Not attending mass due to guilt

[Monica4316]

Hi all, this is my first post here and I needed some guidance/advice on sins and mass attendance.

I’ve been struggling a LOT with going to church when in the mean time since my last confession I have sinned and feel way TOO guilty to attend Sunday mass since I won’t accept communion until I have gone to confession again for the “new” sin I have committed. But then if I don’t go then that’s another sin! So then I feel really guilty and just stay home all together until I manage to go to confession the following weekend. Can anyone share some advice on the matter?

Thanks

We are obligated to go to Sunday Mass even if we don’t receive Communion. In fact missing Sunday Mass is a mortal sin unless you physically CAN’T get there.

If you need Confession and it’s Sunday, you should go to Sunday Mass and stay in your pew during Communion… just don’t receive. There’s nothing shameful in that, no one should be pressured into receiving Communion when they are not disposed to. It’s far better than receiving in a state of mortal sin, which is a mortal sin in itself, - or staying at home, which breaks your Sunday obligation. You also receive many graces just from going to Mass… even the times you don’t receive Communion. Say the Spiritual Communion prayer at those times:

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.”

It’s not receiving Jesus literally as Communion is, but it’s basically the next best thing when you can’t receive the Eucharist.

Hope that helps! God bless