No Christmas Mass for Me

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Kephart

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Unfortunately, my journey home has not been completed as my marriage has not been convalidated-- I just couldn’t get stuff done in time.

This means I cannot take the Eucharist yet and I just don’t feel right about going to* any* Mass, let alone Christmas Mass. Not only that, I need to go to confession first.

Before anyone says I’m not going for any other reason, I’ll say it’s not true.
I am alone in the house-- OK there are my dogs. But the family took off to see my mother-in-law, so it’s not that I’m “too busy”.

I just want to get my spiritual house in order first and I want to take the Eucharist at my first Mass in 30 years. The very first thing I’m going to do after Christmas is to go to confession. I look forward to spending at least 30 minutes in the confessional… :o

So I have a private devotional planned for tomorrow.

Does anyone know if there is a televised Christmas Mass?
 
Kephart said:
Unfortunately, my journey home has not been completed as my marriage has not been convalidated-- I just couldn’t get stuff done in time.

This means I cannot take the Eucharist yet and I just don’t feel right about going to any** Mass, let alone Christmas Mass. Not only that, I need to go to confession first.

Before anyone says I’m not going for any other reason, I’ll say it’s not true.
I am alone in the house-- OK there are my dogs. But the family took off to see my mother-in-law, so it’s not that I’m “too busy”.

I just want to get my spiritual house in order first and I want to take the Eucharist at my first Mass in 30 years. The very first thing I’m going to do after Christmas is to go to confession. I look forward to spending at least 30 minutes in the confessional… :o

So I have a private devotional planned for tomorrow.

Does anyone know if there is a televised Christmas Mass?
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You are a member of the Body of Christ and you are needed at a Mass tomorrow. This is NOT about ‘feelings’, this is about giving God the honor, respect and worship He deserves. Go to Mass. You must continue your journey as you are now-not as how you wished it would be. Prepare well, then thank the Lord for His many Blessings. Staying home just causes you to commit yet another grave sin< is that what you really want? Is that what Baby Jesus really wants from you??.

Peace be with you.
 
Kephart said:
This means I cannot take the Eucharist yet and I just don’t feel right about going to* any* Mass, let alone Christmas Mass. Not only that, I need to go to confession first.
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Jimdandy is right. Besides you don’t want to add another mortal sin on your soul before confession. In fact, Mass (without communion, of course) might be the best way to prepare for it.
 
ProVobis said:
Jimdandy is right. Besides you don’t want to add another mortal sin on your soul before confession. In fact, Mass (without communion, of course) might be the best way to prepare for it.
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Jim and ProVobis are both right.

Nothing you could sit home and do, no matter how devout you think it is and may very well be, will take the place of your presence at Holy Mass. A Catholic doesn’t get their spiritual house in order by committing sin.

Go to Mass!!!
 
Kephart said:
Unfortunately, my journey home has not been completed as my marriage has not been convalidated-- I just couldn’t get stuff done in time.
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Hopefully you can complete it in the New Year. And if you’ve got any convalidation paperwork sitting around at your house right now, work on it now, get it done, and get it into the mail today.
I just want to get my spiritual house in order first and I want to take the Eucharist at my first Mass in 30 years. The very first thing I’m going to do after Christmas is to go to confession. I look forward to spending at least 30 minutes in the confessional… :o
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Be that as it may - the important thing is to be at Mass. We aren’t required to receive Holy Communion at Mass; we are required to be present there. You can’t wait until everything is perfect - start with the imperfect, and work your way up from there.
 
Kephart said:
Unfortunately, my journey home has not been completed as my marriage has not been convalidated-- I just couldn’t get stuff done in time.

This means I cannot take the Eucharist yet and I just don’t feel right about going to* any* Mass, let alone Christmas Mass. Not only that, I need to go to confession first.

Before anyone says I’m not going for any other reason, I’ll say it’s not true.
I am alone in the house-- OK there are my dogs. But the family took off to see my mother-in-law, so it’s not that I’m “too busy”.

I just want to get my spiritual house in order first and I want to take the Eucharist at my first Mass in 30 years. The very first thing I’m going to do after Christmas is to go to confession. I look forward to spending at least 30 minutes in the confessional… :o

So I have a private devotional planned for tomorrow.

Does anyone know if there is a televised Christmas Mass?
Click to expand...
Perfection is the enemy of the good.

