Missing Mass, when are you free of culpability?

[seeker_of_God]

I know that missing mass is grave matter. I also know that it is not so if one has no choice, such as if one has no way to get there, or is too sick and it would be injurious to one’s health to go, etc.

Here’s my situation though. I’m dependent on someone to get anywhere. I’m blind and can’t drive.

If this person doesn’t want to take me to mass, what is then my part in it so that I am not culpable? How much resistance must I put up? Assuming that if I press hard enough, this person might possibly give in.

I used to readily give in, and I assume that was a mortal sin. That was a while back and I’ve confessed all of that.

The car has really been overheating lately. Today, after this person got back from somewhere, they said the car was really hot, and almost empty of fluid. They needed to take it up to somewhere to get fixed while we are on vacation.

They were afraid that if they took me to mass, which they were willing to do otherwise, that the car would not get there and back, and then up to the place to be fixed.

I said I couldn’t say it was fine, but if it was really too risky, it was their choice.

I’m assuming that was not mortal sin, because I didn’t have much of a choice, and pressing harder wouldn’t have changed anything.

So where is the line? If you’re dependent on someone but they cannot or will not take you, what do you need to do to be free of culpability?

Or maybe it depends on your interior disposition. I guess if one can’t go, but is relieved of that fact, then it would be a sin even if one didn’t have a choice of not being able to go.

Note: Sorry for being so vague. This involves someone else and I don’t want to commit detraction, either, so didn’t want to identify them or their relation to me. I hope I was successful in avoiding that, and still getting my question across. I’m not blaming this person in any way, since they are not a practicing Catholic.

 

[tjm190]

We can’t give you specifics here- but so long as you put forth and honest and significant effort I believe you wouldn’t be culpable. You might also search for alternative means of getting to church (other drivers) or get one of those eucharist delivery people (I forget the actual term) to visit you.
(half way through my response, I started to wonder how a blind person could access the forums. I don’t mean to pry, but could you clarify please )

 

[baltobetsy]

Brandon, for your own peace of mind, I suggest very strongly that you bring this up with your priest in confession. Tell him the situation as you have told us and follow his advice. He may also offer to have someone bring you Holy Communion sometimes, if you haven’t already asked for that yourself. This will give you a solution tailored just for you under the influence of the Holy Spirit

Betsy

 

[Irish_Becca]

I can’t be the one to judge this, but it really sounds like you are putting forth an honest effort. I wonder if there are others at your church who could give you a ride? Maybe you cold work out an alternating schedule?

 

[seeker_of_God]

We can’t give you specifics here- but so long as you put forth and honest and significant effort I believe you wouldn’t be culpable. You might also search for alternative means of getting to church (other drivers) or get one of those eucharist delivery people (I forget the actual term) to visit you.

Thanks. But what is an honest effort? If someone says the car wouldn’t be able to get there and back, there’s not much I can say or do.

We’ve been looking for alternative ways. I don’t know that many people in the parish, and the parish itself doesn’t offer any transportation. I was going to try to work it out this week but then my mom went to the hospital so I was trying to get through that.

(half way through my response, I started to wonder how a blind person could access the forums. I don’t mean to pry, but could you clarify please )

I have a screen reader called JAWS. It speaks out loud whatever I am trying to read.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Brandon, for your own peace of mind, I suggest very strongly that you bring this up with your priest in confession. Tell him the situation as you have told us and follow his advice. He may also offer to have someone bring you Holy Communion sometimes, if you haven’t already asked for that yourself. This will give you a solution tailored just for you under the influence of the Holy Spirit

Betsy

Thank you. I will next week. But you don’t think what happened today was a mortal sin do you? It certainly wasn’t intentional on my part. I really wanted to go to mass.

 

[tjm190]

Thanks. But what is an honest effort? If someone says the car wouldn’t be able to get there and back, there’s not much I can say or do.

We’ve been looking for alternative ways. I don’t know that many people in the parish, and the parish itself doesn’t offer any transportation. I was going to try to work it out this week but then my mom went to the hospital so I was trying to get through that.

That situation seemed to be completely out of your hands (to me), so I don’t believe you would be culpable. If you feel guilt regardless, then your options would be to either try harder or speak to a priest, although I recommend the latter.

I have a screen reader called JAWS. It speaks out loud whatever I am trying to read.

Very interesting

 

[seeker_of_God]

I can’t be the one to judge this, but it really sounds like you are putting forth an honest effort. I wonder if there are others at your church who could give you a ride? Maybe you cold work out an alternating schedule?

