Should we attend the most inconvenient Mass possible?

[SanctaMommy]

Our town has two Catholic churches, with options for Mass attendance at Saturday vigil (4:00 PM and 5:15 PM), Sunday morning (6:30, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM, and 12:00 and 6:15 PM)

This morning, I woke up and prepared myself and my younger children to attend our usual 7:30 liturgy. My oldest daughter complained that she was tired (birthday party last night) and would rather go to 10:00 so that she could “sleep in.” My husband was willing to take her at that time, so he and she stayed home with the baby and I took the other 5 kids to 7:30 Mass. My husband and daughter went to 10:00 AM.

But it got me thinking - should we just choose the most convenient Mass time available - the one that allows us to be lazy and to procrastinate? Don’t feel like getting up early? There’s always a late morning Mass. Want to go out to breakfast instead? There’s afternoon Mass. Still piddling around in your jammies at noon? Evening liturgy is for you! Don’t want to even “do anything” on Sunday - or plan to go to a ballgame? Go ahead at attend Saturday vigil!

It seems like maybe we should actually challenge ourselves to attend the LEAST convenient Mass time as an act of sacrifice, and to show that we are truly dedicated to putting Christ FIRST on our list of priorities. It seems a little crass to me that someone “squeezes Mass into their schedule” because there are so many opportunities to do so. I understand that due to parish volume, more than one Mass must be available - but should we all stretch our comfort zone to get up earlier than we’d like, skip that ballgame, miss lunch, etc. so that we can offer it up to our Risen Savior?!

 

[CatholicZ09]

I get what you are saying, but I feel as though God only cares if we go - not when we go and if we have the right intentions on going. Not just because we feel “obliged” to go but because we actually WANT to go.

 

[Newbie2]

I get what you are saying, but I feel as though God only cares if we go - not when we go and if we have the right intentions on going. Not just because we feel “obliged” to go but because we actually WANT to go.

Dittos. Especially with kids, we need to balance the need to go with the want to go.

It’s fine for adults to choose an inconvenient mass as sacrifice, if that’s what helps focus on the Lord…but not for children. If mass is made to be a chore, an inconvenience, that’s what they will learn, that mass is something to suffer through.

Just my 2cents from raising my kids.

 

[marytk]

I guess you could do that for some kind of penance (Maybe during Lent) But I think we can go at the time when we can be at our best. So we can listen to God. If I am extremely tired I might be distracted or just not as good at hearing God. Maybe it is better to be wide awake and go to a later Mass. (I usually go to the early morning Masses)

I am sure in a larger family, the “best” time for some isn’t good for the others. If there is only one Mass then of course we all get up and go to that Mass.

SOME people might see going to the early Mass as “getting it out of the way.” Some like to go early so it doesn’t “break up the day”. We can’t judge why others go to the Mass they go to.

 

[marytk]

Dittos. Especially with kids, we need to balance the need to go with the want to go.

It’s fine for adults to choose an inconvenient mass as sacrifice, if that’s what helps focus on the Lord…but not for children. If mass is made to be a chore, an inconvenience, that’s what they will learn, that mass is something to suffer through.

Just my 2cents from raising my kids.

That is a very good point. We want kids to WANT to go to Mass. It is a Pleasure and a Privilege. I don’t think we should strive to make it misery

 

[TheMc]

There’s no obligation to attend an inconvenient Mass. Certainly you may, but with a family, I would go for something easier.

 

[curlycool89]

Our town has two Catholic churches, with options for Mass attendance at Saturday vigil (4:00 PM and 5:15 PM), Sunday morning (6:30, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM, and 12:00 and 6:15 PM)

This morning, I woke up and prepared myself and my younger children to attend our usual 7:30 liturgy. My oldest daughter complained that she was tired (birthday party last night) and would rather go to 10:00 so that she could “sleep in.” My husband was willing to take her at that time, so he and she stayed home with the baby and I took the other 5 kids to 7:30 Mass. My husband and daughter went to 10:00 AM.

But it got me thinking - should we just choose the most convenient Mass time available - the one that allows us to be lazy and to procrastinate? Don’t feel like getting up early? There’s always a late morning Mass. Want to go out to breakfast instead? There’s afternoon Mass. Still piddling around in your jammies at noon? Evening liturgy is for you! Don’t want to even “do anything” on Sunday - or plan to go to a ballgame? Go ahead at attend Saturday vigil!

It seems like maybe we should actually challenge ourselves to attend the LEAST convenient Mass time as an act of sacrifice, and to show that we are truly dedicated to putting Christ FIRST on our list of priorities. It seems a little crass to me that someone “squeezes Mass into their schedule” because there are so many opportunities to do so. I understand that due to parish volume, more than one Mass must be available - but should we all stretch our comfort zone to get up earlier than we’d like, skip that ballgame, miss lunch, etc. so that we can offer it up to our Risen Savior?!

