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deb1
Guest
I don’t think that anyone is argueing that such people would have a valid reason for not attending mass.
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trailblazer
Guest
Missing mass is a mortal sin for those who know it is a mortal sin and willfully choose to skip mass anyway. Ignorance reduces cupability, but intentional ignorance is no excuse. Those who reject this teaching about missing mass also commit a mortal sin by rejecting a fundamental doctrine of the Church. Small-t traditions can be accepted or rejected, but the big-T traditions must be accepted on faith and lived.
Someone who purposely misses mass, without serious reason or dispensation, is** NOT a good Catholic**.
Bob
Someone who purposely misses mass, without serious reason or dispensation, is** NOT a good Catholic**.
Bob
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
So I’ve got a moral obligation to tell my Catholic friends who don’t go that they really need, to, don’t I? Somehow, I don’t think its going to be easy to tell them…
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fix
Guest
If your friends are Catholic they should know they have a serious obligation to form their consciences with the truth. Intentional ignorance is no excuse. What excuse will we give to God when we meet Him to get us off the hook for not informing our consciences as we ought to?
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
Any advice on how to break it to a person?
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Feanaro_s_Wife
Guest
Instead of making it personal, just show them in the CCC that it is their obligation as a Catholic.
You could say something like “hey, how come no one has ever told me that as a Catholic I am required to go to Sunday Mass?”
Make it about you, but in a way that they can’t help but know it also applies to them.
**2042 **The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.”) requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the Mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic Celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.
Malia
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trailblazer
Guest
Your task may be difficult. I am not one to give you advise because I cannot even convince my wife. She does not want to hear what I say, nor is she willing to see it in print (Cathechism and other sources). One time some priest told her that she didn’t “have to” attend mass – ever since then, she has had her excuse! Of course, she is in serious sin because she is intentionally ignorant and not willing to seek and follow the true teachings. This has bugged me for years! If you succeed in finding a good way to reach your friend, please share it!
Bob
Bob
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E.E.N.S
Guest
Genesis315 said:
I would change the last part (though this may seem trivial) to “they DON’T deserve heaven” (which in turn would give the same result. Remember, we lost our “inheretance” because of our first parents Adam and Eve, we don’t have a claim to heaven by default…people tend to think that the majority are just going to make it, unless you are a really bad person - St. John of the Cross says this thought process is the “biggest travesty” one can make. Also remember, the “lukewarm” will be vomitted from the Body of Christ.
We must love God above all things, and if we find something better to do than to receive Him in the Eucharist, then we can’t possibly say that we even love Him at all.
Obedience is the last wrung to hold onto, if you don’t feel like going to Mass, then go out of obedience.
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Fergal
Guest
Of course the best way to give the message is to go yourself.
If they wanna plan something for Sunday that may result in you missing Mass opt out and give your honest reason.
Example (witness) is the best teacher.
The importance of the witness of life, before any word is spoken by mouth. Only witness makes one credible, touches the mind and heart, unsettles (to use a word dear to Paul VI). Here he inserts in an official document a well-chosen expression that he had used in a, so to speak, private form: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”. It is the Christian witness of solidarity, of goodness, of consistency that prompts in others the profound questions, which only the Gospel can answer. Even when one is not involved in pastoral ministry or culture and does not know how to speak, every Christian evangelizes if he bears witness to what he believes.
Stand firm and preach through action.
If they wanna plan something for Sunday that may result in you missing Mass opt out and give your honest reason.
Example (witness) is the best teacher.
The importance of the witness of life, before any word is spoken by mouth. Only witness makes one credible, touches the mind and heart, unsettles (to use a word dear to Paul VI). Here he inserts in an official document a well-chosen expression that he had used in a, so to speak, private form: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”. It is the Christian witness of solidarity, of goodness, of consistency that prompts in others the profound questions, which only the Gospel can answer. Even when one is not involved in pastoral ministry or culture and does not know how to speak, every Christian evangelizes if he bears witness to what he believes.
Stand firm and preach through action.
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
Yeah, I’ll tell em. Still, if they don’t accept it, then it seems like it makes it my fault for making them unignorant and hence…gulp.
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DustinsDad
Guest
A person who is Catholic should have been taught, and in their being Catholic, claim to believe that the Creator of the universe, the Lord and the giver of Life, the sacrificial Lamb of God Himself, decends the heavens to come to each one of us individually, to nourish us each body and soul with His very own body, blood, soul and divinity.So every Catholic I know that misses Mass is damned? Thats…depressing to say the least.What exactly makes it so bad? I’m still coming to grips that a murderer and a person missing Mass have the same fate.
