Just realized it's a holy day!

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I just realized this and we are out of town at a vacation house staying with family in anticipation of my son’s baptism on Sunday. We have a lot of plans for the day already. Am I obligated to find a Catholic church and attend mass? Thanks!
 
You will have to decide for yourself if you have a just reason for not going to mass.
 
I think I do, but I want to be sure. We have a 3 month old and a two year old and are staying in an unfamiliar area. We will be gone all day but might be back in time for mass, depending. I can probably leave the two year old with family (no way they will go to mass today) but not our fussy 3 month old. Not sure if this applies or not…
 
Just came from Mass, the heat wasn’t turned on till we arrived:eek:

Peace
 
When prepping for baptism, keeping your Mass obligation is something to take seriously. These are the godparents I assume? They are practicing Catholics and will be going to Mass. Let them do their duty by modeling the faith to their young godchild.
 
LaSainte said:
I just realized this and we are out of town at a vacation house staying with family in anticipation of my son’s baptism on Sunday. We have a lot of plans for the day already. Am I obligated to find a Catholic church and attend mass? Thanks!
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Yes.
 
LaSainte said:
I think I do, but I want to be sure. We have a 3 month old and a two year old and are staying in an unfamiliar area. We will be gone all day but might be back in time for mass, depending. I can probably leave the two year old with family (no way they will go to mass today) but not our fussy 3 month old. Not sure if this applies or not…
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Although care for small children can be a just reason to miss Mass, this situation seems to me no different than any other Sunday on which you need to meet your obligation. What do you normally do for Sunday Mass? Do you bring the two year old and fussy three month old? Bring them today. Or, since you mentioned you’re staying with family for a baptism, can you solicit help from the baby’s Godparents? That is what they agreed to in helping to raise your child Catholic. Have them come to Mass and hold the baby or watch the baby while you go if they’ve already been.

I think the “unfamiliar area” argument is fitting if you’re in a location where it truly would be a very real hardship to find a church and attent Mass. Like, if it were dangerous to go out or you were worried you’d get hopelessly lost. But you should certainly attempt Mass with at least the same determination that you would attempt shopping or site-seeing or visiting family members. It seems to me that if you already know of a Catholic Church in the area (presumably the same place your son will be baptized) and know in advance what time the Mass is, you would not have just reason to miss.
 
The only exception would be if you’re in a country that moves the obligation to the Sunday. I’m in Canada, so our obligation is moved to Sunday. That being said, we’re still celebrating the feast at the EF Mass with a high Mass.
 
LaSainte said:
I just realized this and we are out of town at a vacation house staying with family in anticipation of my son’s baptism on Sunday. We have a lot of plans for the day already. Am I obligated to find a Catholic church and attend mass? Thanks!
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Yes, you are obligated to attend Mass, thus the name “Holy Day of Obligation.”

I too have a very busy, very difficult day ahead. We will be at the wake for my beloved mother-in-law from 2:00-8:00 after I pick up my sons after lunch. Hubby and I and our daughter (who has the day off school because it is a Holy Day) had planned to go to Mass this morning with the boys at school, but our schedule changed and we were able to go last night to the vigil Mass instead.

Also, you are going to have your son baptized at a Church on Sunday, so surely it is close by and you can find the location easily? And, you are agreeing to raise your son as a Catholic when you have him baptized, so it seems to me that there is a disconnect here that you are not seeing. Holy Days of Obligation are all part of the Faith, so I don’t really understand why there is any issue. All I can say to you is to choose your priorities wisely. Mass is a priority and always comes first.

I said this badly because I don’t really have time, but I hope you see my points. Bottom line, you are obligated to attend Mass.
 
LaSainte said:
I think I do, but I want to be sure. We have a 3 month old and a two year old and are staying in an unfamiliar area. We will be gone all day but might be back in time for mass, depending. I can probably leave the two year old with family (no way they will go to mass today) but not our fussy 3 month old. Not sure if this applies or not…
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What about going with the 3month old to Mass? I dunno just asking
 
LaSainte said:
I just realized this and we are out of town at a vacation house staying with family in anticipation of my son’s baptism on Sunday. We have a lot of plans for the day already. Am I obligated to find a Catholic church and attend mass? Thanks!
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yes if possible, and transportation is available, try the internet, just do your best
LaSainte said:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=62351

What about this?
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what about it? the question was from a family who could not reasonably get from the hotel to church and back. OP does not state there will be a problem

what do you normally do with your young children? do the same, that is, if you need a babysitter and one is available. Just work with the logistics you have and do your best sometimes when you are out of your own area and dependent on other people it is hard to make it happen, but if you are together with family arranging for a baptism, why isn’t everyone going to Mass today as a matter of course?
 
Yes, today is a Holy Day of Obligation. I’m at work and I’m looking online for a few Churches in the area but they all have early Masses. By the time I get out of work, there will be no more Masses today:(

I’ll try to light a candle. My parish is usually open to the public till 9 pm.
 
You can find a mass. Not planning to go to mass is not a just reason to miss mass. Look online and I’m sure you can find a mass in your area.

It’s called a Holy Day of Obligation not a Holy Day of If You Feel Like It.
 
Something to consider for the next time you plan to go out of town. For 2012, get a parish calendar that has all the Holy Days on it. That way, when you plan an away from home trip, you will know if you need to coordinate your travel around Mass (and not the other way around). My husband and I recently went for two weeks to England, and the entire trip, including flights, was planned around Mass. It all depends on where you put your priorities.

~Liza
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
The only exception would be if you’re in a country that moves the obligation to the Sunday. I’m in Canada, so our obligation is moved to Sunday. That being said, we’re still celebrating the feast at the EF Mass with a high Mass.
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No, in Canada the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is suppressed as a Holy Day of Obligation, it’s not moved to Sunday. The only feasts that are moved to Sunday are Epiphany, the Ascension and the Body and Blood of Christ. The ‘obligation’ is not ‘moved to Sunday’ since Sunday is already a Holy Day of Obligation.
 
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