You want things to be perfect, but that means you are missing that which is good.
 
Go to Mass. Christ is still present, and it’s His birthday.
Merry Christmas.
 
Hello Kephart.

Mass contains many blessings not just the Eucharistic. Going is part of it, so is receiving. But if you think the* only reason to go* is to receive, then there is a disconnect. You’d be missing something. Get a copy of Dr. Hahn’s book the Lamb’s Supper and read it. It will show you more to the Mass then you ever thought possible. Then you’ll understand why many come and wait till they are allowed.

Your life right now is a time of preparation but if you only focus on one single thing, no matter how great that single thing is, you are missing the message of the journey. Go to Mass and wait like all those others who do so in good faith. Look at the little children waiting for their first Holy Communion after their first Penance! Jesus said unless you become like little children you cannot enter the Kingdom of God and waiting in patience and good faith for your Reconciliation and first/next Holy Communion as well as the convalidation of your marriage is becoming like a little child. This is one way that you can do exactly as he said and wait in joyful anticipation of the day when He will come Sacramently to you specifically and in a very special way, but if you give up half way there, how can He come? Wait and have faith in the process and Him and His Church. You won’t regret it. Just sit in the pew and wait like the millions before you have.

Merry Christmas.

Glenda
 
Kephart said:
Unfortunately, my journey home has not been completed as my marriage has not been convalidated-- I just couldn’t get stuff done in time.

This means I cannot take the Eucharist yet and I just don’t feel right about going to* any* Mass, let alone Christmas Mass. Not only that, I need to go to confession first.

Before anyone says I’m not going for any other reason, I’ll say it’s not true.
I am alone in the house-- OK there are my dogs. But the family took off to see my mother-in-law, so it’s not that I’m “too busy”.

I just want to get my spiritual house in order first and I want to take the Eucharist at my first Mass in 30 years. The very first thing I’m going to do after Christmas is to go to confession. I look forward to spending at least 30 minutes in the confessional… :o

So I have a private devotional planned for tomorrow.

Does anyone know if there is a televised Christmas Mass?
Click to expand...
Receiving the eucharist isn’t a requirement to go to mass. I went to mass for years as a non Catholic and couldn’t receive. It was still worthwhile to go. Going to confession also isn’t a requirement to go to mass. Just go.
 
God wants to see you. He knows the state of your spiritual house. That’s why he called you. You have a personal invitation. Go.
 
Given the overwhelming response, I have decided to go.

I looked up a parish and they have a Christmas Eve Mass and a Christmas Day Mass.
Does the Christmas Eve Mass fulfill my holy obligation or should I go to the one on Christmas Day?
 
Hello Kephart.
Kephart said:
Given the overwhelming response, I have decided to go.

I looked up a parish and they have a Christmas Eve Mass and a Christmas Day Mass.
Does the Christmas Eve Mass fulfill my holy obligation or should I go to the one on Christmas Day?
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I’m kinda wondering, if you are awaiting a convalidation of your marriage, how come your spouse cannot instruct you on this most simplest of things? I mean she should know the answer, which is yes, a Vigil Mass does fulfill your Mass attendance requirement for any Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation, and since you are working on having a Catholic marriage, you should be asking her these most rudimentary questions. She is the Catholic, right? Or am I confused? Please fill us all in.

Glenda
 
glendab said:
I’m kinda wondering, if you are awaiting a convalidation of your marriage, how come your spouse cannot instruct you on this most simplest of things?
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Because my wife is not a Catholic. I am sorry, but sometimes the simplest of things eludes me…
 
As I am homebound and haven’t been able to go to a Mass for a long time, EWTN is a Godsend. daily mass 4 times or more a day, special masses. lots of masses on Christmas eve and Christmas
 
I’m leaving in 30 minutes.

Don’t have nice clothes-- going in jeans and a shirt.

But I’m going.
 
Good for you!

I am glad you are going. I don’t know if this describes you, but I am a “recovering perfectionist” and I have struggled with the idea that I am not holy enough, don’t have nice enough clothes, my kids are too loud, and so on, to go to Mass. These are temptations from the devil, trying to keep you away from the graces you need.

But, as the saying goes, the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints, and so we go, with all our imperfections.

I’ve never regretted going to Mass, but I’ve regretted missing it many, many times.

God bless you and Merry Christmas!
 
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