Quick-fire question about missing Sunday Mass

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nahbios

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I was very tired on Saturday night after an exam in the morning, a five hour drive (albeit in the passenger seat) and experiencing a minor car crash (everyone was okay, thank God). I crawled into bed early and said I’d go to Mass in the morning as usual. I was tacitly relying on my mom to wake me up in time.

When my mom came to wake me up, I didn’t respond. I don’t remember being shaken, spoken to, etc. My mom decided to leave me in bed and went to Mass herself. When I woke up later, I was very dismayed to find that I’d missed Mass and my mom told me what happened earlier. My family are quite well versed in the ins and outs of Catholicism and we all know that deliberately missing Sunday Mass is a mortal sin.

My question - in fact, my two questions are:
Did my mom commit a mortal sin by leaving me to sleep? I want to know because I’m worried about her and we’ll be going to Mass tomorrow night to make up for my missing Mass on Sunday.

What can I do about it?

I’m sorry if I sound bratty: that’s not my intention. I just want to make things up to God and to help my mom if she’s committed a serious sin.

Please help.
 
nahbios said:
I was very tired on Saturday night after an exam in the morning, a five hour drive (albeit in the passenger seat) and experiencing a minor car crash (everyone was okay, thank God). I crawled into bed early and said I’d go to Mass in the morning as usual. I was tacitly relying on my mom to wake me up in time.

When my mom came to wake me up, I didn’t respond. I don’t remember being shaken, spoken to, etc. My mom decided to leave me in bed and went to Mass herself. When I woke up later, I was very dismayed to find that I’d missed Mass and my mom told me what happened earlier. My family are quite well versed in the ins and outs of Catholicism and we all know that deliberately missing Sunday Mass is a mortal sin.

My question - in fact, my two questions are:
Did my mom commit a mortal sin by leaving me to sleep? I want to know because I’m worried about her and we’ll be going to Mass tomorrow night to make up for my missing Mass on Sunday.

What can I do about it?

I’m sorry if I sound bratty: that’s not my intention. I just want to make things up to God and to help my mom if she’s committed a serious sin.

Please help.
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As with all mortal sin questions I would entrust that to a priest on such matter. However, mortal sins are pretty serious and your mother aught to know if she committed one.

You had a pretty rough night so in this situation there are factors beyond control here. She tried waking you up, but your body wouldn’t respond- probably because of the amount of stress it had to put up with the night before. So we know that she didn’t neglect to try and wake you. It is not good to push the body to extremes. If you were any good condition to go to Mass your body would have woke up. Personally I don’t think anybody here is guilty of a mortal sin, but once again, matters that involve mortal sin should be brought to Priest to make the best judgment.
 
“The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD.”

“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
 
Come on now you sound old enough…It is your responsibility to wake up on time. Ask for an alarm clock for Christmas and use it.

Putting that aside I agree with the other poster, if you were in such a sound sleep your body probably needed it and you would have probably slept through your alarm clock (if you used one as well). When I have a question like this I ask a priest.:christmastree1:
Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas
 
  1. Your intention was to go to mass - so you did not give full consent of the will to sin
  2. Your mother’s intention was to get you to mass - again no cnosent of will to sin
  3. As soon as you awoke and realized that you had missed mass you regretted it. (repentance)
Given these two factors your missing mass could hardly be called a mortal sin.
Say an act of contrition and Confess the lapse the next time you go to confession.

Peace
James
 
Missing Mass because you are unable to go is not a sin at all. If you can’t wake up, you can’t properly attend Mass even if you manage to get your body there. Your mother committed good mothering, not sin.
 
RSD said:
Missing Mass because you are unable to go is not a sin at all. If you can’t wake up, you can’t properly attend Mass even if you manage to get your body there. Your mother committed good mothering, not sin.
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I love this response: she committed good mothering.

Well done!
 
Thank you all so much for your responses - I found a lot of wisdom in them. My worries have been put to rest - pardon the pun! :o

Thank you and a happy and peaceful Christmas to every one of you! :highprayer:

God bless,
Siobhán.
 
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