Missing mass sin history

[prayerandstudy]

Part of what I heard last Sunday was that the Church has done a real disservice to God’s people for centuries by making a law that says missing Mass is a mortal sin. We should instead be emphasizing that we go to Mass to give thanksgiving. My question is, has the church always said that missing Mass on Sundays is a mortal sin?

 

[HelenRose]

Part of what I heard last Sunday was that the Church has done a real disservice to God’s people for centuries by making a law that says missing Mass is a mortal sin. We should instead be emphasizing that we go to Mass to give thanksgiving. My question is, has the church always said that missing Mass on Sundays is a mortal sin?

My reaction to your statement is that I would do a dreadful disservice to my Lord and King by refusing to come to His table and partake of His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity that He so lovingly has given to me. He died on the cross to take away my sins. The very least I can do is accept the gift He has given to me. The Church recognizes this gift. I should hope that we can all recognize this gift as well.

It would pretty poor thanksgiving and appreciation to refuse His gift and for no particularly good reason decide that it is not important enough to bother with. That would be a slap in His face.

 

[MadHatter]

It seems the priest has a misunderstanding of the reason it is law. In universal concurrence, yes, missing the ‘holy day’, mass, has certainly been treated as at least grossly disliked or as a mortal sin, even from the very foundations of the Church. It stems as a continuation of the Mosaic Laws in the proclamation of the 10 commandments: to keep the sabbath holy,. That itself is a law, which Jesus frequently preached that we should practice and keep. Indeed we go to mass to give thanks, as is the meaning of the word Eucharistia, to give thanks, and as HelenRose said, we do it as a response to the call from God, it is what he likes us to do in worship to him, so we should, indeed, follow that wish. We live to serve.

All the best, hope this helps,

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Part of what I heard last Sunday was that the Church has done a real disservice to God’s people for centuries by making a law that says missing Mass is a mortal sin. We should instead be emphasizing that we go to Mass to give thanksgiving. My question is, has the church always said that missing Mass on Sundays is a mortal sin?

Oh dear! Hopefully you just misunderstood him.

Rules based in the Ten Commandments are not a disservice.

 

[steve_b]

Part of what I heard last Sunday was that the Church has done a real disservice to God’s people for centuries by making a law that says missing Mass is a mortal sin. We should instead be emphasizing that we go to Mass to give thanksgiving.*** My question is, has the church always said that missing Mass on Sundays is a mortal sin?***

The answer is yes.

Allow me to quote the following.

While it doesn’t literally say Mass, nor Eucharist, nor Sunday , I think we can see very clearly what they are doing when they meet on Sunday

Heb 10:
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some , but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Note:

• The “Day” =Sunday, the Lord’s day
• It’s already a sin to miss mass on Sunday, based on the consequences it is a mortal sin?
• The “sacrifice for sin”, and “Blood of the covenant” = Matthew 26:28 , Mark 14:24 , John 6:53 , Jesus spoke those words when He instituted the Eucharist. Therefore as Hebrews is already teaching, they are celebrating the Eucharist when they meet on Sunday and to deliberately miss (mass) the Eucharist on Sunday then, after being told this truth, then based on these consequences, commits a mortal sin, because the following befalls their soul.
• no longer remains a sacrifice for sin for THEM
• but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume these adversaries of God
• because they spurn the Son of God, and profane the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and they outrage the Spirit of grace

From the CCC 2181 , 2192 , 1457

BTW grave sin = mortal sin.

As an aside
80% of Catholics today deliberately miss mass on Sunday. Then there are the C& E Catholics (Christmas & Easter) Catholics. Do any of them go to confession first before they receive Eucharist again? If they don’t they add sacrilege on top of their mortal sin

 

[prayerandstudy]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer my post. I will pray about how to handle this/what to say. Please pray for me and for my parish. Thank you.

 

[otjm]

Oh dear! Hopefully you just misunderstood him.

Rules based in the Ten Commandments are not a disservice.

Well, maybe yes and maybe no.

