Skipping mass on Sunday for valid reason?

[FernandoCroquer]

Hello. I would like to ask a question, please. My girlfriend works on the weekends: Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evenings. Hence, she goes to Mass on Sunday mornings, which is the only time available. It so happened that this Sunday she had to do an hour+ trip to go to vote in her country’s consulate, in her country’s elections, which she considers to be important, and she badly wanted to vote. The thing is, it turned to be incompatible with going to Mass. Is this a good enough reason for not commiting a mortal sin? Thank you in advance for your answer.

 

[1ke]

s this a good enough reason for not commiting a mortal sin?

This is a prudential matter. No one here can tell your girlfriend that. If she’s concerned, she should speak to her priest.

In the future, if she has a reason to miss that she does not think is “serious” she can ask her priest for a dispensation beforehand.

 

[thistle]

Hello. I would like to ask a question, please. My girlfriend works on the weekends: Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evenings. Hence, she goes to Mass on Sunday mornings, which is the only time available. It so happened that this Sunday she had to do an hour+ trip to go to vote in her country’s consulate, in her country’s elections, which she considers to be important, and she badly wanted to vote. The thing is, it turned to be incompatible with going to Mass. Is this a good enough reason for not commiting a mortal sin? Thank you in advance for your answer.

You mentioned she works Saturday afternoon. Does she also work Saturday evening? If not the Saturday evening Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation.

 

[FernandoCroquer]

Yes. Saturday afternoons and evenings as well.

 

[CRV]

In the future, if she has a reason to miss that she does not think is “serious” she can ask her priest for a dispensation beforehand.

Agreed. Beforehand - not afterwards!

You say she had to do a long trip to be able to vote in her countrys consulate. Is she bound to vote? Or is it voluntary? Some countries voting is compulsory and in others it isn’t. It is good that she considers voting very important and wanted to cast her vote in matters.

If it isn’t compulsory for her to vote, then maybe it would have been better to not go to such lengths to vote but go to Mass instead.

If it is compulsory for her to vote, then if she didn’t would there have been any penalites e.g. financial fines to be paid etc?

So without knowing all the ins and outs (and considering it is now after she has made her decision and the event is in the past), I strongly recommend she go to Confession and mention this to the priest where he can answer her and if need be grant absolution.

 

[mythbuster1]

Terminology please. There is never a good reason to commit a mortal sin, but if you have a valid reason to be excused from Sunday Obligation, you have not sinned.

 

[1cthlctrth]

Here is a link to a great website in which you can easily connect to most church bulletins in the United States, in case you have difficulty attending your regular masses, or if you’re on vacation:
https://www.parishesonline.com/
I find this more useful for up-to-date info than the also useful and more well-known:
https://masstimes.org/