I felt very sick this morning after drinking some fluids after being released from the hospital yesterday for the same thing. I decided to go back to the hospital sense there would be no way to orally take in fluids (I would need an IV for hydration) but I was physically feeling better by the time I left. I could have gone to Mass before going to the hosiptal, but I decided to go to the hospital instead. (not likely an emergency sense i had this the day before and knew that I only feel bad immediately after taking in liquids, therefore I wouldn’t have gotten worse at Mass) Should I have waited till after I went to Mass? I know you are excused from your obligation when you are sick. Now my scruples are kicking in and I wish I would have gone to Mass just to “be safe”. I hate the idea that maybe I should have gone to Mass and didn’t.
jjb5985:
This is one of the few situations where you wouldn’t have been required to attend Mass. You were simply so sick that you could not have reasonably participated in the Mass or have gotten anything out of the Readings or have received the Eucharist without placing your brothers and sisters at risk for getting whatever nasty thing it was that you have.
For future reference, the usual standard is that you should attend Mass whenever you’re well enough to do your normal activities (work, play etc) or to attempt to do the most of them.
People who’ve been in the hospital until Saturday night/Sunday morning are always released from the obligation unless they have someone to take them to and from Church (or at least accompany them to and from Mass) and don’t have a condition that’s contageous.
That doesn’t sound like the situation in your case.
You might contact someone from the Rectory about making a “Sick Run” and bringing the Eucharist to you at home, along with giving you the Anointing of the Sick.
The Reading for this Sunday were:
Prophetic Lesson:
Jeremiah 21:7-9
Psalm:
Psalm 13
Epistle:
Hebrews 5:1-6
Gospel:
Mark 10:46-52
You can look them up in these places:
New American Bible
vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/_INDEX.HTM
The Bible, Revised Standard Version
etext.lib.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html
BibleGateway.com - 50 Translations
biblegateway.com/
And here are some homilies for you to read:
lifeissues.net/homilies.php?cycle=2&week=064
If you can read the Readings and the Homilies and get someone to get the eucharist to you, you can get the equivalent of going to Mass.
Your Brother in Christ, Michael
