Not Attending Mass, a Sin?

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BootCampJr

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I am new to the Catholic Church, and am set for completing RCIA at this year’s Easter Vigil. All my studies, and certainly the things taught in RCIA, indicate that not attending Mass is sinful behavior. I’m curious, why is it that many people in my parish habitually miss Mass and consider it to be anything but sin? I came across a woman today from work, who happened to mention that she attends the same parish that I have been attending. I indicated that I haven’t seen her there, but dismissed it as she possibly went to another service (Saturday night, or Sunday at 8). She mentioned that she rarely went, and indicated that she usually plays golf on Sundays, and misses Mass frequently. I was quite put off by this, as I thought it was the faithful duty of a Catholic to never miss a Mass, unless of course, something prevented them from attending (legitimate reason). Your (name removed by moderator)ut would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for the time and consideration to reply to this post.
 
You are correct–it is a sin to miss Mass unless there is a valid reason. A primo tee time isn’t valid.

She may legitimately be unaware of the Sunday obligation–poor catechesis is a scandal of the Church IMO. Nevertheless, to speculate as to the state of another’s soul is inappropriate.

A Christianly thing you could do the next time the topic comes up is to ask her about the Sunday obligation you heard about in RCIA. If she doesn’t know about it, it’s your first opportunity to evangelize as a Catholic!
 
BootCampJr said:
I thought it was the faithful duty of a Catholic to never miss a Mass, unless of course, something prevented them from attending (legitimate reason).
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You are quite correct.

There are many people who identify themselves as Catholic who do not participate in the Sacramental life of the Church. Sad, but true.

Of course, many others hardly ever miss Mass (and, then, only because of some serious reason). I don’t wish to sound boastful, but I’ve been Catholic for nearly 20 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever missed more than five or six Sundays or days of obligation, and the same is true for my whole family. And we see lots of people there each and every week who also never skip Mass.

Welcome to the Church!
 
Thank you for your reply. However, I find it rather strange to address the Sunday obligation as a “new jack.” It would be my presumption that all Catholics would know of this obligation. Perhaps a gentle reminder is more appropriate?
 
Thanks David. Home is such a beautiful place to be. I was a 41 year member of the Anglican Church. And, home is where my heart led me. Thanks again.
 
BootCampJr said:
Thank you for your reply. However, I find it rather strange to address the Sunday obligation as a “new jack.” It would be my presumption that all Catholics would know of this obligation. Perhaps a gentle reminder is more appropriate?
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That’s why I said it’s a scandal!

You’d be surprised what people “don’t know” due to selective attention. “Presumption” itself can be a sin. The most kind thing (and diplomatic thing) IMO would be to “gently remind” by asking them to tell you.

It’s up to you what you do–I was just offering a suggestion. Nevertheless–you are right, and the Catholic is wrong.
 
st_felicity said:
You are correct–it is a sin to miss Mass unless there is a valid reason. A primo tee time isn’t valid.

She may legitimately be unaware of the Sunday obligation–poor catechesis is a scandal of the Church IMO. Nevertheless, to speculate as to the state of another’s soul is inappropriate.

A Christianly thing you could do the next time the topic comes up is to ask her about the Sunday obligation you heard about in RCIA. If she doesn’t know about it, it’s your first opportunity to evangelize as a Catholic!
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If you have a primo tee time on Sunday, one is perfectly well within his/her meeting the Sunday Obligation by attending a Saturday evening Mass.
 
BootCampJr said:
I am new to the Catholic Church, and am set for completing RCIA at this year’s Easter Vigil. All my studies, and certainly the things taught in RCIA, indicate that not attending Mass is sinful behavior. I’m curious, why is it that many people in my parish habitually miss Mass and consider it to be anything but sin? I came across a woman today from work, who happened to mention that she attends the same parish that I have been attending. I indicated that I haven’t seen her there, but dismissed it as she possibly went to another service (Saturday night, or Sunday at 8). She mentioned that she rarely went, and indicated that she usually plays golf on Sundays, and misses Mass frequently. I was quite put off by this, as I thought it was the faithful duty of a Catholic to never miss a Mass, unless of course, something prevented them from attending (legitimate reason). Your (name removed by moderator)ut would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for the time and consideration to reply to this post.
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Don’t be scandalized…the Bible speaks of this:

Revelation 3:15-17

**15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Hang in there, stay close to the Lord, and do what you know is right. God will bless your efforts.

**
 
Could someone direct me toward Scripture which would indicate that missing Mass is a sin, please?
 
Yes Sunday Mass is a day of obligation and a sin to miss without valid and legitimate reasons. However, let me point out that some people do not go for various reasons, one of them being told that it is a sin. You know the hell fire damnation mentality. What don’t we remind and tell people the positive reasons to go to church. The Devil would really hate for the good reasons to be emphasized. He loves the fear and guilt negative reasons, because some people stay away for those reasons. I feel I’m not expressing myself very well on this topic. I hope you get the idea.