There are plenty of people (though fewer now than, say 60 years ago) who show up for Mass reluctantly, are not particularly engaged in the Mass mind-wise, and have :fulfilled their obligation".

They did what the church demanded of them, but I am also reminded of a passage in Scripture about God saying the lukewarm He will spit out.

It would be far better if all people who came to Mass did so because of love for Christ and a strong commitment to their faith, but without the rule, there would be even fewer in the pews.

And yes, the Commandments have a purpose; but really they are the minimum. However, all too many people never get beyond the minimum; and hopefully that was what the priest was trying to say.

 

[otjm]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer my post. I will pray about how to handle this/what to say. Please pray for me and for my parish. Thank you.

Perhaps saying something would not be the best approach; it might be better to ask. such as “Father, could you explain a bit to me about your homily last Sunday? I am not sure I understood what you were trying to convey.”

 

[Evan]

Recall that the use of the phrase “Mortal Sin” usually means “Grave Matter”. The church cannot declare some act to be a “Mortal Sin”. CCC paragraph 1857:

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.”

The Church cannot tell you that you have full knowledge, or deliberate consent.

Also, the present law is NOT that missing mass is a Mortal sin. But the precept of the Church dealing with attending mass defines the requirement to attend Mass as:

Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.

 

[steve_b]

Well, maybe yes and maybe no.

There are plenty of people (though fewer now than, say 60 years ago) who show up for Mass reluctantly, are not particularly engaged in the Mass mind-wise, and have :fulfilled their obligation".

They did what the church demanded of them, but I am also reminded of a passage in Scripture about God saying the lukewarm He will spit out.

It would be far better if all people who came to Mass did so because of love for Christ and a strong commitment to their faith, but without the rule, there would be even fewer in the pews.

The rule for not failing to meet as is the habit of some, comes from scripture #5
along with the consequences for deliberately missing mass.

 

[steve_b]

Recall that the use of the phrase “Mortal Sin” usually means “Grave Matter”. The church cannot declare some act to be a “Mortal Sin”. CCC paragraph 1857:

**1857 **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.”

As some argue, this is some huge mystery that no one is capable of committing. It’s not. While they like to pick apart each sentence as if it is a complete mystery. It’s not. Kinda like one of our previous presidents who wanted to argue over the meaning of “what is is”? sheesh!

It’s real simple to commit a mortal sin

1. 
   *]One is told by valid authority a matter is grave matter.
   *]therefore one knows, having been told a particular act is grave matter
   *]and if they freely commit the act, they commit a mortal sin
   E:
   

   The Church cannot tell you that you have full knowledge, or deliberate consent.

   And one’s Ignorance isn’t always innocent.
   
   **1791 **This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.
   E:
   

   Also, the present law is NOT that missing mass is a Mortal sin. But the precept of the Church dealing with attending mass defines the requirement to attend Mass as:

   2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 ***Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
   
   ***Grave sin = Mortal sin

 

[Evan]

**1857 **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.”

As some argue, this is some huge mystery that no one is capable of committing. It’s not.

So you agree with me. Just telling us it is grave matter does not mean that all who do so commit a moral sin, but some do.

It’s real simple to commit a mortal sin

1. 
   *]One is told by valid authority a matter is grave matter.
   *]therefore one knows, having been told a particular act is grave matter
   *]and if they freely commit the act, they commit a mortal sin
   
   And one’s Ignorance isn’t always innocent.

1. 
   So you agree, sometimes one’s ignorance is innocent.
   One has to be told by an authority, of course one would have to accept this person’s authority and I don’t know if anyone here on this web site had the authority to bind people to obedience. But one could still be informed and yet not obey because of authentic doubt.
   
   Having heard someone say something, does not imply full knowledge, but some smattering of knowledge concerning the matter.
   
   And then the question of freely committing the act. If one has a habit of not attending,
   then the imputed guilt is reduced.
   
   I disagree strongly with your contention that committing a mortal is is simple!!!
   
