Listening to Mass rather then attending?

[GrandeChartreus]

Good morning everyone,

I go to church every week but, to be honest with you all, I really don’t feel like taking the bus and spending 45 minutes to get to Church this morning. (As a side note, I am French and go to French mass downtown which is far since there are few churches around here … even less in French)

There are several podcast and TV shows that re-broadcast the catholic service (catholic TV, Le jour du seigneur, France culture La Messe).

Question is: While I understand I am not fully fulfilling all my Sunday Obligation by attending mass, can watching or listening to the Church online help in reducing the ‘‘sin’’ associated in not attending church one weekend?

As such, what I am about to do is it a sin ?Since this is not done on a regular basis and I still immerse myself in the catholic service I don’t think it is. I feel it would be like attending Church but not receiving communion (which is fine in church standards).

I mean thousands of people watch it online. (Usually sick people who cannot go to church but it’s not like they are sinning). For me watching the church on Tv, online or from a podcast is almost the same at going to church (with the exception of being far from the community and not receiving the Eucharist).

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut , opinions and views.

May the Lord bless you all on this wonderful day.

 

[jayk15]

The obligation is either fulfilled or it isnt. It cant be partialy fulfilled. Listening to Mass does not fulfill the Sunday obligation in any way. A person is only excused from the Sunday obligation should they be ill. Why don’t you go to the closest Mass even if it is not french. A mass is a mass. You still receive all the graces of it even if you dont understand the language it is celebrated it

 

[GrandeChartreus]

Good morning everyone,

I go to church every week but, to be honest with you all, I really don’t feel like taking the bus and spending 45 minutes to get to Church this morning. (As a side note, I am French and go to French mass downtown which is far since there are few churches around here … even less in French)

There are several podcast and TV shows that re-broadcast the catholic service (catholic TV, Le jour du seigneur, France culture La Messe).

Question is: While I understand I am not fully fulfilling all my Sunday Obligation by attending mass, can watching or listening to the Church online help in reducing the ‘‘sin’’ associated in not attending church one weekend?

What I am about to do is it considered a sin ?

Since this is not done on a regular basis and I still immerse myself in the catholic service I don’t think it is. I feel it would be like attending Church but not receiving communion.

Thousands of people watch it online. (Usually sick people who cannot go to Church but it’s not like they are sinning). For me watching the church on Tv, online or from a podcast is almost the same at going to church (with the exception of being far from the community and not receiving the Eucharist).

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut , opinions and views.

May the Lord bless you all on this wonderful day.

 

[Bbigam]

Can you attend your best friend’s wedding by watching a video of it? Certainly not, but watching the video would be nice if you couldn’t make it to the wedding. If you can make it to a valid Mass in union with the Pope - in any language or Rite - you are obligated to do so unless you are sick or can’t get away from caring for a sick person. And if you were sick, caring for a sick person, or otherwise unable to go to Mass, then it would be appropriate (though not required) to watch Mass online or whatever.

 

[GrandeChartreus]

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

I agree that listening to the Mass should be only for people who cannot attend the Sunday Obligation.

It was a wierd day for me. Bad dreams woke me up at 4h30 which led me to be tired and tempted not to go to church. I tried to stay awake but felt asleep and slept until 12h00 (church is at 10h30).

I failed to go to church and instead decided to listen to the mass in podcast.

I reviewed the CCC and I think it makes it somewhat clear.

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

I guess listening to a podcast or watching Mass on TV doesn’t count for “attendance”

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. 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.

In some way I was ill (very very tired) but I am sure that “illness” encompass much more serious criterias.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Couldn’t agree more

2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.

Well I am pretty sure i don’t fulfill the grave cause clause but I like to see that they do allow you to engage in prayer personally

Either way I guess it’s a sin (i guess mortal ? or is it venial ? ). But my intentions were not all to bad … it’s not like i forgot to respect the day of the Lord.

I like this ccc

2173 The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day.98 He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."99 With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing.100 The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God.101 "The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."102

 

[benedictgal]

I do not necessarily like to go to the Spanish-language Mass. However, I will assist at the Mass because it is still the Mass. I also woke up with severe pain this morning and did not get to Mass in the morning. But, I still made the sacrifice to assist at Mass in the afternoon.

The last time I missed Mass was five years ago when I had the flu. As my fever was breaking about at 4AM, I was able to catch the Papal Mass for the Closing of the Year of the Eucharist. Inasmuch as I could not go to Mass that day, it was a comfort to hear the Holy Father’s homily. That being said, even though it was the Papal Mass, it did not satisfy my obligation (obviously, with the flu I could not go even if I wanted to do so).

We also need to look beyond the Catechism and look at the liturgical documents of the Church. The catechism is not a legislative document; it is a teaching one. It is not meant to cover everything.

 

[ProVobis]

That being said, even though it was the Papal Mass, it did not satisfy my obligation (obviously, with the flu I could not go even if I wanted to do so).

You couldn’t fulfill your obligation but you did hear God’s word that day.