Missing Mass Conflict!

[JimG]

Someone else already posted this, but the gravity of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is based on the Third Commandment, given by God to Moses, to keep holy the Sabbath Day. Since the command is given by God, it is indeed serious.

We keep this commandment by attending Mass on the Lord’s Day or the vigil of the Lord’s Day. (It is noted in the Acts of the Apostles that the earliest Christians–all Jews–went to synagogue for prayers and met in their homes for the Eucharist. With their expulsion from the synagogues, the two liturgies–Word and Eucharist–were combined.)

Sure, many people don’t realize the seriousness of the obligation to honor God weekly. But there are a lot of things that people apparently don’t realize the seriousness of: fornication, theft, abortion, contraception, etc.

 

[onetimeposter]

Exodus 20, compare with Hebrews 10:19-39.

God likes us to go to Church every week - and yes, this would be His way of making sure we do so.

Do you have some kind of problem with that?

Yes I do, it does seem rather legalistic for the creator of the universe to demand his children worship him weekly in a Catholic Mass.

The consequence of not doing so, eternal damnation?

It seems more like a rule created by an earthly King, than the command of an omnipotent, benevolent, and omniscient God.

 

[Mintaka]

It seems rather legalistic for the Almighty Creator to demand that we breathe air so often. Couldn’t He have made us without that pesky demand for oxygen in our blood?

And not only does He inflict this on us; He also forces it on poor dumb animals. Even plants have a sort of respiration they must undergo or die.

Personally, I intend to hold my breath until He implements a better plan. Are you with me? One, two…

 

[onetimeposter]

It seems rather legalistic for the Almighty Creator to demand that we breathe air so often. Couldn’t He have made us without that pesky demand for oxygen in our blood?

And not only does He inflict this on us; He also forces it on poor dumb animals. Even plants have a sort of respiration they must undergo or die.

Personally, I intend to hold my breath until He implements a better plan. Are you with me? One, two…

A poor analogy.

If you don’t breath, you will die. Breathing is an automatic function and requires no consent of the will.

 

[onetimeposter]

Exodus 20, compare with Hebrews 10:19-39.
**
I read the verses…keep Holy the Sabbath, but nothing is said about what the punishment is for missing Mass.

I see nothing at all in Hebrews 10:19-39 that talks of the punishment for not attending weekly Mass.**

God likes us to go to Church every week - and yes, this would be His way of making sure we do so.
**
If that is Gods way of making sure we get to Church, isn’t that a form of threat…" you’d better get to Mass and worship me or else…" I just can’t see God doing that. I think God would rather having people at Church who are there for a celebration and not there because of fear.**

**
Does anyone else know of scripture where it is indicated that it is a grave sin or sometimes a mortal sin not to attend Mass?**

 

[wanner47]

Your the first person I’ve ever seen pick apart a fictitious story to illustrate a point.

Sadly, you’re not the first person I’ve seen posit an incredibly implausible and extremely farfetched scenario in order to set up a straw man argument.

Why are you criticizing him for countering your hypothetical with logic and reason? That’s why you posited it in the first place, isn’t it?

That being said, I think he’s absolutely right. My husband and I are planning a vacation for our 7th wedding anniversary in September. After booking our plane tickets and hotel reservations, the very next thing we did was find the nearest Catholic Church to our hotel so we could be sure to attend Mass. We love going to Mass while on vacation; it’s so interesting to see different churches, meet different priests, etc.

We also made sure to make it to Mass during our camping trip this summer, even though the nearest church was 20 miles away. It was worth it for the priest’s fantastic homily! (And I bought a new T-shirt for their parish fundraiser!)

The reason 75% of Catholics allegedly miss Mass is probably due to poor catechesis (a mitigating factor which probably makes missing Mass a venial sin). If they knew how important it was (which they don’t if they only go on Christmas and Easter), they wouldn’t miss. If they realized what was happening at Mass, they wouldn’t WANT to miss.

The thing is, you are speaking of Mass as though it were a burden instead of a privilege. Most faithful Catholics enjoy going to Mass and feel sad if circumstances arise in which they can’t attend (e.g., illness).

 

[surfinpure]

Anybody read Job, Chapter 40, lately?

