Not Attending Mass

[Marcus_T]

I have a friend who was raised catholic but in adulthood has pretty much abandon his catholic faith. Although he says he still believes in God but does not believe in going to church or receiving the sacraments. He once told me that he doesn’t think attending church is necessary (for salvation) and he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

Mark

 

[Bill_Martin]

This is just my opinion, but I personally think that it is better to do what you think is right and be wrong than to do what you think is wrong and be right. One of these is open to correction and the truth; the other is not.

If your friend is genuinely trying to do the right thing but is mistaken or has been misled about the Mass or sacraments, I would say that he is in a better place than someone who just doesnt care at all or is openly hostile to them. Whether it’s a sin or not is not my call and I have no answer.

 

[TARRAT]

We have the right to disagree with the church but it is our obligation to study the church’s position. I think with very little study this person would see the folly of his/her way.

 

[Della]

I have a friend who was raised catholic but in adulthood has pretty much abandon his catholic faith. Although he says he still believes in God but does not believe in going to church or receiving the sacraments. He once told me that he doesn’t think attending church is necessary (for salvation) and he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

Mark

Just from your friend’s remarks it is obvious that he does know it’s a sin, but is making excuses not to go. Why he doesn’t want to observe his obligation is not for us to guess, but he knows it’s wrong, all right. Let some major problem hit his life and he’d be back at Mass as fast as his legs could carry him.

We Westerners are spoiled rotten–we can have whatever we want whenever we want so we think this gives us license to decide what is sin and what isn’t–like choosing one brand of toothpaste over another, but we don’t have that right

Also, we’ve been deeply influenced by modernism and the break down of basic values. So, it’s no surprise your friend thinks he can excuse himself from what he knows is right.

The question is, how will God judge him and his actions? That we cannot know, but he is putting his soul in grave danger and should be told that in love.

 

[Ohana]

I cannot begin to judge another’s sinfulness. What I will say is that Mass attendance is really crucial for me. It is connection to Christ, to the community of the faithful, the opportunity for deeper understanding of the Word, etc.etc. I hope your friend can come to understand that.

 

[Thomas1981]

I have a friend who was raised catholic but in adulthood has pretty much abandon his catholic faith. Although he says he still believes in God but does not believe in going to church or receiving the sacraments. He once told me that he doesn’t think attending church is necessary (for salvation) and he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

Mark

You’ve said that this person has pretty much abandoned their faith. That seems to be the bigger issue. Or, at least, the mass non-attendance can fall under that larger issue.

 

[cantore64]

I cannot begin to judge another’s sinfulness. What I will say is that Mass attendance is really crucial for me. It is connection to Christ, to the community of the faithful, the opportunity for deeper understanding of the Word, etc.etc. I hope your friend can come to understand that.

I wholeheartedly agree with this response. I once had a priest tell me, as my penance, to attend daily mass for 5 days straight. I went to an early morning mass and every single day went better because of it. If I were you, I’d challenge my friend to do the same thing, and see if he doesn’t find himself changed for the better. He has nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

 

[Dorothy]

I would hope that someone would share with him that our Lord Jesus Christ said “Take and eat…”, and that this is done at Mass.

Also what Jesus said in John 6 about the Eucharist is pertinent.

As for myself, I cannot imagine not being in good community with members of my parish.

May the Lord lead your friend to full understand the Eucharist.

 

[Thomas1981]

At least in my experience, as someone who was non-practicing for a long time and has recently come back, perhaps it would be good for this person to meet someone who you think they would “click” with that can help address issues like this. I came back to the Church because of some of the wonderful people I’ve met. The impetus was more like “I want to get whatever it is that they’ve got” rather than focusing on the sinful aspect of not going to Mass. If someone doesn’t feel very attached to their faith, fear of sin probably does not carry much water.

 

[MtnDwellar]

If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?Mark

From the Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 1325. Are not the commandments of the Church also commandments of God?

A. The commandments of the Church are also commandments of God, because they are made by His authority, and we are bound under pain of sin to observe them.

