Missing Mass = Mortal Sin?

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Hello,

I was listening to a sermon by Father Larry Richards and heard him say that missing mass was a mortal sin. Is this true? Say a Catholic misses mass, dies in a state of mortal sin. Does this mean they would go to hell forever?

I’m a bit worried. Many of you know I grew up Catholic, met an Evangelical (now my wife) and spent some time attending a Baptist church. I believed a lot of their theology but now I re-examining Catholic theology and seeing a lot of legitimacy I missed in it.

I really am worried about this though as I haven’t been regularly attending a Catholic Mass for several years. I do go to Baptist services, but I doubt that’s what is the issue at hand. My wife probably won’t go with me to mass and if she does it will be very reluctantly and probably won’t enjoy it. I might have to end up going alone.

Any advice or help?

Thank you
 
Here’s the video of his sermon if any are interested.

youtube.com/watch?v=8Nprg5Ew6Mo&feature=related

He also mentions other mortal sins, which you might want to comment on as well. I understand mortal sin as having three criteria and that their is no formal list of mortal sins. But I guess I really don’t understand it as it really has me worried now.

The video appears to be given at a men’s conference/retreat so he does deal with some more ish themes.
 
Missing Mass, when you have no good reason is grave matter, or yes mortal sin. Think about it, at the Sunday mass you encounter God, literally. God is truely there, in the Eucharist, body blood & divinity. All your asked is 1 hour a week with God, and your response (if you’re one of those who miss for no good reason) is “well that’s just not very convinient this week, sorry God I’ll take a rain check”. That just doesn’t even sound right, when you you stop and think about it for just a minute.

So what do you do? Go to confession, get absolution, then go to mass weekly 🙂 Problem solved.
 
I sure wish Catholics (I don’t mean you here, but those who claim “X is a mortal sin”) would stop calling all sin that involves grave matter mortal sin. All mortal sins involve grave matter, but not all sins or actions that involve grave matter are mortal sins.

The way one goes to hell is by choice, by rejecting God. One way to reject God is to reject his Church (“he who rejects you, rejects me”).

Only God knows the extent of your rejection of him in your previous rejection of the Catholic Church. But in any case, the solution is simple and sanctifying - go to confession and tell the priest what you have done, and what your situation is.

Remember, to whom much is given, from him much is expected. The more you know the more you obligate yourself. But that obligation is to God, to truth, so it is not a burden but a joy. If you must go to Mass yourself, then do so and be charitable to your wife about it. It may be the beginnings of your return, and of her exploration of the Church as well. Take a step in the direction God is leading you, and you may be surprised at all that he accomplishes with that small submission on your part.
 
I was listening to a sermon by Father Larry Richards and heard him say that missing mass was a mortal sin. Is this true? Say a Catholic misses mass, dies in a state of mortal sin. Does this mean they would go to hell forever?
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Yes, it is a mortal sin. Yes, a person who dies with such a mortal sin on their soul would go to Hell forever.

As you mentioned, there are other criteria for mortal sin, that you understand it to be seriously sinful and you do it willingly. And in this case, there is an added criteria because this sin is a violation of ecclesiatical law and not of the natural law per se, so it only applies to Catholics (those under the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical law).

If you have left the faith, than that is its own serious sin, but you would in fact no longer be Catholic and hence no longer subject to ecclesiastical law, so it isn’t as though every week that goes by you commit a new mortal sin. (At least that is my understanding)
 
bmw8901 said:
Any advice or help?
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Advice: go to Confession as soon as possible, and start going every Sunday to Mass from now on.

Help: We are required to go to Mass every Sunday as part of keeping holy the Sabbath day, as God teaches us in the Third Commandment.

The fact that you didn’t know any better means that in your case, you most likely would not have gone to Hell - however, we are all called to do the best we can with what we know, and to learn as much as we can about our faith, rather than relying on the “I didn’t know” excuse for the Last Judgement.

And although you might not be guilty of breaking a Commandment that you didn’t know anything about, you might be found guilty of not taking the time or making the effort to learn basic facts about your Catholic faith, especially once you became an adult, and it was no longer your parents’ responsibility to teach you.

You will also want to mention that you are married to a non-Catholic, and get the priest’s advice on where to go from here, with that situation.
 
