Question about a term

[Monica4316]

Hello,

I am supposed to get a form filled out (by my priest) for a job. It asks if I “participate in the sacramental life of the Church” and the options are regularly, occasionally, infrequently, or not known.

I was wondering… does anyone know what this term means?

I go to Mass every week, I go to Adoration and Confession etc… however because of my scrupulosity, there have been long periods of time when I didn’t receive Communion. I am now planning on going to Confession this week and then receiving Communion again, and also asking a priest to guide me so I can receive Communion as often as I can. This has been my plan for a while but unfortunately I was without transportation since before Christmas and had difficulty getting to a church for Confession.

I am not sure …if the term means participating in Mass, - yes I do this every Sunday… if it can include Confession, - I think the longest I’ve ever been without Confession ever has been 3 months and usually it’s more often. But if it’s receiving Communion, and the answer is “occasionally” or “infrequently”, - that makes me look like I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I care really deeply about my faith…

Does anyone know about this? thanks!

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Hello,

I am supposed to get a form filled out (by my priest) for a job. It asks if I “participate in the sacramental life of the Church” and the options are regularly, occasionally, infrequently, or not known.

I was wondering… does anyone know what this term means?

I go to Mass every week, I go to Adoration and Confession etc… however because of my scrupulosity, there have been long periods of time when I didn’t receive Communion. I am now planning on going to Confession this week and then receiving Communion again, and also asking a priest to guide me so I can receive Communion as often as I can. This has been my plan for a while but unfortunately I was without transportation since before Christmas and had difficulty getting to a church for Confession.

I am not sure …if the term means participating in Mass, - yes I do this every Sunday… if it can include Confession, - I think the longest I’ve ever been without Confession ever has been 3 months and usually it’s more often. But if it’s receiving Communion, and the answer is “occasionally” or “infrequently”, - that makes me look like I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I care really deeply about my faith…

Does anyone know about this? thanks!

Greetings Monica4316,

Check the box becuase yes you do participate in the Sacraments. And you can check occasionaly seeing you go to Mass every week and Confession once in awhile.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Corki]

It sounds like the question is simply whether or not you are a regularly practicing Catholic or a sometimes practicing Catholic.

If you attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation, go to Confession at least once a year and receive Communion at least once during the Easter season you would be categorized as “regularly” participating in the Sacramental life of the Church.

 

[couponfit]

Hello,

I am supposed to get a form filled out (by my priest) for a job. It asks if I “participate in the sacramental life of the Church” and the options are regularly, occasionally, infrequently, or not known.

I was wondering… does anyone know what this term means?

I go to Mass every week, I go to Adoration and Confession etc… however because of my scrupulosity, there have been long periods of time when I didn’t receive Communion. I am now planning on going to Confession this week and then receiving Communion again, and also asking a priest to guide me so I can receive Communion as often as I can. This has been my plan for a while but unfortunately I was without transportation since before Christmas and had difficulty getting to a church for Confession.

I am not sure …if the term means participating in Mass, - yes I do this every Sunday… if it can include Confession, - I think the longest I’ve ever been without Confession ever has been 3 months and usually it’s more often. But if it’s receiving Communion, and the answer is “occasionally” or “infrequently”, - that makes me look like I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I care really deeply about my faith…

Does anyone know about this? thanks!

Are you actively part of the church. THis can mean many expressions, but generally speaking, do you go to church and maintain sacramental communion with the church.

 

[Joe_5859]

I agree with Corki’s definition for “regularly”.

To me, “occassionally” means someone who goes to Mass maybe once or twice a month and “infrequently” means someone who goes on Christmas and Easter.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks for the replies! I will ask my priest too but I wanted to check just because there’s still a week before my meeting with him lol. I hope that “regularly” means what you all said! To me, regular is like - receiving Communion every week. I go to Mass but don’t always receive Communion, trying to get there though

 

[promethius]

Thanks for the replies! I will ask my priest too but I wanted to check just because there’s still a week before my meeting with him lol. I hope that “regularly” means what you all said! To me, regular is like - receiving Communion every week. I go to Mass but don’t always receive Communion, trying to get there though

I’m going to approach this from another perspective:

The Canon law refers to the Sunday obligation to ASSIST at mass every Sunday (or for Saturday “vigil”)… not just to “attend”. We do so by being present and following the proper role of the laity by prayer, response, etc. In so doing, we assist at the sacrament, even if we do not TAKE the Sacrament during the mass, and that meets, picture perfect, the definition of “participating in the sacramental life of the church” to a T.

 

[Monica4316]

I’m going to approach this from another perspective:

The Canon law refers to the Sunday obligation to ASSIST at mass every Sunday (or for Saturday “vigil”)… not just to “attend”. We do so by being present and following the proper role of the laity by prayer, response, etc. In so doing, we assist at the sacrament, even if we do not TAKE the Sacrament during the mass, and that meets, picture perfect, the definition of “participating in the sacramental life of the church” to a T.

that makes a lot of sense… I have heard of this too before. Thanks! I’ll ask the priest but this does make sense.

