Missing Mass

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Shonmarie

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Well, I have already messed up in posting (so new to this) and posted my question in the wrong forum. I’m certain it’s already been deleted. I think this is the correct forum, so I’ll try again.

I missed mass on All Saints Day. I had to take my father to the hospital at 6:00am to have a pacemaker replaced. We were home by afternoon, too late for the noon mass. My father had some out of town visitors for whom I prepared and served dinner. By the time we sat down, I was so exhausted I could hardly move. I had every intention of attending, but missed the 7:00pm Mass.

Have I committed a mortal sin? I will not receive the Eucharist tomorrow if I have. I just don’t know and I cannot make it to confession this afternoon. Is there anyone who can help?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for anyone’s help. I’m just happy I now have somewhere to go for conversations and answers. God Bless you all.
 
I think these are certainly valid excuses for missing a holy day of obligation. I’m sure someone will come along soon to give you the catechism version of what’s right and wrong concerning this issue.
 
Thank you, Lorrie, for your reply. I will be so unhappy if I cannot receive Our Lord tomorrow. This has been a difficult time for me and my family. My mother had to have her pacemaker replaced in Feb, 2004 and died on the table. We were devastated. When we found out my father had to go in for the same procedure, we were all so apprehensive but knew it was in God’s hands. We were so happy with the outcome and I think some of my exhaustion was a “coming down” from that. I really need to receive Our Lord tomorrow to be fed but to also thank Him for allowing my father to continue on. God Bless you. 🙂
 
It certainly wasn’t a mortal sin since it lacks full consent and free choice; two of the three requirements for a sin to be mortal. So no problem with receiving Communion.

I doubt if it was even a venial sin, but you may want to ask the priest next time you confess. This will give you certainty and guidance for the future.

If it was a venial sin, the reception of Communion will forgive it.
 
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Shonmarie:
Well, I have already messed up in posting (so new to this) and posted my question in the wrong forum. I’m certain it’s already been deleted. I think this is the correct forum, so I’ll try again.

I missed mass on All Saints Day. I had to take my father to the hospital at 6:00am to have a pacemaker replaced. We were home by afternoon, too late for the noon mass. My father had some out of town visitors for whom I prepared and served dinner. By the time we sat down, I was so exhausted I could hardly move. I had every intention of attending, but missed the 7:00pm Mass.

Have I committed a mortal sin? I will not receive the Eucharist tomorrow if I have. I just don’t know and I cannot make it to confession this afternoon. Is there anyone who can help?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for anyone’s help. I’m just happy I now have somewhere to go for conversations and answers. God Bless you all.
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Caring for your father is of course a valid and acceptable reason. However entertaining guests would not be. What was the reason you could not make it to the Vigil of All Saints on Monday knowing that you would be so busy on Tuesday? Personally I would have made my father go with me and go to Confession, receive Holy Communion and receive the Sacrament of Anointing the night before the medical procedure.
 
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Shonmarie:
Well, I have already messed up in posting (so new to this) and posted my question in the wrong forum. I’m certain it’s already been deleted. I think this is the correct forum, so I’ll try again.

I missed mass on All Saints Day. I had to take my father to the hospital at 6:00am to have a pacemaker replaced. We were home by afternoon, too late for the noon mass. My father had some out of town visitors for whom I prepared and served dinner. By the time we sat down, I was so exhausted I could hardly move. I had every intention of attending, but missed the 7:00pm Mass.

Have I committed a mortal sin? I will not receive the Eucharist tomorrow if I have. I just don’t know and I cannot make it to confession this afternoon. Is there anyone who can help?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for anyone’s help. I’m just happy I now have somewhere to go for conversations and answers. God Bless you all.
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You can’t accidentally commit a mortal sin. Nonetheless, I don’t know all the circumstances, but deliberately missing Mass, with perfect consent of your will and full knowledge that such is a grave sin, meets the criteria for mortal sin in Catholic theology. To the extent that full advertence or perfect consent is lacking, such sin is considered venial.
 
My father was not well enough to attend the vigil Mass and my intention was to go the the Mass on All Saints Day with his visitors. We had discussed it and decided we would go that evening, but by the time they arrived and I fed them it was later than I had anticipated and that’s when the exhaustion of the day set in. I had to get up at 2:45am in order to get ready, get to my father’s house and get him to the hospital in time. It truly was my (our) intention to go. I will just go to confession next week and not receive tomorrow. Thank you for you responses.
 
According to the *New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, Study Edition, *by John P. Beal, et. al. Ed.:
“Those who find it impossible, or impossible without serious inconvenience, to attend Mass in individual instances are morally excused from the observance of the obligation” (commentary on canon 1247, pg 1445)
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Br. Rich SFO:
Personally I would have made my father go with me and go to Confession, receive Holy Communion and receive the Sacrament of Anointing the night before the medical procedure.
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If you make someone do it, do they still “count”?
 
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Shonmarie:
Thank you, Lorrie, for your reply. I will be so unhappy if I cannot receive Our Lord tomorrow. This has been a difficult time for me and my family. My mother had to have her pacemaker replaced in Feb, 2004 and died on the table. We were devastated. When we found out my father had to go in for the same procedure, we were all so apprehensive but knew it was in God’s hands. We were so happy with the outcome and I think some of my exhaustion was a “coming down” from that. I really need to receive Our Lord tomorrow to be fed but to also thank Him for allowing my father to continue on. God Bless you. 🙂
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I echo what Joe Kelley said. I think these are situations that couldn’t be helped. I would go ahead and receive communion if I was you.
 
This reply by Bro Rich is one reason that we should be careful in our responses
Originally Posted by Br. Rich SFO
Personally I would have made my father go with me and go to Confession, receive Holy Communion and receive the Sacrament of Anointing the night before the medical procedure.
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Now we know that you had to get up at 2.45 - your situation becomes clearer. To my mind - and I’m no expert - you did your best - you had the intention but things just didn’t work out.

It’s relatively easy to say what you should have done - but if your father was not fit and you were physically exhausted, then to my most un-expert mind you were excused.

And as a by the way I would NEVER make anyone go to Confession - suggest , advise - yes - compulsion - certainly not
 
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geojack:
If you make someone do it, do they still “count”?
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Ok of course you can’t force anyone. Replace the word “made” with “strongly encouraged”.
 
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wannabee:
This reply by Bro Rich is one reason that we should be careful in our responses

Now we know that you had to get up at 2.45 - your situation becomes clearer. To my mind - and I’m no expert - you did your best - you had the intention but things just didn’t work out.

It’s relatively easy to say what you should have done - but if your father was not fit and you were physically exhausted, then to my most un-expert mind you were excused.

And as a by the way I would NEVER make anyone go to Confession - suggest , advise - yes - compulsion - certainly not
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I suppose I should keep my personal opinions out of my answers. The only person who can decide if a sin has been committed is the one commiting it and a confessor in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When a person is uncertain they should folllow their conscience on the matter.
 
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