This is truly ironic, I’d just finished this post and was picking up the house. I turned the radio on to Relevant Radio (Catholic radio). The program was about confession. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

I guess I never abandoned the Catholic church or turned against it. It just was a matter of drifting away. I grew up Catholic and didn’t understand or know much about it. In Evangelical terms, I got saved at seventeen and began attending a Baptist church with my friend. I was impressed with the theology and enjoyed it. I never turned my back on the Catholic church. I just thought they missed the point or the whole story. Now at 26, I’m looking at Catholic theology and the whole breadth of Scripture and see that it might have been backwards and I only had half of the story!

If I return to the Catholic Church, I don’t want it to be consistent doubt and uncertainty and worry that I will end up in Hell. I mean, if it’s true, I’ll believe it, regardless of how I feel about it. ** But still… How does one avoid this? ** I think that’s why Evangelical teaching is so attractive to us. It feels so liberating and freeing. It may also feed into the idea of instant gratification, which so many people give into today. But it may be very dangerous if not true. Once saved always saved, may be dangerous in lulling people into a false sense of security of their salvation. I’ve always thought it’s possible to be an Evangelical, have a Born again experience where you really believe that you’ve trusted in Christ, attend services every week, read the Bible, go to Bible studies, etc. and miss the whole point of Christianity. I mean, unless we are really serving Christ, by denying ourselves, serving others, helping the born and sick, forgiving others sins, and doing as He commanded, we are totally missing the point of Christianity.

Thanks
 
The Holy Spirit is calling you back to the Catholic Church. The next step would be to contact a priest and make an appointment to discuss your questions and concerns about the Church, no strings attached, you are just seeking information. The OSAS doctrine is not only false, but very dangerous. St. Paul tells us to work out our salvation in fear and trembling, doesn’t sound like he thought it was a done deal.
 
bmw8901 said:
This is truly ironic, I’d just finished this post and was picking up the house. I turned the radio on to Relevant Radio (Catholic radio). The program was about confession. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

I guess I never abandoned the Catholic church or turned against it. It just was a matter of drifting away. I grew up Catholic and didn’t understand or know much about it. In Evangelical terms, I got saved at seventeen and began attending a Baptist church with my friend. I was impressed with the theology and enjoyed it. I never turned my back on the Catholic church. I just thought they missed the point or the whole story. Now at 26, I’m looking at Catholic theology and the whole breadth of Scripture and see that it might have been backwards and I only had half of the story!

If I return to the Catholic Church, I don’t want it to be consistent doubt and uncertainty and worry that I will end up in Hell. “. . . and He sits at the right hand of God The Father, from which He will come to judge the living and the dead. …” You cannot rest in the assurance of salvation as either an Evangelical or Catholic because, you/we do not save ourselves. If we did, we would be Jesus. ]"…forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass agains us…"**** Why pray The Our Father if you can declare yourself saved ?

I mean, if it’s true, I’ll believe it, regardless of how I feel about it. ** But still… How does one avoid this?By establishing a truly personal relationship with Jesus. Not an expressed, or group think, but a one-on-one dialogue. Talk to Jesus like you talk to your wife. Tell Him you love Him and you need His Love in your life. FAITH, must replace your blind belief in “self-salvation”. Find a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and go sit in front of Jesus and just declare your love, your confusion, the need for His support and love. Just go and be with Him.**

I think that’s why Evangelical teaching is so attractive to us. It feels so liberating and freeing. It removes “Hell” from your judgement, by removing Jesus as judge.

It may also feed into the idea of instant gratification, which so many people give into today. But it may be very dangerous if not true. Once saved always saved, is defeated in John 20 wherein Jesus establishes the Sacrament of Confession.

may be dangerous in lulling people into a false sense of security of their salvation. I’ve always thought it’s possible to be an Evangelical, have a Born again experience where you really believe that you’ve trusted in Christ, attend services every week, read the Bible, go to Bible studies, etc. and miss the whole point of Christianity.This is true in all faiths. Look at Solomon, son of King David.