 

[onetimeposter]

Anybody read Job, Chapter 40, lately?

I just did. It didn’t have anything to do with missing Mass.

Does anyone know of scripture where it is indicated that it is a grave sin or sometimes a mortal sin not to attend Mass?

I am very interested to read where God commands people to worship him at Mass and where it is written that to miss Mass for no good reason is a grave sin or even a mortal sin.

Thanks

 

[wanner47]

I just did. It didn’t have anything to do with missing Mass.

Does anyone know of scripture where it is indicated that it is a grave sin or sometimes a mortal sin not to attend Mass?

I am very interested to read where God commands people to worship him at Mass and where it is written that to miss Mass for no good reason is a grave sin or even a mortal sin.

Thanks

Why is it important to have explicit Scripture stating so?

 

[onetimeposter]

Why is it important to have explicit Scripture stating so?

It is important because if there is no scriptural basis, it means that men within the Church have decided on their own that one particular sin is sometimes worthy of eternal damnation.

This is especially important when the sin involves a Catholic not attending Church every week.

 

[Kevin42]

I was under the impression that Jesus gave men the holy spirit and the authority to bind such things. What has been bound on earth with the authority of the Church and the Holy Spirit working through her we are obliged to obey.

You seem to have trust issues with God and/or with the Church He has established. You may want to pray about this.

 

[JimG]

Does anyone know of scripture where it is indicated that it is a grave sin or sometimes a mortal sin not to attend Mass?

I am very interested to read where God commands people to worship him at Mass and where it is written that to miss Mass for no good reason is a grave sin or even a mortal sin.

Thanks

The Ten Commandments have been mentioned before. God does command his people to worship.

Now, it might be argued that he doesn’t specifically say Mass. (He gave the commandments, after all, to Moses.) But if one were to make that argument, one would have to be prepared to say in what way one met the demand of the commandment. Or was the commandment simply deliberately disregarded?

The Ten Commandments were not abrogated by Jesus.

And from the apostolic age, Christians were celebrating Mass on the Lord’s Day.

 

[wanner47]

It is important because if there is no scriptural basis, it means that men within the Church have decided on their own that one particular sin is sometimes worthy of eternal damnation.

This is especially important when the sin involves a Catholic not attending Church every week.

Hold on, my friend. There is a HUGE difference between having a “Scriptural basis” and being **explicitly **spelled out in Scripture.

Mass attendance does indeed have a Scriptural basis, the references for which have already been provided.

In addition, this article might help you out. An excerpt:

Now back to the original question. Why is it mortal sin, objectively speaking, to choose to stay away from Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation? The answer is, by that decision, on that occasion, we turn our backs on Christ and on the process of our redemption. We refuse to carry out Christ’s command to “do this” for the recalling and receiving of him and his salvation.

By the way, you didn’t respond to my earlier post – why is it that you regard Mass as a burden instead of a privilege?

 

[fix]

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2176

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The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all."109 Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.

 

[onetimeposter]

why is it that you regard Mass as a burden instead of a privilege?

Absolutely, sometimes it’s a burden and sometimes it isn’t a burden, no question. If you think that I’m the only person out of 1.1 billion Catholics that feels the way…so be it.

My Church declaring that not attending a few Masses may be worthy of an eternity in hell, seems to contradict the actions of an all loving and compassionate God.

Is not a declaration that one must attend the institution of the Catholic Church to worship every week in order to avoid eternal damnation…a little self serving?

I actually try to make it to Mass weekly and for the odd time that I can’t make it, holding hell over my head seems a little heavy handed, especially as their isn’t any scripture that indicates that the ultimate punishment is awaiting. My Church has decided that hell may be a just punishment.

Try telling a 7 year old that God is just, fair, loving and compassionate, but if you miss Mass for no good reason, God may not let you into heaven and you may condemn yourself to hell? I think even a child would see the contradiction in a just, fair, loving, compassionate and omni benevolent God.

The scriptures that have been listed, they say nothing of missing Mass equaling grave sin, mortal sin or an eternity without God.

At some point, the Church decided that hell was appropriate for this sin…as we all know that it is not written in the Bible.

I’ve found an appropriate answer…there isn’t any direct scriptural basis, it is the tradition and teaching of the Church and yes, the Church made this decision.