To willingly turn from this gift, to refuse even to stand in His Divine Real Presense with choirs of angels and praise Him for roughly one hour out of a week, roughly 60 minutes out of 10,080 minutes, demonstrates - at the very least - a luke warm attitude toward the Creator.
The Church merely tells us clearly, and guides her children firmly in what has been revealed:
Revelation 3:15-16
"`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
Peace in Christ,
DustinsDad
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frdave20
Guest
just to reiterate what has already been said… missing mass for a just and reasonable cause – say, for a disability that prevents one from going to the church, sickness, or some other reason – such as, caring for a sick person, etc… people in these situations who are genuine in their holding to the Catholic faith, are missing Holy Mass out of laziness, but for precedent responsibilities…
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
Yeah, I understand why it is a mortal sin, I’m just still wondering if it is best to put their soul on the line by lifting the veil to them. It seems like its my moral obligation, but I’d feel beyond awful if they were damned all because I got rid of the full knowledge part of the mortal sin.
C
Church_Militant
Guest
Real Christianity (just like real love) is costly FB.
Here’s the response by Fr. Vincent Serpa in answer to these kinds of questions:
My question:"Okay…
I missed Mass last week w/o a good reason. Am I mistaken in thinking I am in grave sin & should not receive the Eucharist until I make it to Confession?
I’ve been to Mass twice since then but made only spiritual communions both times to “play it safe”
Am I right?"
His response to me:"Dear C,
Get to confession! Yes, deliberately refusing to attend Sunday Mass is a mortal sin–as if anything could be more important. I don’t mean to talk down to you. But nothing on the face of the earth can compare with Mass. And on Sunday, we owe such attention to the Lord.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P."
A second question…like yours:
"Question for Catholics: Will you really go to hell for deliberatly missing Mass?
.
If this is true, how can this be grace (“a gift” or “unmerited favor”)? How is this not legalism?"
Fr.Serpa’s answer:
"Dear Church,
Catholics do believe in salvation by grace. There is no way that we could ever make it on our own. But we are free to refuse grace and thereby sin—and even mortally. We all have free will and we are all very weak. Some of the greatest saints were great sinners and even with the gift of faith they fell. St. Peter is a good example.
So it is possible for anyone to fall into sin. That is why St. Peter warns: “Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” (1Peter 5:8-9a)
Sunday Mass fulfills the Commandment to keep holy, the Lord’s Day–not a minor thing, indeed! To break that Commandment IS a mortal sin.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P."
So there ya go FB. I hope this helps make better sense to you. In the end…as with all sin…it’s all about rebellion. I find that if something is really important to me, then I get off my “can” and do it. So if I say that I love the Lord and his church and yet don’t care enough to get up and go to Mass, then you have the perfect right to question the depth of my committment. One of the things that would make n-C churches so easy for me is the fact that I wouldn’t have to go to church to be “a good Christian”…which I think is hooey.
Hebrews 10:23** Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised), 24 And let us consider one another, to provoke unto charity and to good works: 25 Not forsaking our assembly, as some are accustomed; but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.**
Click on the title for a great FREE CD on The Mass Explained .
Pax tecum,
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
Soooo the overwhelming consensus is that I HAVE to tell them whatsgoing on? Thank you all for the replies, by the way. 
I am grateful. Sorry for asking the question so much, I’d just really like to make sure I HAVE to.
I am grateful. Sorry for asking the question so much, I’d just really like to make sure I HAVE to.
C
Church_Militant
Guest
By the way FB…There’s a very very good reason that we have to speak the truth in love (See 1st Peter 3:15). and Matthew 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (emphasis mine)
Read Ezekiel 33
Pax tecum,
Read Ezekiel 33
Pax tecum,
C
Church_Militant
Guest
ALWAYS with a smile and an invitation to go with you to Mass!
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trailblazer
Guest
You have a choice. Your goal is to educate these people about Sunday obligation. To “TELL” them, may not accomplish that goal. Look for other approaches.Soooo the overwhelming consensus is that I HAVE to tell them whatsgoing on? Thank you all for the replies, by the way.
- Share with them that you read this thread on Catholic answers that opened your eyes to Sunday obligation and the deadly consequences of intentionally skipping mass. Print and show some of the responses. Ask for their thoughts about this.
- Hi ___! I just read something in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that surprized me. I thought that mass on Sunday was not a requirement of our faith, but according to the Church, I commit a mortal sin if I intentionally miss mass. Would you like to see it?
- _____, I have been trying to further my faith formation lately, and I have been learning and growing a great deal. One of the things I recently learned that missing mass was a mortal sin. I’ve heard that there are some great books that to help us better understand our faith and was thinking about starting a book club to read and discuss these with others. Would you like to help me get it rolling?
Bob
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