I mean, unless we are really serving Christ, by denying ourselves, serving others, helping the born and sick, forgiving others sins, and doing as He commanded, we are totally missing the point of Christianity.No, your comments miss the point of Christianity. It is not what WE do or do not do that defines Christianity or Jesus, it is what HE did that is the “point of Christianity”. He stood in our place of condemnation, and died a tortuous death that no man has ever experienced, so as not to lose a one. All we have to do is say I believe, NOT I am saved, just I believe, NOT I understand, just I believe and then for forth and walk in that faith.

Do not abandon your wife. Go to Mass, alone if necessary, and then go to her service in the Baptist Church. It took my mom 23 years with my dad going alone with his son’s before my mom embraced the faith.
Thanks
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In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says this of mortal sin: “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: ‘Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.’” According to the Catechism, “Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments.” The Catechism further states that mortal sin “results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell.”

So, if you believe missing Mass is a mortal sin and you don’t go to church Sunday morning, and died that afternoon before you confessed, you’re hell-bound?

The CCC calls a mortal sin a grave matter as specified by the 10 Commandments. We all know the definition of sin. Its transgression against God’s holy law. But is missing church in the 10 Commandments?
 
bmw8901 said:
Hello,

I was listening to a sermon by Father Larry Richards and heard him say that missing mass was a mortal sin. Is this true? Say a Catholic misses mass, dies in a state of mortal sin. Does this mean they would go to hell forever?

I’m a bit worried. Many of you know I grew up Catholic, met an Evangelical (now my wife) and spent some time attending a Baptist church. I believed a lot of their theology but now I re-examining Catholic theology and seeing a lot of legitimacy I missed in it.

I really am worried about this though as I haven’t been regularly attending a Catholic Mass for several years. I do go to Baptist services, but I doubt that’s what is the issue at hand. My wife probably won’t go with me to mass and if she does it will be very reluctantly and probably won’t enjoy it. I might have to end up going alone.

Any advice or help?

Thank you
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Is INTENTIONALLY CHOOSING to miss Mass a Mortal sin? YES!

If someone chooses to intentionally miss Mass for something else like, sleeping in, and they die in the State of Mortal sin do they go to Eternal Punishment (Hell), and they were not sorry for what they did and didn’t try to get to Confession? Most likely, but then only God would know for sure.
 
JacobG said:
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says this of mortal sin: “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: ‘Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.’” According to the Catechism, “Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments.” The Catechism further states that mortal sin “results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell.”

So, if you believe missing Mass is a mortal sin and you don’t go to church Sunday morning, and died that afternoon before you confessed, you’re hell-bound?

The CCC calls a mortal sin a grave matter as specified by the 10 Commandments. We all know the definition of sin. Its transgression against God’s holy law. But is missing church in the 10 Commandments?
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Remember to keep Holy the sabbath day. (Ex 20:8) The Christian sabbath day (day of rest) is Sunday. James reminds us not to neglect the assembly, to join with our fellow Christians to honor and worship God.
 
bmw8901 said:
This is truly ironic, I’d just finished this post and was picking up the house. I turned the radio on to Relevant Radio (Catholic radio). The program was about confession. Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

I guess I never abandoned the Catholic church or turned against it. It just was a matter of drifting away. I grew up Catholic and didn’t understand or know much about it. In Evangelical terms, I got saved at seventeen and began attending a Baptist church with my friend. I was impressed with the theology and enjoyed it. I never turned my back on the Catholic church. I just thought they missed the point or the whole story. Now at 26, I’m looking at Catholic theology and the whole breadth of Scripture and see that it might have been backwards and I only had half of the story!
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The Holy Spirit works in wonderful ways, I’m glad to hear you’re open to the message 🙂
bmw8901 said:
If I return to the Catholic Church, I don’t want it to be consistent doubt and uncertainty aend worry that I will end up in Hell. I mean, if it’s true, I’ll believe it, regardless of how I feel about it. ** But still… How does one avoid this? ** I think that’s why Evangelical teaching is so attractive to us. It feels so liberating and freeing. It may also feed into the idea of instant gratification, which so many people give into today. But it may be very dangerous if not true. Once saved always saved, may be dangerous in lulling people into a false sense of security of their salvation. I’ve always thought it’s possible to be an Evangelical, have a Born again experience where you really believe that you’ve trusted in Christ, attend services every week, read the Bible, go to Bible studies, etc. and miss the whole point of Christianity. I mean, unless we are really serving Christ, by denying ourselves, serving others, helping the born and sick, forgiving others sins, and doing as He commanded, we are totally missing the point of Christianity.

