Obligation for Mass with bad/icy roads?

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catholiclady11

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What is the church teaching as far as obligation to attend mass when the roads are bad? Our street is like a sheet of ice and it doesn’t look safe for trying to drive to mass. I see that you may miss mass for illness, but what about unsafe driving conditions?

Our parish listed all extra activities as cancelled but said nothing about the mass.
 
For me personally, I would not go out if the roads were bad enough that I felt I was risking my life. The general guideline I go by is to stay home if the weather is bad enough that I’d miss work or school over it.
 
Use common sense.

Mass itself may not be canceled because the priest is in residence at the parish and can conduct Mass since he need not travel there.

No one expects you to do what is not possible. Stay home and stay safe.
 
Weather is listed as a factor which may render one unable to attend Mass. So, if there is a hurricane happening, one is not obligated to attend. If the roads are icy, one is not obligated.
 
catholiclady11 said:
What is the church teaching as far as obligation to attend mass when the roads are bad? Our street is like a sheet of ice and it doesn’t look safe for trying to drive to mass. I see that you may miss mass for illness, but what about unsafe driving conditions?

Our parish listed all extra activities as cancelled but said nothing about the mass.
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If you have a just reason to miss mass, then the obligation is dispensed. If it is unsafe to drive and you have no other safe way of getting there, than that is a just reason to miss mass, therefore you would not be sinning in missing under such circumstances.
 
But this is the most beautiful way to die after martyrdom for Christ.
 
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. NO.

OP, there is no obligation if it isn’t safe. Here in Minnesota, it was cold enough this morning that when it snowed, the road salt/chemicals wouldn’t work when the snow froze over. I had to stay home, it wasn’t safe to drive. If there is a risk, don’t go. I wish everyone could learn that.
 
If you can’t get there you can’t get there. One local church cancelled their afternoon service.

There is always EWTN if you get it.
 
Today I went to mass and was slipping and sliding while walking to my car and through the parking lot. I really thought of staying home. If it is too dangerous, stay home! Don’t risk it!
 
catholiclady11 said:
What is the church teaching as far as obligation to attend mass when the roads are bad? Our street is like a sheet of ice and it doesn’t look safe for trying to drive to mass. I see that you may miss mass for illness, but what about unsafe driving conditions?

Our parish listed all extra activities as cancelled but said nothing about the mass.
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If you really feel you cannot make it mass because of bad weather, you do not have to go.

Churches cancel services often in the winter because of it.

My Grandma lives 3 blocks from her Church. She drove there once, looked at the sidewalk and steps and went back home cause she didn’t want to risk it.
 
TheologicalLeft said:
But this is the most beautiful way to die after martyrdom for Christ.
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You can not reach out to martyrdom, it must hunt you down. Read about St Thomas More,he used every legal means he could to avoid execution. Ultimately, it was questionable testimony which caused his execution.
 
If you do not feel safe traveling to Mass you do not need to go. Icy roads can put not only yourself, but others in danger if you lose control of your car. It is a valid reason to skip Mass.
 
1ke said:
Use common sense.

Mass itself may not be canceled because the priest is in residence at the parish and can conduct Mass since he need not travel there.

No one expects you to do what is not possible. Stay home and stay safe.
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Not all priests live at the parish, in which case the Mass may not be held.

In any case, you are not obligated to risk your neck, never mind anybody else’s; if you are at all concerned about the ability to drive (or walk for that matter) safely, you need not risk it.

ICXC NIKA
 
Iheartcoffee said:
If you do not feel safe traveling to Mass you do not need to go. Icy roads can put not only yourself, but others in danger if you lose control of your car. It is a valid reason to skip Mass.
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Yes. This is not like hazarding persecution to go to Mass. When it is an act of God standing in your way, then bowing to nature is allowed in order to maintain safety.
 
GEddie said:
Not all priests live at the parish, in which case the Mass may not be held.
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I didn’t suggest that all priests live at the parish. Ours does not as he is responsible for three parishes and lives about 20 miles from our parish.

I suggested that Mass might not be canceled at her parish if the priest resides there.
 
1ke said:
I didn’t suggest that all priests live at the parish. Ours does not as he is responsible for three parishes and lives about 20 miles from our parish.

I suggested that Mass might not be canceled at her parish if the priest resides there.
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The point being that the obligation may not be in effect even if Mass is not cancelled. The presumption is that those who can travel safely will do so, and those who cannot ought to stay home.

I remember our pastor being appalled at the older people who could barely walk on their own steam on a good day trying to get into the church–some using their walkers!–even though the parking lot and sidewalks were coated with a layer of ice from the freezing rain. He said that just because the parish might put stuff on the sidewalk to make it less hazardous does not mean that parishioners ought to take imprudent chances in order to attend a Mass. He made it very clear that it was not laudatory to go out and get yourself hurt, but rather foolish and unnecessary, even on a Sunday or a Holy Day.
 
My son was scheduled as an altar server at the Sunday evening Mass. Based on the weather report for our area, we went to a morning Mass and told the priest we would not be back this afternoon. He had absolutely no problem with that.

As it turns out, many activities in the area have been cancelled this afternoon and evening - everything on country or school property as well as in other locations. Mass can go on because our priests do live on property, not sure how many parishioners will show up though.
 
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