Sociological reasons for lower Mass attendance

[Shasta-Rose]

Yes, I see what you mean. I think there are more layers to the problem, though.

I think that for most people (European, probably Christian), up until the last 20 years or so, the prosperity and life style just kept advancing upward. Many aspired to send their kids to Harvard, so they saved up for that, but they could only afford to send one or two. So, they concentrated on their maybe only child and groomed him/her for more success in life than the current generation has had. Therefore, there are just many fewer Christian children coming along.

Also, for a variety of reasons, I know quite a few people who did not have children, myself included. They were prosperous enough and they wanted to just keep on doing what they were doing. Some got married, but some just had a long-term relationship, or serial long-time relationships. Or by the time they found the right partner, it was later in life. Whatever reasons, people are just putting parenthood off for a long time, which may turn into forever.

On a whole other path, I think that I see this deplorable propensity to join a mob. If everybody else is down on Joe Blow, I’m down on Joe, whether or not he ever did anything wrong that I know of. It’s easy to join the mob. It’s harder and takes character to say: I don’t care what the prevailing opinion is, I don’t see anything wrong with Joe. So, if a lot of your circle are turning against the Church, it’s easier to just go along, and that way you stay i’ncluded in your group. The snowball effect. What the Church needs is—its own snowball.

 

[steve-b]

What are your thoughts?

Peter says add to our faith the following 7 attributes, (never stopping) or we can/will lose our faith. HERE

Note: adding knowledge is at the top of the list.

AND

Deliberately missing mass on Sunday, i.e. the Eucharist, one is in huge trouble with God

why and where does this requirement to attend Mass (the Eucharist) come from?

Heb 10: 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Unpacking that
deliberate Failure to meet on the Day, is already a huge sin “the Day” = the LORD’S DAY / Sunday/ the Day Our Lord Resurrected (v 25)
when they meet what are they doing? They are offering the “sacrifice for sin”, (v 26 ) & “blood of the covenant”( v 29) = the words Our Lord spoke instituting the Eucharist Matthew 26:28 Mark 14:24 They are celebrating the Mass, the Eucharist
Therefore, those who deliberately fail to celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday after being given the knowledge of truth, (v 25 - 26) ◦ there no longer remains, a sacrifice for sin and blood of the covenant for THEM ( v 26) a fearful prospect of judgement awaits Them (v 27) ◦ and a fury of fire will consume these adversaries (v 27) ◦ They Spurn the Son of God (v 29) ◦ They outrage the spirit of grace (v 29) Re: that sin, Based on those consequences described,

So

Mass on Sunday is a command, not a suggestion . To deliberately miss Mass on Sunday (given those consequences described) is a (grave) mortal sin. Dying in that sin is disastrous.