 

[MarkThompson]

I’m going to approach this from another perspective:

The Canon law refers to the Sunday obligation to ASSIST at mass every Sunday (or for Saturday “vigil”)… not just to “attend”. We do so by being present and following the proper role of the laity by prayer, response, etc. In so doing, we assist at the sacrament, even if we do not TAKE the Sacrament during the mass, and that meets, picture perfect, the definition of “participating in the sacramental life of the church” to a T.

The word “assist” in this context is an old-fashioned usage and simply means “attend.” It is a cognate of the Latin or adsisto**assisto, the word used in the Latin text of the canon, which means “stand by, attend,” and has a parallel in Spanish asistir, the general verb meaning “attend” in the sense of “attend a lecture,” “attend a concert,” etc. The use of “assist” should not be taken as implying anything different from “attend.”

 

[promethius]

The word “assist” in this context is an old-fashioned usage and simply means “attend.” It is a cognate of the Latin adsisto or assisto, the word used in the Latin text of the canon, which means “stand by, attend,” and has a parallel in Spanish asistir, the general verb meaning “attend” in the sense of “attend a lecture,” “attend a concert,” etc. The use of “assist” should not be taken as implying anything different from “attend.”

I wholeheartedly disagree with your translation of the word assist, because attend, as an english word, is a homonym, meaning it has one spelling and pronunciation, but different meanings.

The sense of “stand by, attend” as a translation for assisto is correct, because it means “attend” in the dictionary sense of
3. to take care of; minister to; devote one’s services to.
4. to wait upon; accompany as a companion or servant.

The word “attend” as you are using it is an utterly different word, though a homonym, which means:

1. To be present at.

We assist at mass by participation. By no means is our assistance at mass required for validity of the mass itself, or even for its worth, but it is required for our Sunday obligation. Mere presense is not a qualifier… I cannot go to church and sleep in the pews through mass and consider my obligation fulfilled.

And, by the way, Assistir translates from Spanish into English with “assist” as the primary definition, and attend only as a synonym (and even then that depends on the proper form of “attend” being used… and not one which denotes mere presense)

 

[m134e5]

Hello,

I am supposed to get a form filled out (by my priest) for a job. It asks if I “participate in the sacramental life of the Church” and the options are regularly, occasionally, infrequently, or not known.

I was wondering… does anyone know what this term means?

I go to Mass every week, I go to Adoration and Confession etc… however because of my scrupulosity, there have been long periods of time when I didn’t receive Communion. I am now planning on going to Confession this week and then receiving Communion again, and also asking a priest to guide me so I can receive Communion as often as I can. This has been my plan for a while but unfortunately I was without transportation since before Christmas and had difficulty getting to a church for Confession.

I am not sure …if the term means participating in Mass, - yes I do this every Sunday… if it can include Confession, - I think the longest I’ve ever been without Confession ever has been 3 months and usually it’s more often. But if it’s receiving Communion, and the answer is “occasionally” or “infrequently”, - that makes me look like I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I care really deeply about my faith…

Does anyone know about this? thanks!

Just put “regularly.” This question is just making sure that applicants for the job are practicing Catholics. Based on how you describe yourself, you are a practicing Catholic. I wouldn’t put off going to confession that much though if I were you- go to confession as often as you need in order to receive communion as often as possible (without overdoing it and breaking Church law).

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello,

I am supposed to get a form filled out (by my priest) for a job. It asks if I “participate in the sacramental life of the Church” and the options are regularly, occasionally, infrequently, or not known.

I was wondering… does anyone know what this term means?

!

it means what it says, do you go to Mass regularly (Sundays and holy days), and receive communion and go to confession at least as often as church law requires (once a year), bring your children to the sacraments, follow church law on marriage etc.

 

[Monica4316]

it means what it says, do you go to Mass regularly (Sundays and holy days), and receive communion and go to confession at least as often as church law requires (once a year), bring your children to the sacraments, follow church law on marriage etc.

thanks puzzleannie… I do all this, - I hope that “regularly” means receiving Communion at least as often as the Church requires, not like every week. I would like very much to receive Communion every week though, that’s my goal

 

[Monica4316]

Just put “regularly.” This question is just making sure that applicants for the job are practicing Catholics. Based on how you describe yourself, you are a practicing Catholic. I wouldn’t put off going to confession that much though if I were you- go to confession as often as you need in order to receive communion as often as possible (without overdoing it and breaking Church law).

I entirely agree about Confession… I used to go every week or every 2 weeks, and I want to get back to that. It’s horrible putting it off.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Your answer is “regularly”! They really are just trying to figure out if you believe in your faith and go to mass every Sunday except when ill, or if you’re a flakey Catholic who skips mass because you’d rather sleep in.

May God give you the grace to deal with the scruples. Remember, the devil wants us to believe that God doesn’t really love us, and that’s how those doubts and scruples creep in. Pray, “Jesus, I trust in you!” That prayer has many uses and meanings, but one of them is like a person who has fallen overboard on a ship and is asking to be rescued. When the doubts and scruples creep in, cry out to Jesus for help! He is there for you.