Mass questions

[newcalling]

Today is my first day missing Sunday mass since deciding to join the church in November. My best friend is sick, and we live an hour from the nearest parish. I don’t drive.

My catechism teachers have said that Catholics have an obligation to attend Sunday mass every week. My questions:

I might have a mild version of the terrible cold he has, but I think that I would have gone to mass if I could have. Am I validly excused?

If we watch mass on EWTN and say the prayers, did we meet the obligation? What about a radio mass?

We’re not confirmed yet, so we can’t take Eucharist either way. We are acting as if we are under the obligation to attend already, even though I don’t think that we absolutely have to until confirmation. Is it a mortal sin for us to miss it?

We love going to mass, and we love the parish priest. We will miss hearing his homily this week, even though we will hear one on television. The week won’t feel the same.

Anything else I should know about mass or missing Sunday mass?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Today is my first day missing Sunday mass since deciding to join the church in November. My best friend is sick, and we live an hour from the nearest parish. I don’t drive.

It sounds to me like it was impossible for you to attend. The Church does not require us to do the impossible, so under the circumstances there’s no obligation. Things would be different if the church was a block down the street or if you could use other transportation.

I might have a mild version of the terrible cold he has, but I think that I would have gone to mass if I could have. Am I validly excused?

That’s a matter of judgment. If you’re too ill to go out then you’re too ill to go to Mass. If you would go to work, go shopping, go out to eat, etc., then you’re probably not too sick to go to Mass.

If we watch mass on EWTN and say the prayers, did we meet the obligation? What about a radio mass?

The obligation is to attend Mass. If you simply didn’t feel like going out, then a Mass on TV would not fulfill your obligation.

On the other hand, if it is impossible for you to get to Mass or if you are sick, then watching Mass on TV is a laudable activity. It’s not a substitute, but it is something good to do.

We’re not confirmed yet, so we can’t take Eucharist either way. We are acting as if we are under the obligation to attend already, even though I don’t think that we absolutely have to until confirmation. Is it a mortal sin for us to miss it?

A mortal sin requires a level of freedom – you have to choose to do wrong. It doesn’t sound to me like you made a choice not to attend Mass, it sounds like it was impossible for you to attend.

I applaud you for taking the requirement to attend Mass seriously even though you’re still in RCIA. You have a great attitude!

 

[MaryT777]

It sounds to me like it was impossible for you to attend. The Church does not require us to do the impossible, so under the circumstances there’s no obligation. Things would be different if the church was a block down the street or if you could use other transportation.

That’s a matter of judgment. If you’re too ill to go out then you’re too ill to go to Mass. If you would go to work, go shopping, go out to eat, etc., then you’re probably not too sick to go to Mass.

The obligation is to attend Mass. If you simply didn’t feel like going out, then a Mass on TV would not fulfill your obligation.

On the other hand, if it is impossible for you to get to Mass or if you are sick, then watching Mass on TV is a laudable activity. It’s not a substitute, but it is something good to do.

A mortal sin requires a level of freedom – you have to choose to do wrong. It doesn’t sound to me like you made a choice not to attend Mass, it sounds like it was impossible for you to attend.

I applaud you for taking the requirement to attend Mass seriously even though you’re still in RCIA. You have a great attitude!

Well said!~
God’s blessings on your journey Home…
Mary.

 

[brigid12]

No, you have no obligation to attend mass, although it is great that you want to attend.

Even if you were already received into the church completely lack of transportation made it impossible - He doesn’t expect the impossible.

Since you have a mild cold it depends on what you do. If you were already received, you can stay away from others (contagion) and what they touch (i.e… Holy Water, Communion, shaking hands at the Sign of Piece, etc) so as not to pass along your cold to those with lowered immunity, elderly - for whom getting sick may entail pneumonia, bronchitis etc. rather than a mild cold. If you’re not coughing - in which case I would lean more toward staying home. Charity demands that we think of the needs of others.

 

[DianePa]

Today is my first day missing Sunday mass since deciding to join the church in November. My best friend is sick, and we live an hour from the nearest parish. I don’t drive.

My catechism teachers have said that Catholics have an obligation to attend Sunday mass every week. My questions:

I might have a mild version of the terrible cold he has, but I think that I would have gone to mass if I could have. Am I validly excused?

If we watch mass on EWTN and say the prayers, did we meet the obligation? What about a radio mass?

We’re not confirmed yet, so we can’t take Eucharist either way. We are acting as if we are under the obligation to attend already, even though I don’t think that we absolutely have to until confirmation. Is it a mortal sin for us to miss it?

We love going to mass, and we love the parish priest. We will miss hearing his homily this week, even though we will hear one on television. The week won’t feel the same.

Anything else I should know about mass or missing Sunday mass?

I am a senior and miss mass often due to illness. If you are dependent upon another so as to attend church or ill yourself it is not a sin to miss mass.
Might you ask your parish priest to visit at your home so that you might avail yourself of the sacrament of communion and if the illness is serious enough you or your friend might be anointed. I have gone through both on many occasions and find it so welcoming. Might you feel the same?