of the others, and frequency has no effect on the nature of sin.
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system
Guest
Does the Church really equate intentionally missing Mass on Sunday with murdering a person, cheating a senior out of his life savings, or sexually abusing young boys?
If so, I think that there will be many pretty good Catholics in hell.
I’m sure that all have noticed that 99% of the people at Mass receive communion these days. Is it believed that all of these people have met their Easter duty, or have been to confession since the last time that they skipped Mass?
I can find support for the sinfulness of murder, theft and sexual abuse in the Commandments and in the Gospels, but I see nothing about attending Mass.
The Church has flipped its position on sinfullness so many times in history, from eating meat on Friday to practicing usery, that I think that Catholics are justified in viewing current Church positions with skepticism.
If so, I think that there will be many pretty good Catholics in hell.
I’m sure that all have noticed that 99% of the people at Mass receive communion these days. Is it believed that all of these people have met their Easter duty, or have been to confession since the last time that they skipped Mass?
I can find support for the sinfulness of murder, theft and sexual abuse in the Commandments and in the Gospels, but I see nothing about attending Mass.
The Church has flipped its position on sinfullness so many times in history, from eating meat on Friday to practicing usery, that I think that Catholics are justified in viewing current Church positions with skepticism.
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MissRose73
Guest
I think its a mortal sin if you miss Sunday Mass and do so intentionally.
If you are ill and/or injured, have no means to make to Mass in terms of any form of transport, or required to work by your employer with no time to attend Mass as a few examples then you are not committing a sin because its no fault of your own.
I had to miss Mass during a vacation recently because I had no way to find a Catholic church and arrange transport to it in an unfamiliar location to attend Mass. I had to miss Mass for a 2nd weekend in a row because I was too ill to drive myself once I was at home, and certain I would disturb others with my constant coughing so I did the charitable thing, and stayed home to recover.
If you are ill and/or injured, have no means to make to Mass in terms of any form of transport, or required to work by your employer with no time to attend Mass as a few examples then you are not committing a sin because its no fault of your own.
I had to miss Mass during a vacation recently because I had no way to find a Catholic church and arrange transport to it in an unfamiliar location to attend Mass. I had to miss Mass for a 2nd weekend in a row because I was too ill to drive myself once I was at home, and certain I would disturb others with my constant coughing so I did the charitable thing, and stayed home to recover.
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