Is saying the responses at mass required to fulfill obligation?

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Strictly speaking, no.
In fact its perfectly fine to assist at a mass celebrated in a language you don’t understand.
 
Since I consider Mass a tremendous privilege and not an obligation, I have to wonder why the question would be phrased thus.
 
Because there is an obligation under Canon Law to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation. It is a tremendous privilege to attend Mass, but that doesn’t mean that the obligation and how to fulfill it are any less important. It’s reasonable to ask how one fulfills an obligation the Church has declared by her authority.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Your’re saying that just being there psysically is ok? I mean, aren’t you supposed to be as present as you can?
 
jesusmademe said:
aren’t you supposed to be as present as you can?
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Of course, that’s best. But the OP’s question is very specific. If the Church taught that not saying the responses meant you hadn’t fulfilled your obligation, I’m sure Father would know. And I would think many of the rest of us would have heard of it.
 
otjm, I agree with you about Mass and our “obligation,” , but isn’t it possible that the OP had some good reason why they weren’t able to say the responses? E.g., attending a Mass in a language that they don’t speak, or perhaps having a respiratory condition (sore throat,etc.) that made it painful to speak? Or even having some kind of mental/emotional condition (e.g., grieving) that made it difficult to speak?

It’s possible that the OP is one of those people who question themselves a lot (borderline-scrupulous?). I know that you (and I) have hung around CAF long enough to remember that famous question, "Is it breaking the fast before Mass if I swallow my saliva?
 
It’s nice that you take Mass so seriously, but you have no way of knowing if the OP is a “minimalist Catholic” or a scrupulous person genuinely worried that he somehow committed a sin of not fulfilling his obligation, because he got distracted or had a sore throat and didn’t say all the responses.

It would be better to just respond to the person’s question without making assumptions.
 
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jesusmademe said:
Your’re saying that just being there psysically is ok? I mean, aren’t you supposed to be as present as you can?
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Being physically at the Mass IS “being present”, by definition.

If you are at the Mass and you don’t make a good effort to participate and instead sit there playing a video game on your phone, whispering chitchat with your friend, or even dozing off during the homily, then you are likely committing some sin of disrespect, but you did not “miss Mass”, you were there, present, at it.
 
AZ42 said:
Question in the title.
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Minimally what is required is physical presence and consciousness, per the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, (John P. Beal).

In the 1983 canon law 1247 it states “to participate” and it is by assisting. Some people are mute so cannot assist with words, but there can still be interior participation and there is giving witness by presence, and following of the postures and other behaviors given in the order of the mass is ideal:
1248 A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
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otjm said:
Considering that I am 72, I am exceedingly aare of the issue of “obligation” in Canon law. and that law is directed, I would submit, the the minimalist Catholic.
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No need to assume the worst about the OP. As others have said, maybe he had a sore throat. Maybe he’s scrupulous. Maybe he’s just curious and this question is purely academic.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
No need to assume the worst about the OP. As others have said, maybe he had a sore throat. Maybe he’s scrupulous. Maybe he’s just curious and this question is purely academic.
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The OP was also very specific in regards to his “does it count” question.
 
Right, but there are reasons he could be asking that could cast the OP in a more or less favorable light, and there’s no need to assume the less favorable options absent evidence.
 
As a sufferer of chronic respiratory issues, I have attended a lot of masses and not said any responses.
 
Here’s my take.

If you have some beef against the Catholic Church, or even a genuine concern or abuse or crime, or a question of doctrine, BUT…you still believe that it is the Church that Jesus founded and therefore it is proper to obey the Church and the Lord Jesus…so you gird up your loins and go to Mass EVEN if you don’t want to be there, and you just sit there…

…I think that shows greater faith than someone who LOVES Mass and LOVES the Catholic Church and enthusiastically sings every hymn, recites every response, kneels, stands, folds their hands, and runs up to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (kneeling of course!) with tearful joy!!

Option 1: It’s easy to go to Mass if everything in your life and heart is peachy and Jesus is your Lord and you love Him and Church and everything!

Option 2: It’s hard to go to Mass if you are having problems in your life and health and you’re not sure about anything and you want Jesus to be your Lord, but He seems kind of hard to pin down and your parish is not really what you think a parish should be.

Like I said, Option 2, above, requires much greater faith, and it is our FAITH that pleases the Lord Jesus.
 
jesusmademe said:
Your’re saying that just being there psysically is ok? I mean, aren’t you supposed to be as present as you can?
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2 different questions.

To fulfill the obligation to attend Mass, one must attend. That means being physically present.

Your other question “aren’t you supposed to be as present as you can?” is answered in the affirmative. Yes, we should be “as present” as we can. Yes, we should participate as much as possible. What we “must” do and what we “should” do are 2 different questions.
 
Of course it is possible; but nothing at all was said. And one would think it patently obvious that if the language of the Mass is not one’s tongue, or if one has laryngitis, not saying the responses would not impact one’s attendance. Issues which impact one’s ability, as opposed to one’s choice remove the issue of responsibility of participation. I certainly would not oppose further discussion of what apparently is behind the question.

Perhaps I pay too much attention to REv. 3: 15-16.
 
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