Let try to explain by citing the good reasons to go.
  1. The Eucharist - Having a personal encounter with Jesus, this sure beats the Protestant version
  2. The Word of God - The Mass readings
  3. The Homily - How Father can explain how God’s Word relates to today.
  4. The community of believers - Worshiping together in communion with each other.
  5. Bringing your problems to Jesus.
  6. Forgiveness of minor venial sins with the Penitential Rite
  7. The use of the five senses in worship of God.
  8. It helps with our spiritual growth
  9. We sometimes go through emotional highs and lows,if we really are in tune with the Mass. Example: Something in the Mass can trigger a joyful or remorseful emotion that leads to crying. It brings us to realize the beauty of our faith and the wonders of God.
  10. et al.
 
Again, thank you all for your replies. You are justifying what I thought to be right, and I am very appreciative for the effort expended in doing so. 😃
 
I was just wondering if anyone could provide some Scripture which would indicate that not attending Mass is a sin. Then the question becomes, if you’re a Protestant, is not attending service a sin?
 
Neolithic said:
Could someone direct me toward Scripture which would indicate that missing Mass is a sin, please?
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Three scriptures - the first is where Jesus says to the Apostles ‘what you bind on earth is bound in heaven’. The other where he tells them ‘who hears you hears Me’. Those two indicate that the Church has the authority to bind us to WHATSOEVER the Holy Spirit prompts it to, and that it speaks with Christ’s own authority when it does so.

The second is from St Paul - Hebrews 10:25 to be precise. ‘Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another’. Clearly this refers their regular meetings for worship. Indications are that they met pretty much every day - the least we can do is honour the Lord’s day by worshipping together in His house as He teachs us to do through His Church.
 
LilyM said:
Three scriptures - the first is where Jesus says to the Apostles ‘what you bind on earth is bound in heaven’. The other where he tells them ‘who hears you hears Me’. Those two indicate that the Church has the authority to bind us to WHATSOEVER the Holy Spirit prompts it to, and that it speaks with Christ’s own authority when it does so.

The second is from St Paul - Hebrews 10:25 to be precise. ‘Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another’. Clearly this refers their regular meetings for worship. Indications are that they met pretty much every day - the least we can do is honour the Lord’s day by worshipping together in His house as He teachs us to do through His Church.
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One more passage to add… the Ten Commandments 👍
 
None of those Scriptures indicate that it’s a sin. Didn’t Jesus say something about praying alone, etc? Do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand on street corners… or something like that.
 
Neolithic said:
None of those Scriptures indicate that it’s a sin. Didn’t Jesus say something about praying alone, etc? Do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand on street corners… or something like that.
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Wrong. Binding and loosing means Christ’s church can bind us on pain of sin. And ‘who hears you hears me’ means we need to listen when the Church tells us something is a sin, using the infallible Holy-Spirit-guided teaching authority He has given them.

Jesus did say those words. At the same time He frequented the synagogue and Temple and took part in public worship there, as did the Apostles too, at least for a time. So there’s no contradiction, clearly.

Public worship is different - the focus is not on the individual worshipper, so it does nothing for their ego.

It certainly doesn’t make anyone look ‘holier than thou’ or be a hypocrite when
a) you’re in a congregation along with hundreds of others - and knowing there are millions around the world doing the same, and
b) almost the first thing we say in Mass is ‘Lord, Have Mercy’ - in other words the first item on the agenda is to acknowledge our sinfulness and need for forgiveness. Hypocrisy would be to pretend we WEREN’T sinners.

Preaching as an individual on a street corner might be different.
 
Sin, is the lack of something specially grace. In that concept, not attending the Holy Mass is a sin. For in our spiritual life, we need spiritual food in order to survive spiritually. Just as when the Israelites journeyed in the desert, they needed food and God provided them food from heaven. They ate of the manna.

In this world we are like the ancient Israelites. We need the spiritual food to survive spiritually.

God provided the food by giving us the body of Christ. It is in the Holy Mass that the spiritual food is freely accessible.

Now, those who realize such need to eat of it would not fail to attend the Holy Mass. But those who are taught that it is simply an obligation imposed by the Church, a time would come that they would not care of such obligation. They can pretend to be in the Church if only to satisfy curious eyes.

But those who are aware that attending the Holy Mass is a necessity for the nourishment of his soul, they would find the strength they need through it. It is the source of grace. The absence of grace is a sin.
 
Catechism references, you can go read the footnotes:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm#2180

The Sunday obligation
[2180](javascript:openWindow(‘cr/2180.htm’)😉 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118
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.
[2182](javascript:openWindow(‘cr/2182.htm’)😉 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."120
 
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