The Mass is the Mass is the Mass. I think I get your point, but it’s really a moot one. Saturday evening = early Sunday morning = late Sunday morning = Sunday evening. If there’s more than one, you can pick whichever one you want.

“Inconvenient” is also subjective. Early morning Mass may be “inconvenient” because you have to wake up early, bus from another perspective it’s “getting it out of the way”. Also, I don’t know about other people, but if I switch when I go to Mass, I would probably just rearrange everything else (grocery shopping sometimes, or seeing a movie, or hanging out with friends, or whatever).

 

[StJudePray4Me]

We go to the Mass that fits best with our other responsibilities for the day. This weekend, I went to Sat vigil at 5:00 (the DH & kids couldn’t join me becasue DS had a baseball game at 5:30) because I had to work BINGO at school at 6:00 and had to work today 10-6:30. DH took the kids at 11:15 because one of my kids was scheduled to serve at that Mass.

We have lots going on as a busy family. But the point is we FIND the time to get to Mass anyway. We have been known to go to a neighboring parish for the 7PM Sunday Mass, which we affectionately refer to as “Last Chance” Mass. I think my kids get the point that, regardless of what else is going on, we always manage to find a Mass – that there’s no excuse to miss, because with enough effort, there’s always a way. THe BS excuses you hear are all like “Oh, wll, we couldn’t make Mass becasue we had to do A,B & C” whereas we show our kids, it doesn’t matter, you can still make it if you really want to.

I do get your point though, and in that spirit, I volunteer to lector at the 7:30 Sunday Mass as needed. I could easily tell the man who makes the schedule not to out me on that Mass, just the 9 & 11:15, but I do it becasue it’s good for me to suck it up and get up early sometimes…as my mom used to tell us: Offer it up!

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Mass is about worship of God. Whatever time Mass allows for us to best worship is the one we should attend. Mass is not something to be “endured” but celebrated and prayerfully conductive to worship of God. Yes its true that love requires sacrifice but its also more than that…

 

[OscarsMama]

Like a previous poster said, perhaps an adult can attend an inconvenient mass as a penance during Lent or whatever. But if a child, especially a teenager, is wanting to go at a different time… at least they are still wanting to go!

There is nothing wrong with going to a later mass on Sunday morning. Coming from this night owl o:blush we get a lot more out of it when we are awake. I remember being a teenager and having to go to Sunday morning mass at 8:30am (which meant that you had to get up early, take a shower, get dressed, etc) and having a hard time staying awake during the homily. I did much better at the Saturday night mass.

 

[Joan_M]

Perhaps what should be remembered is our obligation to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day, which, for us is the Lord’s Day, Sunday.

Sleeping in is an indulgence. Going out to breakfast is an indulgence. “Piddling around in your jammies” is an indulgence. Timing Mass to fit in with these events is not exactly in line with keeping holy the Lord’s Day!

Yes, of course, we can have family time and enjoy ourselves on Sunday, but it should not interfere with going to Mass, or influencing us to choose a Mass time in a manner that shows God that He is last in our life and not first…

For me, I like to go to the 8:00 Mass on Sunday morning (not the earliest Mass), because it sets the tone for the day. Anything else must fit in around my Mass time, not the other way.

 

[bethanysamuel]

My understanding is that the Church requires us to attend any Sunday Mass[or Sat. Vigil] and to keep Sunday free of any unnecessary work. It’s a day of rest, reflection, prayer etc.

As for your kids finding it a chore, maybe they could start reading a colourful kiddies’ bible so they can get to know the stories.

 

[laszlo]

Some self restraint is necessary, and it is beneficent to the kids to learn it.

In other hand the Mass is not only the sacrifice of our Lord, but also joyful gathering and festive meal with Him.

So the Mass should not be the primary mean of self restraint.

 

[puzzleannie]

Ou

It seems like maybe we should actually challenge ourselves to attend the LEAST convenient Mass time as an act of sacrifice, and to show that we are truly dedicated to putting Christ FIRST on our list of priorities.?!

I think it is enough of a challenge to get the kids up and all ready in the car and to any Mass on time, including the teenagers and toddlers. I don’t think there is any necessity to look for ways to make it harder than it is. The best Mass time is the one that works for your family.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

As others hav said, no reason to make it difficult just because – especially when children are involved. As for the rest of Sunday, we are supposed to keep a “sabbath” - a time of rest and reflection. That can include family time (ie breakfast out), sleep to rejuvinate yourself, and even entertainments like going to the park or a concert.