1. Is it a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation?

A. It is a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation, unless we are excused for a serious reason. They also commit a mortal sin who, having others under their charge, hinder them from hearing Mass, without a sufficient reason.

 

[Phemie]

I remember asking that question of a priest in religious ed class back in 1969. “If I don’t believe that something is a sin am I committing a sin if I do it?” His reply was “No.” Was he wrong?

There are many who don’t know the extent of what the commandments mean. While in university my fellow students commented that I couldn’t possibly break all 10 commandments since I was not married. To them, “Thou shall not commit adultery” only applied to married people.

 

[Gorgias]

he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

If i truly believe in my heart that committing bank robbery is not a crime, do I commit a crime when I rob a bank?

How about if I’ve learned that it is a crime, and then I later rationalize it and convince myself that it isn’t? Is it still a crime then?

Your friend is confusing objective truth with personal opinion. (We could talk about what makes a serious sin a mortal sin, but that’s a separate question – and, it doesn’t necessarily get your friend off the hook, even in that context.)

 

[Marcus_T]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ve tried my best to help him understand that missing Mass is a serious thing but the harder I try the more determined he is to find reasons for not attending. He once told me, and I quote, “I swear I will never step inside another church the rest of my life”. So, the only thing I can do for him is to continue to pray for him that he will eventually find his way back to the church. I read once, where, I believe, it took St. Monica 20 years of prayers for her son to convert. Sometimes we have to let God do things in His time, not ours.

Mark

 

[Thomas1981]

Unfortunately it can sometimes take some major life event to break through the encrusted plaque of pride covering the heart. It took major existential desolation for me.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ve tried my best to help him understand that missing Mass is a serious thing but the harder I try the more determined he is to find reasons for not attending. He once told me, and I quote, “I swear I will never step inside another church the rest of my life”. So, the only thing I can do for him is to continue to pray for him that he will eventually find his way back to the church. I read once, where, I believe, it took St. Monica 20 years of prayers for her son to convert. Sometimes we have to let God do things in His time, not ours.

Mark

Your friend appears to want to be the master of his life and feels he has no room in his life for the Church or her teachings.
He might go through a crisis that will bring him back to the church or maybe he will meet someone who will help lead him back someday.

 

[Vico]

I have a friend who was raised catholic but in adulthood has pretty much abandon his catholic faith. Although he says he still believes in God but does not believe in going to church or receiving the sacraments. He once told me that he doesn’t think attending church is necessary (for salvation) and he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

Mark

Does raised Catholic mean he received the teachings of Christianity including the precepts of the Church? Also does abandoned mean he ceased to practice? If so, then that is objectively sinful for a Catholic is obligated always to safeguard his faith.Catechism of the Catholic Church

1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.

1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

 

[dividus]

Unfortunately it can sometimes take some major life event to break through the encrusted plaque of pride covering the heart.

A very insightful comment.Totally agree.

 

[Thomas1981]

I believe, it took St. Monica 20 years of prayers for her son to convert. Sometimes we have to let God do things in His time, not ours.
Mark

Yes, and St. Monica’s son ended up being St. Augustine.

 

[CRATUS]

I have a friend who was raised catholic but in adulthood has pretty much abandon his catholic faith. Although he says he still believes in God but does not believe in going to church or receiving the sacraments. He once told me that he doesn’t think attending church is necessary (for salvation) and he also believes that missing Mass is not a sin. Hence my question. If someone truly believes in their heart that missing Mass is not a sin even though it is contrary to church teaching does that person still commit a sin if they don’t attend Mass (without a valid reason)?

Mark

I understand his line of reasoning. He has probably, unfortunately, encountered vicious people who have attend church regularly and are stubborn in their bad habits. A lot of people just go to mass but do not change on the inside. Maybe he simply does not understand the importance. If you can be a good person without church attendance, then why go? I still think it is a sin, but I am not sure. “Keep Holy the Sabbath Day.” I do not know him personally. If a person does not attend mass, it is hard for me to believe in keeps the Sabbath Day holy. Maybe he does pray and read the bible often and maybe he wants to attend mass but has reservations.