Yeah we’re trying to figure that out. The person who’s been taking me has agreed to take me every Sunday until I go back to college. But I really want to go to daily mass so I’m still trying to figure out something else.

I can’t wait till I go to college because they have daily mass there, and hopefully I should be able to go. But it’s tough while I’m at home.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[seeker_of_God]

That situation seemed to be completely out of your hands (to me), so I don’t believe you would be culpable. If you feel guilt regardless, then your options would be to either try harder or speak to a priest, although I recommend the latter.

I don’t feel any guilt about today because there was really no choice. I’ll definitely talk to a priest about it though when I go to confession next Saturday.

 

[centurionguard]

Brandon;

I can only echo the sincere sentiments of those who have already shared.

Regrettably; I missed Mass this morning unintentionally with all sincere intention of going
to Mass. With a harsh migraine to boot and having got myself showered and dressed ready to go out the door with my sister giving me a drive. I had to stay at home. I had serious body shakes almost passing out dizzy. I’m in bad health with terminal illness and diabetes.

There are valid reasons for missing Mass

Keeping the Sabbath holy first means worshiping God, not just anywhere but within the Church where — in body, mind, and spirit — we take part in the Body of Christ. Attending Mass sometime between Friday night and sundown Saturday would be in keeping with the Sabbath hours originally set for the seventh day of rest. For a once-a-week assembly though, the Catechism established what most Christians continue to do: Come together each Sunday in honor of our Resurrected Lord’s first appearance on Easter. This special time of receiving Eucharist truly re-Members the Sabbath as Members of the Body of Christ become one through Christ’s own body and blood.

Mass may take only 45 minutes, so what about the remaining hours? Do we still have to keep the whole day holy to the Lord? In some ways, every day needs to be holy to God, for instance, by praying, forgiving, and seeking God’s will in our lives. However, Hebrews 4:9-10 addresses need for more than this by saying, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his” (Revised Standard Version.) You might say, then, that remembering the Sabbath is a time to forget our own work or anything that’s part of our regular workday routines and, instead, focus on God’s work in and around us.

At first peek, the Catechism seems to offer little guidance on how we’re to go about this, but actually, its contents have been as highly compressed as a poem, which often requires three or more readings to reveal its mysteries. At any reading rate, the Subject Index of the Catechism lists a number of references under “Sabbath, Sabbath rest,” while Article 3 of “Part Three: Life In Christ” focuses entirely on “The Third Commandment.” Each of those several pages warrants a prayerful and careful reading, but the subheading, “A day of grace and rest from work,” offers the most direct response to your question.

For instance, 2184 says: “Just as God ‘rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,’ human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familiar, cultural, social, and religious lives.” That word “cultivate” emphasizes the ongoing need to nurture the relationships vital to a well-rounded life — a life meant to include family, community, society, and religion. With those key words to direct us, we begin to see some personal answers for appropriate use of our prime-time Sundays. And I say “personal” because God gives each of us a variety of gifts and a variety of options for using them. So, depending on each unique combination of our spiritual gifts and means, we might feel led, for instance, to spend time in prayer, take Eucharist to a home-bound parishioner, go on a “date” with our spouse, phone a family member, visit a child in the hospital, invite a lonely neighbor to lunch, baby-sit for an overwhelmed parent, attend a concert of uplifting music, participate in a Bible study group, restore something in the environment, or make amends in a broken relationship. Seldom, however, will any single individual do all of the above since remembering the Sabbath also remembers our own need to rest.

Generally speaking, the Catechism says, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body…” (2185.) After reminding us to be mindful that other people need rest too, 2186 goes on to say, “Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.” So, regardless of whether our regular workweek has taxed us physically, mentally, or spiritually, a day of Sabbath rest encourages us to rest — in every way — in God.

 

[nkbeth]

The car has really been overheating lately. Today, after this person got back from somewhere, they said the car was really hot, and almost empty of fluid. They needed to take it up to somewhere to get fixed while we are on vacation.

They were afraid that if they took me to mass, which they were willing to do otherwise, that the car would not get there and back, and then up to the place to be fixed.

I said I couldn’t say it was fine, but if it was really too risky, it was their choice.

I’m assuming that was not mortal sin, because I didn’t have much of a choice, and pressing harder wouldn’t have changed anything.

Driving a car that is at such risk is a dangerous thing to do! Don’t think this was a mortal sin. It is good to be concerned, but put your trust in God.