 

[MissRose73]

My mother prefers going to the Saturday evening Mass so she can have Sunday free for rest and relaxation. That is the way she has been for many years and growing up, both me and my sister knew Saturdays for church attendance.

I try to go on Saturday evenings if not Sunday, and I’ve even gone to Sunday late afternoon/early evening when my job schedule did not permit me to make it to an earlier Mass.

My mother would go on Sundays when my sister competed in a sport that had competitions out of town that lasted most of the day for a few months each school year from the time she was 12 til 18. The competitions would usually run into the late afternoons/evenings most of the time then the team had to travel back together with the coach to the school. Spectators/fans and parents had to drive themselves to and from the competitions. I sometimes was given a ride to church by a neighbor to go to Mass on Saturday before I was old enough to drive myself, otherwise I had to wait and go on Sunday morning with my mother & sister.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Sleeping in is an indulgence. Going out to breakfast is an indulgence. “Piddling around in your jammies” is an indulgence.

But those things would be in keeping with Sunday as a day of rest.

Timing Mass to fit in with these events is not exactly in line with keeping holy the Lord’s Day!

Perhaps that’s the wrong way to look at it. I don’t think people are “fitting in Mass” but rather creating their day as a whole.

Yes, of course, we can have family time and enjoy ourselves on Sunday, but it should not interfere with going to Mass, or influencing us to choose a Mass time in a manner that shows God that He is last in our life and not first…

Its not an either/or situation but rather a both/and.

For me, I like to go to the 8:00 Mass on Sunday morning (not the earliest Mass), because it sets the tone for the day. Anything else must fit in around my Mass time, not the other way.

If that’s what’s best for you, great, keep doing it.

 

[marytk]

These reminds me of a conversation I had with old friends at Church years ago. I noted that I hadn’t seen them for a while. They said it was because they were no longer going to the Mass they preferred and were going later with their teens., I thought that for some going later is a sacrifice (That they GLADLY gave to have the kids happy at Church. ) It is the Lord’s day and a day of rest so there is nothing wrong with sleeping in and going to Mass. I like to go earlier but I can’t say that I use the whole rest of the day any better than someone who sleeps in

I would hate to see a church full of smug tired people at an early Mass thinking that by being there they are somehow holier than the ones in bed. (I am not saying that anyone here would do this but pride is such an easy sin to fall into. I know by my own experience)

 

[CB_Catholic]

I think that if one wants to challenge oneself and make things harder for themselves as a sacrifice, good for them. But there is no need to impose it on everybody else. It can have the opposite effect, if one is not careful.

When I was growing up there was a devout Catholic family down the street that said the Rosary together every night–kneeling on the hard floor. I was subject to this as their guest on vacation. The kids hated it and it surely did not make them better Catholics–it just caused resentment. The Rosary said as a family would have been much more effective without the pain of kneeling on the floor (which is ok if it is your choice). One has to be careful when teaching children that you don’t drive them away.

 

[sweetcharity]

Our town has two Catholic churches, with options for Mass attendance at Saturday vigil (4:00 PM and 5:15 PM), Sunday morning (6:30, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM, and 12:00 and 6:15 PM)

This morning, I woke up and prepared myself and my younger children to attend our usual 7:30 liturgy. My oldest daughter complained that she was tired (birthday party last night) and would rather go to 10:00 so that she could “sleep in.” My husband was willing to take her at that time, so he and she stayed home with the baby and I took the other 5 kids to 7:30 Mass. My husband and daughter went to 10:00 AM.

But it got me thinking - should we just choose the most convenient Mass time available - the one that allows us to be lazy and to procrastinate? Don’t feel like getting up early? There’s always a late morning Mass. Want to go out to breakfast instead? There’s afternoon Mass. Still piddling around in your jammies at noon? Evening liturgy is for you! Don’t want to even “do anything” on Sunday - or plan to go to a ballgame? Go ahead at attend Saturday vigil!

It seems like maybe we should actually challenge ourselves to attend the LEAST convenient Mass time as an act of sacrifice, and to show that we are truly dedicated to putting Christ FIRST on our list of priorities. It seems a little crass to me that someone “squeezes Mass into their schedule” because there are so many opportunities to do so. I understand that due to parish volume, more than one Mass must be available - but should we all stretch our comfort zone to get up earlier than we’d like, skip that ballgame, miss lunch, etc. so that we can offer it up to our Risen Savior?!

Playing the devil’s advocate here, it could be argued that you were the one wanting to go to a Mass that was most convenient to you. Seems to me that you chose the Mass that your family goes to. Why do you go to Mass at 7:30? That means you’re home by 8:30 and you have the whole day to do nothing. Why don’t you go at noon so that your day is divided in half?

Again, playing d.a., if the church felt we should be inconvenient, then why aren’t all Masses at daybreak?