Mass attendance for a non-Catholic and grave sin...

[stori0902]

Hi,

I have been considering becoming Catholic, and have attended some Masses. I am wondering whether it is a grave sin for me to miss Mass if I am not yet Catholic.

I do understand the importance of it, and the reason for going, so does this put me in a place of obligation?

Any thoughts are welcome.

God bless you and may the Holy Spirit guide you in your replies.

 

[Orionthehunter]

Hi,

I have been considering becoming Catholic, and have attended some Masses. I am wondering whether it is a grave sin for me to miss Mass if I am not yet Catholic.

I do understand the importance of it, and the reason for going, so does this put me in a place of obligation?

Any thoughts are welcome.

God bless you and may the Holy Spirit guide you in your replies.

Do you have full knowledge of the need for attending Mass? Have you fully and sacramentally accepted the articles of faith of the Church? The obvious answer is No. However, if you have found in your heart the call to be at Mass and you choose to not go to Mass for unholy reasons, it is the latter that is grave matter. It is the Holy Spirit who has invited and called you to Mass. Follow Him.

In short, don’t get hung up on the degree (mortal, venial, or not sinful) of consequences of missing Mass but celebrate your invitation by just making it a priority. It appears that your hunger for the Mass is already strong. Why would you want to not get this spiritual nourishment and participate as in this communal prayer?

By the way, when others are taking communion, may I suggest that you get in the Priest’s line for a specific blessing (vs. the general blessing giving in the Concluding Rite), and recite to yourself the “Prayer of Spiritual Communion.”

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

 

[stori0902]

Do you have full knowledge of the need for attending Mass? Have you fully and sacramentally accepted the articles of faith of the Church? The obvious answer is No. However, if you have found in your heart the call to be at Mass and you choose to not go to Mass for unholy reasons, it is the latter that is grave matter. It is the Holy Spirit who has invited and called you to Mass. Follow Him.

In short, don’t get hung up on the degree (mortal, venial, or not sinful) of consequences of missing Mass but celebrate your invitation by just making it a priority. It appears that your hunger for the Mass is already strong. Why would you want to not get this spiritual nourishment and participate as in this communal prayer?

By the way, when others are taking communion, may I suggest that you get in the Priest’s line for a specific blessing (vs. the general blessing giving in the Concluding Rite), and recite to yourself the “Prayer of Spiritual Communion.”

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Hi,

Thanks so much for your advice. I have never heard I could get into line for a specific blessing. Sometimes my heart is so heavy knowing I cannot take the Eucharist and others can. This would probably help a lot.

I know I should continue going, and this question is rhetorical, I guess, because I was talking about this with my fiance’.

I know, deep down, what God wants me to do.

Thanks and God bless you.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Hi,

Thanks so much for your advice. I have never heard I could get into line for a specific blessing. **Sometimes my heart is so heavy knowing I cannot take the Eucharist **and others can. This would probably help a lot.

I know I should continue going, and this question is rhetorical, I guess, because I was talking about this with my fiance’.

I know, deep down, what God wants me to do.

Thanks and God bless you.

May God bless you and help you on your journey home.

I understand this all too well. It took me 2 years from when I first asked for baptism to being fully accepted into the Church. At that time, there was no provision for going up for a blessing. This is a new development which is somewhat controversial still, there being nothing in the GIRM which supports it. Staying the the pew while everyone else went up to receive the Lord was almost torture, but not being there at all would have been worse.

You can still make the Spiritual Communion while remaining at your seat. In fact, I can see the case for remaining in the pew and making your Spiritual Communion there. When you are finally Confirmed and go up to receive Communion for the first time, it is such a wonderful experience, words fail me. It makes the whole ‘joining with the community of believers’ part all the more meaningful if it is the first time you have actually joined them in going up. Just my :twocents:

 

[JFonseka]

It can never be a grave sin when someone is ignorant or unsure of the matter. People who committ mortal sins know fully that what they have done is wrong.

 

[BobP123]

Hi,

I have been considering becoming Catholic, and have attended some Masses. I am wondering whether it is a grave sin for me to miss Mass if I am not yet Catholic.

I do understand the importance of it, and the reason for going, so does this put me in a place of obligation?

Any thoughts are welcome.

God bless you and may the Holy Spirit guide you in your replies.

In your process of becoming a Catholic, I presume you will be contacting a local priest or bishop, you may inquire as to when the obligation of attending a Catholic Mass actually starts.

 

[Matt_Collins]

The obligation to “Keep holy the Sabbath” is universal. It applies to all Christians. However, the specific obligation to keep the Sabbath holy by attending Mass is a matter of Church Law (aka canon law). Thus, it applies only those who are under the jurisdiction of of Church Law. Those who have not been baptized, or have not been received into the Church, are not bound by Church law.

See Canon 11 of the Code of Canon Law.

 

[pageois]

Those who have not been baptized, or have not been received into the Church, are not bound by Church law.
They may not be, but Jesus said nothing about Church law. He said to remember Him whenever we partake in His sacramental body and blood. Nothing from the Saviour’s lips about having to be ‘accepted’ into a formal organisation before receiving Him.

We really believe Jesus rejects a baptised Christian’s entreaty to receive Him because they’re, say, Anglican?

That’s not the Jesus I know from the Gospels.

 

[NicoleVentura]

Although attending worship with others is nice, I do not believe it should be forced, or sinful if its not done. Maybe people can get more out of reading their bible at home than they ever will at mass. But, that’s just my opinion. I’m glad for people who are happy attending, but I do feel bad for those who are afraid of being a sinner by missing mass. And yes, I know what the bible says about the Sabbath.