Mass obligation

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Meggie

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My athsma has always been affected by inscence, but recently its been getting worse. Lent was a horror this year, none of the cry rooms have separate ventalation exept opening a window. That is where I spent most of my Lentin services, including nearly missing my friend’s Baptism at the Easter vigil. Then when I was on retreat at Adorition I had to completely leave the building…the next day they used inscenc for Mass and I suffered a major attack. Now I am quite afraid to go to Mass anymore because if they used inscnec at a funeral Mass I begin to be affected.
When I was younger I just offered my suffering (coughing) up and prayed others wouldn’t be bothered…but now things seem to be changing as far as my degree of being allergic to insence.
If I know that there will be inscene at a Mass is my obligation forgiven? Every church in town still uses Incence lent/christmas/holidays.
 
Meggie,

Yes, incense can be quite a problem for asthmatics. There are, however, some incense brands that are less of a problem than others. You might ask your priest to look into this. Most of the incense produced by Monastary Icons (a group of monks in the desert in Southern California) seems to be less problematic. If this remains a problem, try sitting near an open door or window, ur under an air conditioning vent – that will help to move the majority of the “holy smoke” away from you. If that doesn’t help, ask your doctor for a breathing filter that will eliminate the smoke particles before they enter your nose. Since there are solutions readily at hand, not going to Mass seems like an invalid option.
Deacon Ed
 
ventlation is near impossible with 100+ year old churches and insence usually during the worst months of Upstate NY winter.

I have never warn a mask and have never even thought of it…my doctor is Cathlic but his only advice was don’t go if it bugs me.

There are some types of inscence that do bug me less–or used to but me less, but for whatever reason it does. The insence at my parets church used to cause little reaction, but now it is very bad. I asked the preist if he changed and he said no.
 
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Meggie:
My athsma …I suffered a major attack…If I know that there will be inscene at a Mass is my obligation forgiven? Every church in town still uses Incence lent/christmas/holidays.
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Caution: I am signed up for RCIA / RCIC and not fully Catholic yet.

Gosh, if you don’t have a case for skipping then nobody does (having a heart attack after incense). Talk with your Priest. And then obey him if he says you are not obligated. Don’t suffer from being too scrupulous. I’ll bet you already talked with a Priest and they did excuse you already.

Hopefully at those times of year there may be weekday masses you can attend (although I know that doesn’t have anything to do with the Sunday obligation). It still would be helpful to you.
 
I never talked to a priest about this. The thing I asked before was a passing comment relyed through my brothers who alter serve at my parent’s parish. Even going to Daily Mass my contact with priests are minimal. The poor preists in my parish are often overbooked…After an 8:00 daily mass they often have to do a 9 or 9:30 funeral, so they don’t greet people after Mass. Also, at my parish one is very old and nearly deaf, one is very young and poorly educated, the other is very devout but hasn’t even spoken English for a year yet.btw: athsma affect your lungs and not your heart(though I suppose it could affect your heart if it gets really bad)
 
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Meggie:
I never talked to a priest about this. The thing I asked before was a passing comment relyed through my brothers who alter serve at my parent’s parish. Even going to Daily Mass my contact with priests are minimal. The poor preists in my parish are often overbooked…After an 8:00 daily mass they often have to do a 9 or 9:30 funeral, so they don’t greet people after Mass. Also, at my parish one is very old and nearly deaf, one is very young and poorly educated, the other is very devout but hasn’t even spoken English for a year yet.btw: athsma affect your lungs and not your heart(though I suppose it could affect your heart if it gets really bad)
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Make an appointment to talk with the young one. Bring the paperwork from the hospital that shows you had a heart attack on such and so date. Print out this entire “Mass obligation” post and take it with you. Tell him what you have been through. Let him know if an urgent answer isn’t needed immediately. Even though your young Priest is young, he is ordained. He is a Priest and what he tells you counts even though he is young. I know what asthma is – I’ve had it pretty bad myself a few times (but not in Church or because of Church).

I think when a perplexing situation arises, this is when God shows us much Grace and Mercy.

I am however just “coming home”. Not yet attended an RCIA / RCIC class.
 
I would recomend speaking with your doctor. Explaining you would like to attend Mass. Ask if he can recomend a way once a week for you to do this, a mask or possibly an extra dose of medication? If you have tried this and cannot attend you could be excused from the Mass obligation by the Pastor. Speak with him after trying the recomendations of your doctor. Holy Communion can be taken to you from the Sunday Mass.
 
You may also talk to the priest about the best place for you to sit in the church that is away from the incense, and if necessary have a minister of Holy Communion bring it to you at the appropriate time in mass. (I have to sit in back when I make due to my mobility and lung problems. I ask an usher to set it up.)
 
No, I am just talking about holydays. Weekly Sunday Masses are incece free. Daily Mass is held in the chapel downstars and never has incence for it, and therfore I go every day.
I am going to Niagara in two weeks…but I will be back in town for the Christmas season, so I am not sure how to work this.
Did I mention I don’t like my doctor too much? He barley talks and reccomends quick fixes over long term solutions. My parent’s think he’s great tho…I have had him my whole life…grr well I guess I will have to wait until I am on my own to sort this out.
 
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