Sunday Mass Obligation

[Catholic_Tom]

How do you explain to a Non-Catholic Christian the Sunday Obligation of going to Mass. Like for example, on a regular Sunday, if I was to go to that person’s Bible Church and not Sunday Mass at a Catholic Church, I have not fulfilled my obligation. Undoubtably I would be questioned as to why such an obligation when I am still going to Worship God/Jesus, just in a different setting, so that my obligation should be to God and not the Catholic Church per say.

Thanks in advance.

 

[puzzleannie]

you begin with explaining exactly what the Mass is - Catholic gathering to participate in, to praise God for, to thank God for, the ONE, saving sacrfice of Christ on Calvary, to re-member and re-presest the Paschal Mystery of Christs incarnation, birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension in to heaven which has been perpetuated in the unbroken celebration of the Eucharist by CAtholics, led by their bishops and supreme pontiff to the present time and will continue to the end of the world and the completion of the kingdom. You will recall Christ’s last commands in the last supper discourse in John for unity of all Christians, which is effected by Christ in the Eucharist and saves those in communion with His church through His merits.

Without true understanding of the Eucharist and the unity that flows from it, the concept of full communion with the Church and the meaning of the Mass cannot be understood.

 

[Francis_C]

Tom,
IMHO
Jesus told us to worship God with all our heart, soul and mind and to partake of the Eucharist. This is accomplished at Mass and is very good for us.

To partake of the Eucharist we have to live each day free of mortal sin. This is very good for us. Partaking of the Eucharist gives us grace from God. This is very good for us.

Mass puts us in contact with God which makes us more receptive to the Holy Spirit so our minds can be opened to the Truth.

The liturgy of the Mass, especially the readings and Gospel instructs us in the teachings of Christ. This is very good for us.

Our main purpose on earth is to save our souls. The Church (God’s word) requires us to go to Mass every Sunday for our own good.

Mass is very good for us.

Jesus, through the Church (God’s word), has told us it is a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday. That is enough reason in itself.

When the Holy Spirit opens the mind of a Catholic to see the Truth (God’s Word and Will for us) that person will want Mass more than anything.

Much much more than Sunday Mass is required to save our souls. Jesus said the door is narrow.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I’ll repeat what I said on another thread:

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life.
“Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.”[110]
“Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Epiphany,
the Ascension of Christ,
the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi,
the feast of Mary the Mother of God,
her Immaculate Conception,
her Assumption,
the feast of Saint Joseph,
the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.”[111]

2178 This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age.[112] The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful “not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another.”[113]
Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer… Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal… We have often said: “This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”[114]

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.”[117] “The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.”[118]

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.[119] Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families