Missing Mass Q

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ProVobis said:
The Church allows a 32+ hour window for attending Mass on Saturday and Sunday. In this new world of speed and internet, where in the world could you be without finding a church to attend in that whole window of opportunity to fulfill your obligation?
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About 2/3rds of Alaska, significant parts of Hawaii, some places in Oregon, Washington, Idaho.
 
NewEnglandPries said:
So if someone comes to a different conclusion than you they are “easily and thoughtlessly” relagating it to the optional?

So these posters are just coming to the rescue of the OP’s soul by sidestepping actual Church canons on the matter? Sorry but this thread is simply individuals trying to impose their own personal spirituality upon another without foundation in Church law. Its possible that two people, in good conscience, can come to different conclusions on the same issue.

Like I said, I raised this question with a visiting bishop who has a JCL. I asked, “If someone goes camping and they’re not knowingly near a Mass, can their pastor dispense them?” He didn’t even bat an eye, “Absolutely.” The successor of the Apostles didn’t feel any need to stress anything else.
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And I agree that if it is not possible to attend Mass - seeking the council of your parish priest is 100% appropriate … that being the case - why did the OP even begin this thread? … Rather then accuse every poster here if imposing their personal spirituality upon the OP … consider that some posters are just using the proper importance of the communal nature [as God is present every where and can be found in many places and means - increasing nd deepening your relationship with Him] the Mass along with the Church’s teaching on the seriousness of participating every Sunday and Holy Day as the starting point upon which decisions regarding our activities are based … [at least that is where I was coming from] …

I have had many individuals tell me they do not need to attend church - ever - because they “Commune with God in the Great Outdoors” … that a Majestic primative wilderness is where God can truly be found … Its not that I disagrre - because I too have experienced a profound closeness to God in the wilderness … the problem is the idea that this is an either / or event … I see it as a both and … we need to participate in the Mass - and experience God in all the areas wher he can be found … caring for the elderly and the young, in providing our employers [or employees] a good service and hiking and camping in the Great Outdoors …

I live in Oregon - many years have I lived in rural Oregon - I know first hand traveling miles in awful weather and in sunshine - just to get to Mass … I know about work demands, family demands, illnesses, etc …

The Church holds Mass attendance as a serious issue - that is not my spirituality - that is the teaching of the Church … can you miss Mass - sure …

FYI - I also know that an entire community can show up for Mass and have the priest fail to show due to his being incapacitated by drunkenness … and yes, we did not get to participate in the Mass those days - but our obligation was fulfilled by showing up … You are obligated to do yoru best - and when that does not end in Mass participation - your join the Church in spirit and prayer …

Also - you said you asked the Bishop about someone camping who was not knowingly near a Mass … should not the person planning a camping trip research the availability of a Mass before they leave … much like they would pack their gear, food and water … then they would know that a Mass was not going to be available and they would not only seek the dispensation but also plan how they were going to join the Church in prayer [or whatever other option their priest - like you - might suggest] … which was my point … placing Mass as a priority does not mean you win every time in your planning or fail to enjoy a trip because it prevents your attendance - it means you have a plan … like knowing where the nearest gas station is [or last available fueling option - also a necessity in rural Oregon], a hospital, and grocery store …
 
YADA said:
Also - you said you asked the Bishop about someone camping who was not knowingly near a Mass … should not the person planning a camping trip research the availability of a Mass before they leave … much like they would pack their gear, food and water … then they would know that a Mass was not going to be available and they would not only seek the dispensation but also plan how they were going to join the Church in prayer [or whatever other option their priest - like you - might suggest] … which was my point … placing Mass as a priority does not mean you win every time in your planning or fail to enjoy a trip because it prevents your attendance - it means you have a plan … like knowing where the nearest gas station is [or last available fueling option - also a necessity in rural Oregon], a hospital, and grocery store …
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Maybe a good point…and a good practice…the Church is not saying that. But a dispensation is allowed through your parish priest. So…regardless they are going to have to talk it through when them…who is our spiritual shepard…no? In my case…mine moved my obligation…to Wed night Mass both before and after. Now if I continually asked for one…week after week, or month after month…then my priest would call me on it. I leave it to their discretion as does the Church.

In this case the OP clarified that they would be hiking into the woods quite a distance. So of course no church readily near by. There are going to be instance where the priest might allow a dispensation. It just appears that a lot of people were saying that’s not right…that the OP should change their plans. Well…we are not all under the authority of people here…we are under the authority of the Church. If she sees fit for the priest to decide who gets a dispensation for what reason…then I, for one, accept that and am not going to put my personal beliefs on the matter on someone else.
 
FidesSpesCarita said:
Is it morally permissible to miss Mass in order to go camping for 3 days, a week, whatever?

My gut answer is no. I cannot see any reason to miss Mass on purpose, no matter how nice camping would be. But, hoping I might get an answer that I like more, I am posting here.

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aren’t there Churches out in the middle of nowhere?? :o
 
why don’t you just invite your priest to come along? 😃

or if he’s busy, grab one of those retired ones… :o
 
when the Spaniards (& probably others) were exploring America, they took priests w/ them & bread & wine for the Mass…

i think we should continue this wondeful tradition… by inviting a priest to go along… 🙂

of course you would probably feel a little self-conscious with him around… especially if… say you accidently burn yourself starting the campfire and want to let loose with some sailor-like, exotic, pain-reducing words to express yourself… 😃
 
distracted said:
when the Spaniards (& probably others) were exploring America, they took priests w/ them & bread & wine for the Mass…

i think we should continue this wondeful tradition… by inviting a priest to go along… 🙂