Thanks
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Well first and formost, particularly since you’ve now realized the Baptist only have half the story, how could you possibly ever feel secure remaining in that theology? I’m not kidding, think about it for a minute. What do we know about God? Well, he is Merciful and Just, his Mercy does trump his justice… However that said, there is only a single objective truth to him. By remaining in a faith, which only has half the story as you say, not to mention less than half the sacraments including a very contra-biblical view on the sacrament of confession which is quite troubling, don’t you think that might put you at a disadvantage? Particularly since you now are coming to realize this?

So now, the more direct answer to your question… How do you live your life not afraid of hell all the time? Well like I said at the outset, God is merciful and just, and his mercy trumps his justice. He doesn’t want to damn you, he wants you saved.

Attend regular confession, I would say monthly at least or even weekly if you’re caught in a situation where you sin mortally way too much (some times it’s really hard to break out, you have to keep praying). Go to mass regularly, start accepting the Eucharist again which is the body, blood and divinity of Christ. Think of this as a potent spiritual medicine. Then lastly I would say get as involved with your parish as you can, seriously! The more involved you are with your parish, the more you’ll see your self doing the right things, not to mention the more you’ll learn about your faith! If you have a young adult ministry that’s a great way to start! If your church hosts a bible study, attend that! Mine is doing the CSS study on revelation right now, it’s fantastic. Once you feel like your feet are standing on firm ground with Catholisism again, volenteer to teach CCD!! It’s a fantastic way to learn the faith even deeper, and even to put it right into practice by teaching!
 
crazzeto said:
The Holy Spirit works in wonderful ways, I’m glad to hear you’re open to the message 🙂 …
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Thanks for your message; it is greatly appreciated. I’ll offer just a bit more of my stance right now and some of the trepidations I have regarding things.

It’s true, I am beginning to think the message of the Gospels is much better understood in a Catholic context than an Evangelical one. I really want to serve God and love others, as hard as that is at times. But this whole mortal sin idea has really thrown me for a loop. I was aware of the differences in sin and didn’t have a problem with it. But looking a little more closely, I am worried.

Could some of you answer some of my questions about this?

-Say a person is Catholic, has a relationship with Christ, has repented of his sins, and is loving others more than himself. Say he’s living a really pious life of charity and love and constantly puts others above himself. He’s put his trust in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and knows he can’t earn his salvation. He realizes his “works” are because of Christ and not of his own doing. He’s in state of grace, goes to mass weekly, the whole nine yards. Then let’s say at 70, he sleeps in one Sunday and misses mass. Say he dies later that day. Would he go to Hell after an entire life of service to Christ? I mean does that one act really cut one off from God? Is the soul now again?

-Why can’t mortal sins be confessed to God alone? I understand the idea of a priest and don’t have a problem with it. At least I don’t have a problem with it in terms that many Protestants do. But if a person is really upset by a sin, can’t he at least confess it to God? I do realize that God ultimately forgives the sin and that the priest does not.

-Can venial sins be forgiven by just asking God without confession or the Eucharist?

I realize sin is a very serious issue with God and I took it much too lightly as an Evangelical. Jesus, for me, was insurance to prevent me from going to hell. But sin was still an option and I could just brush it under the rug later saying I was sorry. I realize this isn’t what most Evangelicals would call “acceptable” or teach, but it was a trap I fell into. I believe it’s easy to fall into this trap.

I also feel I really stuck in the middle without anywhere to turn. The Evangelicals tell me that if I don’t believe in Sole Fide, I’m no longer saved and I am trusting in a “works” based system instead of Christ. I realize Catholics don’t teach this, but it is a claim that Pastors and others have made. The Catholics say that I am in a state of mortal sin and unless I go to confession and attend mass and I die, I will go to Hell. Because I have a vested interested in both sides, it becomes difficult as each side is condemning the other.

