Missed Mass

[Merkabah]

I just got married and went on my honeymoon to Jamaica, I was advised by my travel agent not to leave the resort unless you’re going on a tour group (where the resort is responsible for making sure you have a ride back and the safety in numbers) because Jamaica has one of the worlds highest crime rates and tourists are targeted alot. Despite hearing this I had told my wife we would at least leave to go to Mass. Well after actually being in Jamaica and seeing how scary it could be (for instance we got left for 1 1/2 hours once and the resort had to get ahold of the driver again to make sure we got picked up). Another we had to wait 35min. After this me and my wife were nervous about leaving on our own to a location we wouldn’t be familiar with, and not sure if we had a ride back, so we decided not to leave the resort. Do I need to go to confession before i take communion this Sunday since i did willingly choose not to go, or am I excused based on the reason? Thanks.

 

[LilyM]

Sounds scary! I think fear for your safety is probably enough reason.

 

[Sr_Sally]

It does sound like you had a physical impediement, but I would check with Father all the same. He’ll either say not to worry about it or he’ll absolve you, either way you will know for sure.

Congratulations on your marriage!

 

[bpbasilphx]

Your travel agent would not have given the advice he did were there not a reason!

Being in a strange country where there is just and serious fear for your personal safety (as your agent warned you!) sounds like a providential impediment that excuses attending Mass.

 

[NFrancis]

I don’t think you committed any sin. The faithful are allowed to miss mass if it is dangerous to go. Anyways, to commit a mortal sin you must have full knowledge of what you are doing. Since you have to ask this question, even if it was a sin it is not mortal because you did not have full knowledge.

 

[Abigail]

NFrancis wrote

The faithful are allowed to miss mass if it is dangerous to go.

Attending mass was dangerous for hundreds of years, until Constantine issued his edict of toleration. Does this mean the early Christians weren’t obligated to attend Mass? What about all the people in Ireland under the Penal Laws, when attending Mass meant persecution. People were martyred because they attended Mass in spite of the danger.

This needs a little more thought and discussion, I think…are we only obligated to obey God when it’s safe?

 

[paperwight]

NFrancis wrote

Attending mass was dangerous for hundreds of years, until Constantine issued his edict of toleration. Does this mean the early Christians weren’t obligated to attend Mass? What about all the people in Ireland under the Penal Laws, when attending Mass meant persecution. People were martyred because they attended Mass in spite of the danger.

This needs a little more thought and discussion, I think…are we only obligated to obey God when it’s safe?

Well, the Irish and the early Christians presumably sneaked secretly to Mass, hoping profoundly that they would not be caught, hiding as they went and meeting in hidden places.

They definitely didn’t go into a place that is known throughout the world as being violent, and in effect, saying with their actions ‘I’m a stupid tourist who didn’t listen to the hotel’s warnings, so come and mug me, because I deserve all I get’.

There is such a virtue as prudence, you know. Even Catholic charities pull out of trouble-spots as soon as any of their workers are attacked.

 

[kage_ar]

When you go to pay big piles of money for a vacation, make sure you pay it to a place that has Mass available on site or somewhere that will allow you go to to Mass on your own. That is really more important than free drinks and swimming with dolphins…