Missing Good Friday Mass - minor dilemma

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Hello everyone, I am face with quite a difficult decision here. I had surgery done on my knee around a week and a half ago, and I am still on a couch, in a full knee brace, stitches, the whole shabang. Today is Good Friday, and I had full intentions of going to Good Friday Mass, I was either going to sit in a pew with my one leg up, or sit on the ground if it was busy. The problem I am facing now is that it is very icy outside in my city, as we had a snowstorm, and it will now be very difficult to get outside and get around on my crutches and if I were to slip and fall, it would be very bad for my knee. My parents have told me that it would be a good idea to stay home for safety reasons, but I feel so terrible for missing Good Friday Mass! I mean, Jesus died on a cross on this day, and I just feel pathetic not going to Mass because of the risk of screwing up my knee. My parents told me God would understand but I just feel so bad. Does anyone have any thoughts, anything that could help me? Should I stay home or should I go to Mass and would God understand if I missed it? If the ice clears up tomorrow, I am going to go to Mass, and the same for Sunday and Monday, but I still feel bad. Anyway, any answers would be much appreciated whether they are for staying or going. Thank you.
 
Of course, technically, there is no Mass on Good Friday. There is no obligation to attend Church on Good Friday. I think that you should follow your parents’ advice. Spend some time watching EWTN as they have special programming.
 
I think stay home. You could read the readings for the Mass, I think you’re excused from attending due to the circumstances. Hope your knee gets better soon.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
Of course, technically, there is no Mass on Good Friday. There is no obligation to attend Church on Good Friday. I think that you should follow your parents’ advice. Spend some time watching EWTN as they have special programming.
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Okay thank you! I will definitely watch EWTN.
 
Window12 said:
Hello everyone, I am face with quite a difficult decision here. I had surgery done on my knee around a week and a half ago, and I am still on a couch, in a full knee brace, stitches, the whole shabang. Today is Good Friday, and I had full intentions of going to Good Friday Mass, I was either going to sit in a pew with my one leg up, or sit on the ground if it was busy. The problem I am facing now is that it is very icy outside in my city, as we had a snowstorm, and it will now be very difficult to get outside and get around on my crutches and if I were to slip and fall, it would be very bad for my knee. My parents have told me that it would be a good idea to stay home for safety reasons, but I feel so terrible for missing Good Friday Mass! I mean, Jesus died on a cross on this day, and I just feel pathetic not going to Mass because of the risk of screwing up my knee. My parents told me God would understand but I just feel so bad. Does anyone have any thoughts, anything that could help me? Should I stay home or should I go to Mass and would God understand if I missed it? If the ice clears up tomorrow, I am going to go to Mass, and the same for Sunday and Monday, but I still feel bad. Anyway, any answers would be much appreciated whether they are for staying or going. Thank you.
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Don’t fret. There’s something about being along, meditating and reading the Passion alone, in silence.
You can get much good from it.
Prayers for your healing.
 
As several have said, there’s no obligation to attend the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. I’m missing it myself for the first time in must be 25 years - and I’m supposed to be reading. Why am I staying home? Because hubby and I are both barking like seals and i don’t think I should go spread my germs to the congregation. So rest your knee and don’t risk damaging it by falling.

I’m supposed to be doing the first reading at the Vigil tomorrow but I don’t think that’s going to happen either – even if I get there. I don’t think I can stand at the ambo and read the creation story from Genesis without coughing over and over again.
 
God understands why you should stay home.

Don’t worry, and God bless.
 
Window12 said:
Hello everyone, I am face with quite a difficult decision here. I had surgery done on my knee around a week and a half ago, and I am still on a couch, in a full knee brace, stitches, the whole shabang. Today is Good Friday, and I had full intentions of going to Good Friday Mass, I was either going to sit in a pew with my one leg up, or sit on the ground if it was busy. The problem I am facing now is that it is very icy outside in my city, as we had a snowstorm, and it will now be very difficult to get outside and get around on my crutches and if I were to slip and fall, it would be very bad for my knee. My parents have told me that it would be a good idea to stay home for safety reasons, but I feel so terrible for missing Good Friday Mass! I mean, Jesus died on a cross on this day, and I just feel pathetic not going to Mass because of the risk of screwing up my knee. My parents told me God would understand but I just feel so bad. Does anyone have any thoughts, anything that could help me? Should I stay home or should I go to Mass and would God understand if I missed it? If the ice clears up tomorrow, I am going to go to Mass, and the same for Sunday and Monday, but I still feel bad. Anyway, any answers would be much appreciated whether they are for staying or going. Thank you.
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Everyone has answered well the fact that there is no obligation surrounding the liturgy and Good Friday.

As a priest, however, I wish to go further to touch upon the Easter obligation. The obligation is only to attend Mass…either the Easter Vigil on Saturday or Mass on Sunday, but not both days. And in this case, you would be excused from the obligation by the nature and extent of your post-operative condition.

You speak of elevating your leg on the pew or sitting on the ground. If one of my parishioners came and were in such a state, I would send them home forthwith – with the admonition they should not have come in the first place. Measures like that are indicators that you are quite advanced into the realm of being excused for medical reasons.