Thanks everyone.

catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990422.htm

 

[fix]

Absolutely, sometimes it’s a burden and sometimes it isn’t a burden, no question. If you think that I’m the only person out of 1.1 billion Catholics that feels the way…so be it.

My Church declaring that not attending a few Masses may be worthy of an eternity in hell, seems to contradict the actions of an all loving and compassionate God.

Is not a declaration that one must attend the institution of the Catholic Church to worship every week in order to avoid eternal damnation…a little self serving?

I actually try to make it to Mass weekly and for the odd time that I can’t make it, holding hell over my head seems a little heavy handed, especially as their isn’t any scripture that indicates that the ultimate punishment is awaiting. My Church has decided that hell may be a just punishment.

Try telling a 7 year old that God is just, fair, loving and compassionate, but if you miss Mass for no good reason, God may not let you into heaven and you may condemn yourself to hell? I think even a child would see the contradiction in a just, fair, loving, compassionate and omni benevolent God.

The scriptures that have been listed, they say nothing of missing Mass equaling grave sin, mortal sin or an eternity without God.

At some point, the Church decided that hell was appropriate for this sin…as we all know that it is not written in the Bible.

I’ve found an appropriate answer…there isn’t any direct scriptural basis, it is the tradition and teaching of the Church and yes, the Church made this decision.

Thanks everyone.

catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990422.htm

Here is one part of the problem I have with your position. It sets up the moral standrad as not Christ but something like a bank robber or hit man. As if to say why would God allow someone to choose hell over refusing to go to mass when I am such a good person because it is not like I killed or hurt anyone.

I mean the standard is Jesus not a killer or robber. We must strive to be like Him. That is the standrad. When seen in this light the question really should be why would I, who loves Jesus and never want to offend Him in any possible way, choose to reject mass for some other lesser thing.

 

[onetimeposter]

I mean the standard is Jesus not a killer or robber. We must strive to be like Him. That is the standrad. When seen in this light the question really should be why would I, who loves Jesus and never want to offend Him in any possible way, choose to reject mass for some other lesser thing.

Yes, but Jesus didn’t agree with the religious pharisees and all the rules they imposed, he challenged the religious domination system and he challenged the religious authority figures at his every step.

I do sometimes wonder how Jesus, a revolutionary, who challenged the religious authority figures of his time, could have wanted a Church with so many institutional rules and standards that must be followed?

 

[fix]

Yes, but Jesus didn’t agree with the religious pharisees and all the rules they imposed, he challenged the religious domination system and he challenged the religious authority figures at his every step.

I am sorry but I am missing the point. Jesus said to the people to do exactly as the Pharisees tell you to do but do not act as they do. They were hypocrites but they had the seat of Moses. The problem was they were not faithful.

And the “rule” here is not legalistic. People observe that “obligation” out of love for God. That cannot be legalism.

I do sometimes wonder how Jesus, a revolutionary, who challenged the religious authority figures of his time, could have wanted a Church with so many institutional rules and standards that must be followed?

Again, it is seen as simply a lot of rules if we view them as obstacles to our freedom. But, we follow them not as a burden but as a joy. They do come from Christ.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

My Church declaring that not attending a few Masses may be worthy of an eternity in hell, seems to contradict the actions of an all loving and compassionate God.

Keep in mind that it’s not our own actions that allow us to make it to heaven. All of us would be condemned by our own actions. All of us deserve hell.

We can be saved only by our relationship with God. Loving God in this life will allow us to enjoy God’s presence in the afterlife. If in this life, we dislike being with God, we will also choose to not be with God in the afterlife.

If you prefer to be doing something else than being in mass, on Sunday, what makes you think you would prefer to be in heaven with God for eternity? Mass is heaven on earth.

That’s why its so important. The church is saying that a person who chooses other things over attending mass does not have the appropriate relationship with God that leads to heaven. It’s not as simple as being punished by God for breaking a rule.

 

[onetimeposter]

Again, it is seen as simply a lot of rules if we view them as obstacles to our freedom. But, we follow them not as a burden but as a joy. They do come from Christ.

Jesus didn’t make the rules…the men, the men who climbed the bureaucratic ladder within the Church made the rules