Finally, I’m not willing to leave a theological system just because I don’t like it. Evangelicalism may make me feel good, but I’d only stay if it were true. The same if true about Catholicism. I won’t leave it just because I don’t like some of the more difficult teachings if it is true. The teachings of Christ are very difficult!

Thanks for your patience.
 
P.S.

The idea of missing mass as a mortal sin was the example that brought this up in my mind, but I don’t want to limit it to just that as it may detract from the argument as a whole.

My worries are larger than any one particular mortal sin. Say I see a pretty and have a ful thought about her. I would think that would be a mortal sin, since I am married, am knowledgeable that I shouldn’t, and know Christ said this was the same as ery. Now I have committed a mortal sin.

If I die before I make it to confession, would I go to Hell?

It’s not just mass, or , it’s all of them (and I realize their is no list). Is it just based on timing? If I commit a mortal sin, but die at work before I can get to confession, would I go to Hell? The timing issue is a problem for Evangelicals as well, I believe. If a child steals a cookie from his parents and is asked about it and lies, he has committed a sin because he knowing has lied. He knows its wrong. Now if he dies, does that sin condemn him to hell, even though later in his life he might have accept Christ and hadn’t as a child? I don’t think the “age of accountability” would apply here, because the child knows that lying is wrong. To have that understanding would seem to negate that age of accountability argument. I realize it’s not the best analogy but I hope it helps.

It’s very unsettling. But I also realize the serious of sin, that I really have forgotten. I realize when Christ was asked what a person must do to inherit eternal life he did say “obey the commandments.”
 
To Julian0404:
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Julian0404:
Thank you for your message. It was very enlighting and helpful. Right now, I’m not concerned with how to have a relationship with Christ, but more worried about “what can hinder that relationship.” Your post said it best that Evangelicalism removes “Christ as judge.” I’ve just posted a few more that you might want to comment on, rather than me addressing your message.

Thanks
 
bmw8901 said:
…If I return to the Catholic Church, I don’t want it to be consistent doubt and uncertainty and worry that I will end up in Hell. I mean, if it’s true, I’ll believe it, regardless of how I feel about it. But still… How does one avoid this?..
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You might have fallen prey to the fiction that Catholics inherently suffer doubt and uncertainty about that. That’s all it it: a fiction.

In fact, it was while I was an Evangelical that I suffered such doubt. I’d been taught that I could never lose my salvation, but that in the end it could turn out that I’d never been saved at all. How could I possibly be assured of my salvation if I had no way to know that I wasn’t really saved?
 
neophyte said:
You might have fallen prey to the fiction that Catholics inherently suffer doubt and uncertainty about that. That’s all it it: a fiction.

In fact, it was while I was an Evangelical that I suffered such doubt. I’d been taught that I could never lose my salvation, but that in the end it could turn out that I’d never been saved at all. How could I possibly be assured of my salvation if I had no way to know that I wasn’t really saved?
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Excellent point. I don’t think Evangelicals ever think about the fact that they THEMSELVES may not really be saved. It’s always “someone else.” Again, good point.
 
bmw8901 said:
Excellent point. I don’t think Evangelicals ever think about the fact that they THEMSELVES may not really be saved. It’s always “someone else.” Again, good point.
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Earlier you asked
bmw8901 said:
…Is it just based on timing? If I commit a mortal sin, but die at work before I can get to confession, would I go to Hell?
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If you’ve repented of the sin and have a firm intention of going to confession as soon as you can, then God knows it and you can rely on his mercy.

I found that Protestant theology is inherently legalistic, claims to the contrary notwithstanding; I think it arises from the idea of salvation as a judical act. Catholicism views it as a familial relationship, so the dynamic is completely different.

All I know is that I feel much more peace as a Catholic than I ever did as a Protestant.
 
neophyte said:
Earlier you asked
If you’ve repented of the sin and have a firm intention of going to confession as soon as you can, then God knows it and you can rely on his mercy.

I found that Protestant theology is inherently legalistic, claims to the contrary notwithstanding; I think it arises from the idea of salvation as a judical act. Catholicism views it as a familial relationship, so the dynamic is completely different.

All I know is that I feel much more peace as a Catholic than I ever did as a Protestant.
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Thanks for your quick replies. Could you explain what you mean that you found Protestantism to be legalistic?

Thank you!
 
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