The obligation to assist at Mass has to be seen in the light of reason and of common sense. Your parents are exactly right. Doing something that could retard your recuperation in the name of fulfilling an obligation is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the obligation.

Take care of yourself. Allow your body to heal. Do not put yourself in jeopardy by trying to act in a way that is not prudent, especially where there is an equation like snow + ice + crutches. That is a potential disaster. Rejoin the liturgical assembly when your condition reasonably allows you to do so.

Believe me, as you age you will understand that having to offer up the sacrifice of not being able to physically do what one wishes but what the body will no longer allow is itself a form of great penance. We are not always young…alas.

Who knows? This experience of missing something so dear to you may inspire you to become involved with your parish’s ministry to the homebound…those who are temporarily or permanently prevented from assisting at the liturgy because of mobility impairment.

May you have a blessed Easter.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
Everyone has answered well the fact that there is no obligation surrounding the liturgy and Good Friday.

As a priest, however, I wish to go further to touch upon the Easter obligation. The obligation is only to attend Mass…either the Easter Vigil on Saturday or Mass on Sunday, but not both days. And in this case, you would be excused from the obligation by the nature and extent of your post-operative condition.

You speak of elevating your leg on the pew or sitting on the ground. If one of my parishioners came and were in such a state, I would send them home forthwith – with the admonition they should not have come in the first place. Measures like that are indicators that you are quite advanced into the realm of being excused for medical reasons.

The obligation to assist at Mass has to be seen in the light of reason and of common sense. Your parents are exactly right. Doing something that could retard your recuperation in the name of fulfilling an obligation is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the obligation.

Take care of yourself. Allow your body to heal. Do not put yourself in jeopardy by trying to act in a way that is not prudent, especially where there is an equation like snow + ice + crutches. That is a potential disaster. Rejoin the liturgical assembly when your condition reasonably allows you to do so.

Believe me, as you age you will understand that having to offer up the sacrifice of not being able to physically do what one wishes but what the body will no longer allow is itself a form of great penance. We are not always young…alas.

Who knows? This experience of missing something so dear to you may inspire you to become involved with your parish’s ministry to the homebound…those who are temporarily or permanently prevented from assisting at the liturgy because of mobility impairment.

May you have a blessed Easter.
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Thank you very much! I appreciate the explanation, it makes me feel so much better about missing the Good Friday liturgy. God bless!
 
Phemie said:
As several have said, there’s no obligation to attend the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. I’m missing it myself for the first time in must be 25 years - and I’m supposed to be reading. Why am I staying home? Because hubby and I are both barking like seals and i don’t think I should go spread my germs to the congregation. So rest your knee and don’t risk damaging it by falling.

I’m supposed to be doing the first reading at the Vigil tomorrow but I don’t think that’s going to happen either – even if I get there. I don’t think I can stand at the ambo and read the creation story from Genesis without coughing over and over again.
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I made it to Good Friday (and Holy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper), but for the first time in years won’t be attending the Vigil tonight. No illness thankfully. However this morning I sang Lauds with the Schola at the Cathedral in Sherbrooke. Lauds was at 8 but we had a rehearsal at 7. It’s a one hour drive. So all that meant I was up at 4:30 am to have breakfast, shower, etc. The Vigil at the abbey has already started as I write this, and it would not have been wise to drive 40 km on winding mountain roads when I’m minutes from becoming comatose for a good solid 8 hours 😛

I guess I could instead drive 15 minutes to the parish Vigil, but rock bands and Mass and I don’t make a happy mix. On the other hand, the Gregorian chant at the abbey…

So instead it will be the morning Mass at the abbey tomorrow. It’s been years, and I remember liking it better than the Vigil. The entrance procession, the brilliant morning light in the abbey church, with tomorrow’s forecast of sun (you know it well 😉 ) and the Easter Sequence all make for a beautiful Mass.
 
OraLabora said:
So instead it will be the morning Mass at the abbey tomorrow. It’s been years, and I remember liking it better than the Vigil. The entrance procession, the brilliant morning light in the abbey church, with tomorrow’s forecast of sun (you know it well 😉 ) and the Easter Sequence all make for a beautiful Mass.
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Phemie, keep repeating “Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.”😃

Didn’t make it to the Vigil and it doesn’t look good for tomorrow morning’s Mass either. Inluenza A is rampant in these parts, so I’m really hoping this is just a particularly nasty cold, especially since I’m supposed to be travelling with three other people on Tuesday in order to take part in the provincial drama festival. Don’t think anyone wants to be cooped up in a vehicle with someone who sounds like she has consumption.
 
Phemie said:
Phemie, keep repeating “Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.”😃

Didn’t make it to the Vigil and it doesn’t look good for tomorrow morning’s Mass either. Inluenza A is rampant in these parts, so I’m really hoping this is just a particularly nasty cold, especially since I’m supposed to be travelling with three other people on Tuesday in order to take part in the provincial drama festival. Don’t think anyone wants to be cooped up in a vehicle with someone who sounds like she has consumption.
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You need some rest, Phemie. Someone said chicken soup helps too. 🙂 Happy Easter to you and yours.
 
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