Talk to your priest; he will put your mind at rest as we perhaps cannot.

I will pray that you find reliable transportation to Mass, even every day.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Brandon;

I can only echo the sincere sentiments of those who have already shared.

Regrettably; I missed Mass this morning unintentionally with all sincere intention of going
to Mass. With a harsh migraine to boot and having got myself showered and dressed ready to go out the door with my sister giving me a drive. I had to stay at home. I had serious body shakes almost passing out dizzy. I’m in bad health with terminal illness and diabetes.

There are valid reasons for missing Mass

Keeping the Sabbath holy first means worshiping God, not just anywhere but within the Church where — in body, mind, and spirit — we take part in the Body of Christ. Attending Mass sometime between Friday night and sundown Saturday would be in keeping with the Sabbath hours originally set for the seventh day of rest. For a once-a-week assembly though, the Catechism established what most Christians continue to do: Come together each Sunday in honor of our Resurrected Lord’s first appearance on Easter. This special time of receiving Eucharist truly re-Members the Sabbath as Members of the Body of Christ become one through Christ’s own body and blood.

Mass may take only 45 minutes, so what about the remaining hours? Do we still have to keep the whole day holy to the Lord? In some ways, every day needs to be holy to God, for instance, by praying, forgiving, and seeking God’s will in our lives. However, Hebrews 4:9-10 addresses need for more than this by saying, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his” (Revised Standard Version.) You might say, then, that remembering the Sabbath is a time to forget our own work or anything that’s part of our regular workday routines and, instead, focus on God’s work in and around us.

At first peek, the Catechism seems to offer little guidance on how we’re to go about this, but actually, its contents have been as highly compressed as a poem, which often requires three or more readings to reveal its mysteries. At any reading rate, the Subject Index of the Catechism lists a number of references under “Sabbath, Sabbath rest,” while Article 3 of “Part Three: Life In Christ” focuses entirely on “The Third Commandment.” Each of those several pages warrants a prayerful and careful reading, but the subheading, “A day of grace and rest from work,” offers the most direct response to your question.

For instance, 2184 says: “Just as God ‘rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,’ human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familiar, cultural, social, and religious lives.” That word “cultivate” emphasizes the ongoing need to nurture the relationships vital to a well-rounded life — a life meant to include family, community, society, and religion. With those key words to direct us, we begin to see some personal answers for appropriate use of our prime-time Sundays. And I say “personal” because God gives each of us a variety of gifts and a variety of options for using them. So, depending on each unique combination of our spiritual gifts and means, we might feel led, for instance, to spend time in prayer, take Eucharist to a home-bound parishioner, go on a “date” with our spouse, phone a family member, visit a child in the hospital, invite a lonely neighbor to lunch, baby-sit for an overwhelmed parent, attend a concert of uplifting music, participate in a Bible study group, restore something in the environment, or make amends in a broken relationship. Seldom, however, will any single individual do all of the above since remembering the Sabbath also remembers our own need to rest.

Generally speaking, the Catechism says, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body…” (2185.) After reminding us to be mindful that other people need rest too, 2186 goes on to say, “Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.” So, regardless of whether our regular workweek has taxed us physically, mentally, or spiritually, a day of Sabbath rest encourages us to rest — in every way — in God.

Thanks, that is really encouraging and helps a lot.

 

[Catholic1954]

If you are comfortable with the thought, you can try calling the rectory during the week and ask them to put a notice in the bulletin or make an announcement at the end of Mass, asking for someone from the parish who would be willing to drive you to Mass every week. This comes up in my parish every once in a while and people are usually happy to help out.

 

[seeker_of_God]

If you are comfortable with the thought, you can try calling the rectory during the week and ask them to put a notice in the bulletin or make an announcement at the end of Mass, asking for someone from the parish who would be willing to drive you to Mass every week. This comes up in my parish every once in a while and people are usually happy to help out.

Hey thanks. I might try that.

 

[NoWhereMan]

If you are comfortable with the thought, you can try calling the rectory during the week and ask them to put a notice in the bulletin or make an announcement at the end of Mass, asking for someone from the parish who would be willing to drive you to Mass every week. This comes up in my parish every once in a while and people are usually happy to help out.

Very good suggestion!

 

[NoWhereMan]

I know a few people who went to daily mass for many years, now they are sickly & some have eye problems which makes them unable to drive. I don`t think any of them are to be held culpable