of course you would probably feel a little self-conscious with him around… especially if… say you accidently burn yourself starting the campfire and want to let loose with some sailor-like, exotic, pain-reducing words to express yourself… 😃
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bwahahah
yeah. when the Spanish landed in the Philippines, they celebrated Mass. that site is one of the historical sites in the country

i haven’t been to a place that is inaccessible to a church. i guess except when i was in Sri Lanka. we passed by a Catholic Church one time and i tried finding it from the hotel and i got lost. once i got directed to this place which looked like a school and a church, but this is not the one we passed by a few days earlier. but the church was closed. so i guess that was my best effort to get to Mass and didn’t. that place wasn’t the friendliest when it comes to tourists taking public transport. i got duped once, not only was i mislead to going somewhere, i got ripped off as well. oh well, thats an entirely other story
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
Maybe a good point…and a good practice…the Church is not saying that. But a dispensation is allowed through your parish priest. So…regardless they are going to have to talk it through when them…who is our spiritual shepard…no? In my case…mine moved my obligation…to Wed night Mass both before and after. Now if I continually asked for one…week after week, or month after month…then my priest would call me on it. I leave it to their discretion as does the Church.

In this case the OP clarified that they would be hiking into the woods quite a distance. So of course no church readily near by. There are going to be instance where the priest might allow a dispensation. It just appears that a lot of people were saying that’s not right…that the OP should change their plans. Well…we are not all under the authority of people here…we are under the authority of the Church. If she sees fit for the priest to decide who gets a dispensation for what reason…then I, for one, accept that and am not going to put my personal beliefs on the matter on someone else.
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And I said I was not tryingto put my personal beliefs upon anyone … As for the OP -they started this thread with very vague and nebulous post
Is it morally permissible to miss Mass in order to go camping for 3 days, a week, whatever? My gut answer is no. I cannot see any reason to miss Mass on purpose, no matter how nice camping would be. But, hoping I might get an answer that I like more, I am posting here.
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that only later became one of working 60-80hours week - long hike into wilderness like conditions, etc …

Initially it appeared like a fishing expedition for an excuse to miss Mass when one went campling for 3 days [an isolated weekend] or a week [7 days] or whatever [two - three weeks 🤷]

What type of response would you have serious christians make - Sure Man - if theres no Church then there’s no obligation for as many Sundays as you can plan.

My family will be going camping in a couple of weeks - for a weekend - … we will aslo be attending Mass at a Sunday evening Mass upon our Sunday return … The OP may not be able to do so … they also might not have considered that option had other posters not mentioned the same … nor your suggestion to discuss this with priest and possibly move the obligation to another day …

Which might be the reason for Forums like this to exist 😉
 
YADA said:
And I said I was not tryingto put my personal beliefs upon anyone … As for the OP -they started this thread with very vague and nebulous post that only later became one of working 60-80hours week - long hike into wilderness like conditions, etc …

Initially it appeared like a fishing expedition for an excuse to miss Mass when one went campling for 3 days [an isolated weekend] or a week [7 days] or whatever [two - three weeks 🤷]

What type of response would you have serious christians make - Sure Man - if theres no Church then there’s no obligation for as many Sundays as you can plan.

My family will be going camping in a couple of weeks - for a weekend - … we will aslo be attending Mass at a Sunday evening Mass upon our Sunday return … The OP may not be able to do so … they also might not have considered that option had other posters not mentioned the same … nor your suggestion to discuss this with priest and possibly move the obligation to another day …

Which might be the reason for Forums like this to exist 😉
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Ahem… It seems I have placed my foot firmly in the hornets nest on this one…

The thing that it seems, to me, people need to realize in this is that both “camps” are correct. There is no ordinary acceptable reason to miss mass if it can be avoided. HOWEVER, if one is to take a vacation in a place where a mass is not readily available it is permissible to have the obligation dispensed or commuted according to your pastor’s wisdom. This should not be used as an excuse to miss mass, but if a vacation (or personal retreat, which this is intended to be) is planned where there are no available masses (which there are none in my area, no sunday evening mass here) then it is allowed infrequently.

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corsair said:
God doesn’t take a vacation. So what makes a person think they are “entitled” to a vacation?
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Didn’t God rest after the creation? Are we not just fallible humans, unlike God? If he can rest after something as huge as creation, then I’m sure we are ‘allowed’ such rest as a holiday. How Pharisaic can you be? Just sayin’!
 
Mattjolley said:
If he can rest after something as huge as creation, then I’m sure we are ‘allowed’ such rest as a holiday.
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Didn’t realize there was an “except if you go camping” footnote after the Third Commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day. 🙂
 
I never said there was, and I certainly don’t advocate missing mass for the heck of it,.

However if camping floats the OP’s boat, then it may indeed be tough to find a parish on the Sunday out in the hills.

That said,I personally would never go camping, I can’t stand it! But if I did, I’d be home by the Sunday just for mass.😉
 
Mattjolley said:
That said,I personally would never go camping, I can’t stand it!
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I was just teasing you. Actually camping has a whole range of meanings today. It could be anywhere from a simple tent to a luxurious camper with more modern facilities than a hotel. Or no tent at all. Or sleep, for that matter. You could even “camp” in your own backyard. That works for many enough that they could brag Monday morning about what a wonderful camping experience they had. Camping shouldn’t necessarily mean “Can’t go to church, have to camp this weekend.”
 
ProVobis said:
In this new world of speed and internet, where in the world could you be without finding a church to attend in that whole window of opportunity to fulfill your obligation?
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I believe the OP said “camping.”

Miz
 
lizaanne said:
Wow. Reduced to insults. Sad.

~Liza
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Insulting? Maybe, depending on how you interpret it.

But is it true? Absolutely. Unless of course you routinely work 80 hours a week just for fun?

If I wanted to insult someone, honey, your eyes would BLEED from reading it.

Miz
 
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