Missed mass today over a migraine

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whatevergirl

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My family and I rarely miss mass. It’s been a long while since we have missed mass, but today, my husband had to work, and I had a really bad ‘leftover’ migraine from yesterday…like leftover pain. If you have had a migraine, you know what I’m talking about. It is pain that sort of hovers after you have been down for the count with one like the day before, or something. I was pretty sick yesterday evening with one…and my eyes still hurt. I even vomited last night…ugh! I have not had one of these in a loooong time, so it sort of hit me hard.

So, I opted to miss mass today, because I still felt pain in my eyes, and I thought that if I were to hit bright sunlight driving to mass…it would relapse. I just felt like it was waiting to happen again…the nausea also. I didn’t want to have to drive if it sprung on me during mass (our parish requires me to get on a major highway, and I just felt a little tentative not feeling well, still feeling dizzy, and my eyes hurting)…I slept most of the day away today.

I don’t believe this is a mortal sin right? I feel badly that we didn’t attend, but if one is sick, is it ok to miss mass?😦
 
It is OK. You intended to assist at Mass, but sickness prevented you. Your conscience can be clear.
 
My mom used to have migraines, so I wouldn’t feel guilty about missing Mass because of one. We’re permitted to miss Mass for serious reasons, such as ill health, and I’ve never met a person who had a migraine and considered himself well.
 
I would like to know more about this too. I have health problems and I can not drive when I am having a flare up. I have the desire to be at Mass every week. I live 15 miles from church so it isn’t that easy of a drive across country. I often get up and get ready for church than have to get back to bed because things start to get to difficult. I have not asked a priest about this. I know God knows our hearts and that when were going through a difficulty and trying to do the right thing, I believe he is pleased with our effort. If I can’t get to church on Sunday, I try to make it Tuesday or on a morning during the week. I don’t know if this helps any, and I am more than willing to hear from somone on this subject also.
 
thank you both for the replies. I thought as much,but I just wish I could have gone. I just was a bit scared, for lack of a better word, to be driving feeling the way I did…even though it wasn’t as horrible as last evening, the eye pain was still lingering.

Ok, thanks.:o
 
Properly, call the pastor and get indulted to not attend. It’s one of the things a pastor may indult. Likely the pastor will grant you permission to miss when you are not safe to drive, and further, may arrange for reception of the Blessed Sacrament at home.

While it won’t fulfill the Sunday obligation, if one is stuck at home and has access to EWTN, one can still hear the lections and homily.
 
Aramis said:
Properly, call the pastor and get indulted to not attend. It’s one of the things a pastor may indult. Likely the pastor will grant you permission to miss when you are not safe to drive, and further, may arrange for reception of the Blessed Sacrament at home.

While it won’t fulfill the Sunday obligation, if one is stuck at home and has access to EWTN, one can still hear the lections and homily.
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That is not necessary for illness. The only time you might need to get a dispensation (not an indult) is if you are going to be traveling to a place where you know you cannot get to mass or if you will be called to work and cannot get to mass. But in a situation where you wake up in the morning and are ill, there is no need to call the pastor and it is not considered not fulfilling the Sunday obligation since there is no obligation if you are ill. Having had migraines I would say the OP was ill.
 
Sharon,
I know exactly what you mean about the leftover pain. Sorry you had a kick butt migraine.

I also am all too familiar with the day after feeling.

No, you did not commit a mortal sin. Sometimes you are just not well enough to go - or to even drive your family safely.
 
I missed Mass yesterday for the first time in a long time also. I was sick as well. I knew that the obligation didn’t apply, but I still wished I could have gone. It really stinks to miss Mass on Sunday. I don’t miss too many daily Masses either.
 
I wonder if sometimes our temporary or recurrent afflictions that keep us from missing mass are there to remind us, in some way, of just how much we miss going. 🤷
 
Aramis said:
Properly, call the pastor and get indulted to not attend. .
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not necessary, we can use our own prudential judgment on whether we are too sick to go to Mass, or the other pressing concern is enough to excuse our attendance, if no other option is available. in most parishes nobody is going to take that phone call on the weekend in any case
 
jrabs said:
Sharon,
I know exactly what you mean about the leftover pain. Sorry you had a kick butt migraine.

I also am all too familiar with the day after feeling.

No, you did not commit a mortal sin. Sometimes you are just not well enough to go - or to even drive your family safely.
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I think the day after is just as bad in a different way as the migraine. I always called them hangovers.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel - once you enter ahem “the change,” migraines go bye-bye!
 
I get migraines, too. (Hate to say this, but I’m kinda looking forward the “the change.”) Thankfully have only had to miss mass a couple of times because of them, but you are right -not a sin in the case of illness. Like others have said, sometimes the after effects are as bad as the actual headache. Take care of yourself 🙂 🙂
 
I used to get migranes at least very couple of months. Trust me, they are indeed a serious reason to miss Mass, along with missing life until the dang thing goes away.

Feel better!🙂
 
Aramis said:
Properly, call the pastor and get indulted to not attend. It’s one of the things a pastor may indult. Likely the pastor will grant you permission to miss when you are not safe to drive, and further, may arrange for reception of the Blessed Sacrament at home.

While it won’t fulfill the Sunday obligation, if one is stuck at home and has access to EWTN, one can still hear the lections and homily.
Click to expand...
That is not necessary except in times of extended absence from Mass because of work or travel.

Mass online or on tv is specifically for the homebound, and when a SPIRITUAL COMMUNION is made at Communion time, it fulfills the obligation.

I have had plenty of times in my life when I was very ill, and these options were a saving grace on Sunday when I could not attend Mass.
It was approved by my Pastor, in addition to receiving the Eucharist at home if I was in for an extended time.

Rest assured no mortal sin was committed!
Hope you are better now; they are not fun!

God bless you †
 
Thank you everyone for your replies, and good to know (well sort of lol) that I’m not alone with migraines. My heart goes out to you all who get these! This bout was exceptional complete with dots scurrying across the floor aka ‘auras,’:rolleyes: and blurry vision in one eye–accompanied with pain and nausea. Ugh! I even took imitrex, but I think the key to that drug is that you have to catch it the SECOND you feel the symptoms coming on, and I waited too long:( Even this morning, my eyes still hurt…I was like, please God, heal me. And now I am feeling much better.

I asked God to forgive me just the same for not making it to mass, and He knows my heart. It was my head that was the problem that day!😛
 
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