Missing Mass While Traveling

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I realize this is a topic that has been discussed many times however I still have a question. I often travel to remote locations because of skiing and sailing. I always attend Sunday Mass when at home but it is sometimes very complicated when away. Recently I was on a ski trip in Montana. The nearest Catholic Church was seven miles away, there was no public transportation, and I did not have a car. So I would have had to walk 14 miles on an open highway by myself in 5 degree temperatures. Could I have done it? Probably. But would it have been reasonable? Absolutely not! It was also not possible to get an advance dispensation because I did not know the situation until after I arrived at the ski area. So the question is, to what extent are we expected to go to get to Mass? Walk 5 miles, 10, 15? This is crazy. No one else I travel with has to go through this. There must be a reasonable solution.
 
The Church does not expect us to do the impossible.

My priest told me that if getting to mass is very difficult to downright impossible, you are excused. In this case you are risking possible hypothermia. The Church does not expect you to risk your life to get to mass.
 
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Here’s what I would do, watch EWTN Daily Mass on YouTube.
 
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Yes

The priest also told me to watch mass on TV or online if you cannot get to mass.
 
I was a ski instructor in Montana for a while. Never had a problem getting to Mass. When planning a trip you can research how to transport yourself to Mass before you go. Also many resort hotels can assist you. I cant think of a lower 48 resort where this would be an issue. Heliskiing or cat skiing would be another subject.
As far as sailing, I know nothing of the logistics but I would think if someone was “at sea” they would be at sea… nothing could really he expected.
 
My priest said that one is not guilty if he/her misses the Holy Mess while traveling.
You don’t travel IN ORDER TO AVOID the Celebration. If it was like this, it would be a sin.
In your case, absence at the Mess is only a CONSEQUENCE. So you are not guilty.
But it would be better if you assisted at a celebration on TV or on the internet, and pray the Word of that day, maybe at evening, when you have time.
 
Not a sin to miss Mass simply because one is traveling? I’ve been told just to opposite.

Only 7 miles? Book Uber.

Unable to get to Mass is one thing, simply not going because you are traveling is another.
 
Uber may not be available in that part of the country.

It is more likely not available in the middle of the mountains in Montana.
 
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Very true, but at least find out if there is a way to attend. Uber, Lyft, hotel shuttle or taxi, all might be available. Find out before you leave.

Don’t write off going simply because you didn’t sleep in your own bed last night.
 
The OP did not write off simply going because he or she did not sleep in their own bed last night.

However sometimes options are simply not available. The car centric culture of the US sometimes makes it impossible for someone with no privately owned car to get around.

The Church does not tell us to do the impossible.
 
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There is something to the point that the OP says getting to Mass when it’s cold a few miles away is not doable but sliding down a mountain at 11000 feet on 8 feet of snow is something one does for fun instead…
 
Big difference.

Walking 14 miles in freezing weather alone and risking hypothermia vs sliding down a few hundred feet with others near a warm ski chalet are two different things.

I bet the nearest church is 7 miles away accessible via roads that are probably not built for pedestrians. Add to that the risk of getting hit by a car.
 
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TruthSkr said:
I often travel to remote locations because of skiing and sailing
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Be sure that you show gratitude for God to be blessed with the means to do this often. Many people do not have the luxury of frequent holidays.
TruthSkr said:
No one else I travel with has to go through this.
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Perhaps start a Catholic ski or sailing club that does outings like this. Invite a priest along as a guest. There are priests who ski and priests who sail.
TruthSkr said:
There must be a reasonable solution.
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Look ahead when you plan your holiday. Find the nearest parish, call them and ask if they provide transport from XYZ resort or find a seaside parish where you can pull in for Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday. I doubt every one of your trips is so last minute that a bit of google and a couple of phone calls are impossible.

If no advance planning or if you find you will be so remote that no one can get to Mass, ask for a dispensation. Not because the Church requires the impossible, but, the act of seeking a dispensation may help you remember who provided you the blessings in this life.
 
A sticky wicket, as you can already see. Some will say because they have faced and overcome “similar” situations, you surely can, others will say, not to worry.

You do what you can do, and if missing an obligation which is a precept of the Church is bothering your conscience, take it to God in prayer, and to confession.

But, don’t let others lead you down the road of scrupulosity. While missing an obligation may be grave matter, it is not necessarily Mortal Sin.

Be at peace. Rejoice in the Lord always!
 
Sorry, I should have responded directly to the poster that indicated that if one was traveling, one is not obligated to attend Mass.

Meaning if someone is traveling, or not sleeping in their own bed, one is dispensed with the obligation to attend Mass. And that simply isn’t true.

I’ve missed Mass while traveling. There simply, at the time, wasn’t a way to get there. So I certainly understand that sometimes it is impossible. But it isn’t as BCathB indicates.
 
On the last several ski trips I made I did attend Mass using public transportation or simply walking. This trip to Montana caught me by surprise because I had never been there before. My point however, is that there will always be situations where getting to Mass may be possible but at the same time unreasonably difficult. The problem is that the Church does not allow for unreasonably difficult because it doesn’t trust us to not take advantage of that judgment. I realize it would be easy to abuse that judgment but I also feel the individual should have some leeway here. If only the Church would allow us to make our own decision based on what is “reasonable” and done “in good conscience” that would be a big help. I really shouldn’t have to worry about losing my soul during a plane crash heading home because I chose not to walk 15 miles in a blizzard to get to Mass.
 
Refusing to walk 15 miles in a blizzard is reasonable and prudent.

The Church does allow you to make these judgement calls for yourself. Again, the Church does not demand the impossible from you.

My parish priest had told me this over and over again.

However, to ease your conscience, talk this over with your parish priest before the trip.
 
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TruthSkr said:
So the question is, to what extent are we expected to go to get to Mass? Walk 5 miles, 10, 15? This is crazy. No one else I travel with has to go through this. There must be a reasonable solution.
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Why do you think what you have written is unreasonable? What is it that you have to “go through” that others do not? I don’t understand

You use your own potential judgment. You do not need to ask anyone here on the board for permission or confirmation about your decision.
 
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