MERGED: Did I miss Mass because late for it?

[livingwordunity]

How late must you be until its considered missing Mass? During or after Communion? Just wandering, Thanks in advance!

God Bless!

If you were significantly late go to confession and confess that you were late. And try not to let it happen again. I would consider myself to be too late if I get there after the priest begins the Mass by saying, “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. If I get there as he is saying it then I consider that to be barely making it.

 

[dshix]

Canon Law states you must participate in Mass and while it is disrespectful not to be there for the whole Mass Canon Law does NOT state how much of the Mass you must participate in to fulfill the obligation. In fact there is NO Church document on this topic.
Many people will speculate and give opinions on this but none of those people can support their opinions.
In short, whether you are late deliberately (that is disrespectful) or late through no fault of your own there is nothing that says you do not fulfill your obligation if you arrive after a certain time or part of the Mass. If you attend Mass you fulfill the obligation.

Yes.

The fact is that the commandment to “keep the Lord’s day holy” is a **positive **commandment.

The difference between positive and negative commandments is that negative commandments are clear on what is wrong and what isn’t; you can make an objective statement of morality.

With positive commandments, however, it is really an exhortation or command to virtue, and there is no objective measure of virtue. Each man must judge for himself whether or not he has fulfilled his obligation in respect to the positive commandments, and whether he sins or not is strictly between him and God.

 

[vincent10395]

Thanks again guys, and I just realized my grammar mistake. Wondering*

 

[dshix]

Thanks again guys, and I just realized my grammar mistake. Wondering*

Heh, the spelling error doesn’t matter.
What matters is that your question is answered. Are you satisfied?

 

[Lancer]

Here is a very balanced answer…that focuses on “intent” and “legitimate reason”…about as good of an “official” response as I have seen…asked by a priest…response from a theologian.

Pax Christi

EWTN Catholic Q&A
Mass Obligation
**Question from Fr. Bill Vath on 10-29-2000:
How late can one be for Mass and still fulfill one’s obligation for Sunday Mass?
**
Does one fulfill one’s obligation for Sunday Mass if one leaves at Holy Communion time?

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 12-19-2000:

Father,

Before the Council it was the common opinion of moralists that one had to hear the Gospel and remain through Communion. However, I think because this fostered the idea of ducking in late and leaving early,** the tendency since the Council has been to emphasize the duty to participate in the whole Mass.** If one is careless about arriving on time, or leaving early for no good reason - e.g. to get out before the rush, there would have to be at least some venial fault. Mortal fault would have to involve some real disregard for the obligation, even one time. If one is late for a legitimate reason then there is no sin or failure to fulfil the obligation. I do think a person of good will who can do it would attend another Mass, however, if they did not arrive for the Liturgy of the Word, that is, at least for the Gospel. So, those moral dictums would still be could good practcial guides today.

COPYRIGHT 2002
ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=357560&language=en

www.ewtn.com

 

[bben15]

Before Vatican II, it was taught that you must arrive before the Collect in order for your obligation to be fulfilled. Thus, you would see people arriving right before the Collect all the time, completely missing the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, the Kyrie, etc.

This is no longer taught. Do your best to get there before it starts. You have to use your judgement to determine if your obligation is fulfilled, or if your need to attend Mass again.

 

[Marchelli]

Well it seems I was catechized wrong on this subject. I stand correct. Thank you to those who pointed out my errors.

 

[vincent10395]

Heh, the spelling error doesn’t matter.
What matters is that your question is answered. Are you satisfied?

Yep, thanks!

 

[GenosFutureWife]

Thanks for all the info.
I’ll have to endeavor to arrive 15 minutes early, rather than two.
And if I go to this church again, I’ll just have to keep in mind that their bulletin time is fifteen minutes off apple time. So… go 1/2 an hour early.

Another time question - when someone wants to go to communion before mass, how early should the person get there?

 

[BettyBoop416]

Another time question - when someone wants to go to communion before mass, how early should the person get there?

I assume you mean “confession,” not “communion.”

At my parish a priest is available 30 minutes before each Sunday Mass. I’ve been to parishes, however, where it is very rare for a priest to be available at that time.

 

[1ke]

Another time question - when someone wants to go to communion before mass, how early should the person get there?

Do you mean confession?

That is a question for your local pastor, it is different everywhere.

 

[GenosFutureWife]

you’re right. I mean confession. Often bulletins will say “before mass”, but priests also need to get ready for mass before mass…