Is the Mass a Gift if we are forced to accept it?

[ProVobis]

It seems so incredible to me that as far as obligation is concerned, this is all God basically asks of me - a small hour once a week!

Actually the commandment “Thou shalt keep holy the Lord’s Day” is the ultimate obligation. The Church tells us how to do this through Canon Law. To the OP I guess we can look at the Mass as a tool (or a gift, I have no problem with that) but not the only one which we can keep the Lord’s Day holy.

Can. 1248 §1 The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.

§2 If it is impossible to assist at a eucharistic celebration, either because no sacred minister is available or for some other grave reason, the faithful are strongly recommended to take part in a liturgy of the Word, if there be such in the parish church or some other sacred place, which is celebrated in accordance with the provisions laid down by the diocesan Bishop; or to spend an appropriate time in prayer, whether personally or as a family or, as occasion presents, in a group of families.

 

[EasterJoy]

It seems so incredible to me that as far as obligation is concerned, this is all God basically asks of me - a small hour once a week! And then in that small hour, he doesn’t want me to do something for him, but he wants to do something for me. When you think of what powerful people on earth demand their servants to do, doesn’t it seem incredible that the master of all asks only this of his servants?

And you know if I don’t even have that one hour for God in a whole week, isn’t it possible I have sinfully neglected him? So I think seeing the obligation and legalistically parsing its terms essentially misses the point.

Oh, God doesn’t want a small hour once a week. God wants our entire lives, from the depths of our souls to the tips of our nails, lock, stock and barrel, every moment in love with Him, desiring to know Him and please Him better, from the cradle to the grave, and nothing held back. What a gift, to be made a saint! May we all be so blessed.

Mass is the point of beginning, the source, the sending-out feast, the dedication, but it is not all God wants from us. It is simply the absolute center of what God wants of us. Or, as the Church puts it, “the source and the summit of the Christian life.”

 

[JRKH]

It seems so incredible to me that as far as obligation is concerned, this is all God basically asks of me - a small hour once a week! And then in that small hour, he doesn’t want me to do something for him, but he wants to do something for me. When you think of what powerful people on earth demand their servants to do, doesn’t it seem incredible that the master of all asks only this of his servants?

And you know if I don’t even have that one hour for God in a whole week, isn’t it possible I have sinfully neglected him? So I think seeing the obligation and legalistically parsing its terms essentially misses the point.

This is wonderfully and succinctly put.

Peace
James

 

[Biggie]

Oh, God doesn’t want a small hour once a week. God wants our entire lives, from the depths of our souls to the tips of our nails, lock, stock and barrel, every moment in love with Him, desiring to know Him and please Him better, from the cradle to the grave, and nothing held back. What a gift, to be made a saint! May we all be so blessed.

Mass is the point of beginning, the source, the sending-out feast, the dedication, but it is not all God wants from us. It is simply the absolute center of what God wants of us. Or, as the Church puts it, “the source and the summit of the Christian life.”

Or couldn’t we more precisely say that God wants us to love him and to love our neighbor? And although love would dictate selfless service, it certainly does not imply the servile, nor do I believe God wishes us his slaves. But if we are talking in terms of mortal sin and servitude, I stand by my statement. The “burden is easy and the yoke is light” in terms of the legalistic demands God places upon us.

 

[zz912]

Similar situation. A family intends to go to Mass, but their car breaks down. They don’t have any money, but they have $5,000 in credit on their credit cards. They can buy a used car for that, but they won’t be able to make the payments. But shouldn’t they do that, if Mass if really Calvary. Who would forego standing with Christ at the cross for $5,000, even if they couldn’t repay it?

While Mass is the summit of our faith, God does not want us to go into debt to attend Mass, or endanger ourselves, or spend our food money to get to Mass. We must make every reasonable effort to go EVERY week (so borrowing a bunch of money to attend ONE week is foolish.) We must be good stewards of God’s money that we are in charge of, and we must take care of our families and homes as well.

1 Timothy 5:8
And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 13:22
The good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just.

Proverbs 22:7
“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

Genesis 41:35–36
“And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”

Proverbs 27:23
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.”

Luke 14:28–30
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”

Proverbs 21:20
“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

 

[puzzleannie]

Well, in a sense, that’s true. But the Church says that if we don’t accept the gift we aren’t just going to be without the gift, we are going to be DAMNED TO HELL! That is not a non-problem, and it does seem to imply some force (coercion).

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no you have misstated the teaching, and judging by what others have also tried to give you here, it seems a deliberate mis-statement, if I am wrong, please take this in the right vein. The Church says this is the ultimate gift, participation in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. You are free to accept, or to reject. To reject is to choose a life without Christ, without union with him, without acknowledging who He is and what he has done for us, and if you die in that state, to continue to reject God and his grace through all eternity. The Church does not coerce you into Mass and God does not coerce you into heaven. Both are your free choice.

If I say, “all those who want to may come inside and sleep tonight because it will be very cold outside” and you reject the invitation because you don’t like me, my house, the other inhabitants, you are going to be cold and alone all night outside, your choice. No coercion involved.

 

[graceandglory]

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QUESTION ONE: Is the Mass a gift, or an obligation? It can’t be both. No one gives a gift while requiring that the recipient receive it. A gift is freely given, and freely received.

Just like in a marriage, sometimes you feel the love, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes I go to Mass because I want to go sooo bad, there are times when I just want to stay in my jammies.

As for Mass on vacations, ski trips…
Ever since I was a kid I have loved visiting other churches on vacation.
That was something very odd to my protestant friends.
as the saying goes, “once Catholic, always Catholic…”