   Paragraph 1855 of the CCC says
   

   Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

   Grave sin = Mortal sin
   If grave sin = mortal sin, why the 2 names? I believe grave sin, is sin dealing with grave matter. But to be mortal more than matter is required.
   
   So Grave Sin <> Mortal Sin (the <> means is not equal to… I’m a programmer and mathematician and we use symbols in odd ways)
   
   Remember that a Mortal Sin is a complete rejection of God and condemns you to Hell for all eternity. And I think that such a choice must be more than just “Oops, missed mass, goin’ to hell.”

 

[steve_b]

So you agree with me.

No

As i said,

“some argue, this is some huge mystery that no one is capable of committing. It’s not. While they like to pick apart each sentence as if it is a complete mystery. It’s not. Kinda like one of our previous presidents who wanted to argue over the meaning of “what is is”? sheesh!”
E:

Just telling us it is grave matter does not mean that all who do so commit a moral sin, but some do.

Also as I said,

steve:

It’s real simple to commit a mortal sin

1. • One is told by valid authority a matter is grave matter.
   • therefore one knows, having been told a particular act is grave matter
   • and if they freely commit the act, they commit a mortal sin

1. 
   Caveat to this, If someone is mentally challenged, that’s a different story. But in context of the thread, “missing mass, sin history” it’s already a grave sin identified in scripture.
   
   #[5 (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=14218497&postcount=5)
   E:
   

   So you agree, sometimes one’s ignorance is innocent. One has to be told by an authority, of course one would have to accept this person’s authority and I don’t know if anyone here on this web site had the authority to bind people to obedience.

   1. • Ignorance is NOT innocent especially when a person “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits".1791
      • The authority I mentioned was from scripture and the Church. The rule for not failing to meet as is the habit of some, comes from scripture #[5 (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=14218497&postcount=5)
      The consequences for deliberately missing mass are also given there. If one doesn’t accept that authority, it doesn’t ipso facto mean the person skates from their culpability.
      E:
      

      But one could still be informed and yet not obey because of authentic doubt.

      Doubt?
      
      Ya mean like, Gee officer, I know I was going 125 in a 65 mph zone, I just doubted the wisdom of that 65 mph law. After all, I’m a great driver, I have a fast car, and I just wasn’t sure that law applied to ME. good luck with that excuse!
      
      When
      • a person knows what the law says.
      • and that person deliberately brakes that law
      • that person is culpable/responsible for the consequences.
      **1791 **This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.
      
      In context of the thread, the history behind deliberately missing mass as a sin, I’ve given the scriptural and CCC references
      E:
      

      Having heard someone say something, does not imply full knowledge, but some smattering of knowledge concerning the matter.

      If a person is mentally challenged, that would be true. But for everyone else, if one “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits."
      E:
      

      And then the question of freely committing the act. If one has a habit of not attending,
      then the imputed guilt is reduced.

      The CCC says
      
      “when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits."
      E:
      

      I disagree strongly with your contention that committing a mortal is is simple!!!

      That’s obvious.
      E:
      

      Paragraph 1855 of the CCC says
      Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

      Yes. And your point?
      E:
      

      Grave sin = Mortal sin
      If grave sin = mortal sin, why the 2 names?

      Why is Communion also called Eucharist?
      Why is Jesus also called the Word, Son of God, Son of Man, Bread of life, Messiah, etc etc etc
      
      Because it’s true,.
      E:
      

      I believe grave sin, is sin dealing with grave matter. But to be mortal more than matter is required.

      Grave sin = Mortal sin
      
      jimmyakin.com/2010/05/grave-sin-mortal-sin.html
      E:
      

      So Grave Sin <> Mortal Sin (the <> means is not equal to… I’m a programmer and mathematician and we use symbols in odd ways)
      
      Remember that a Mortal Sin is a complete rejection of God and condemns you to Hell for all eternity. And I think that such a choice must be more than just “Oops, missed mass, goin’ to hell.”

      This doesn’t describe an oops!
      #[5 (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=14218497&postcount=5)