Sunday masses...and other churches 'meetings

[Ankabaranka_87]

Hi,

I am not sure where to place this or if these questions were already explained (i am still working on the ‘search button’)… I am somewhat new to this website .

but anyways, onto the questions.

1. Is it alright for a Catholic to replace one Sunday Catholic mass with another Christian denomination’s (e.g. United Church) meeting? Would that be considered a mortal sin because you missed a Catholic mass? I am trying to explain to a friend that you cant switch , but i am having difficulty explaining to her as to why she can’t (she says they are both Christian, so it should be acceptable).
2. Secondly, another friend of mine is considering replacing Sunday mass with weekday mass. How can I explain to her that weekday mass cannot replace Sunday mass (she says both give the host, the readings, etc)? I know one explanation is the 3rd commandment, “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy”, but I feel that she will continue on arguing with me that then she shouldnt even be studying on that day, etc etc.

I hope I made some sense?

 

[lak611]

Hi,

I am not sure where to place this or if these questions were already explained (i am still working on the ‘search button’)… I am somewhat new to this website .

but anyways, onto the questions.

1. Is it alright for a Catholic to replace one Sunday Catholic mass with another Christian denomination’s (e.g. United Church) meeting? Would that be considered a mortal sin because you missed a Catholic mass? I am trying to explain to a friend that you cant switch , but i am having difficulty explaining to her as to why she can’t (she says they are both Christian, so it should be acceptable).
2. Secondly, another friend of mine is considering replacing Sunday mass with weekday mass. How can I explain to her that weekday mass cannot replace Sunday mass (she says both give the host, the readings, etc)? I know one explanation is the 3rd commandment, “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy”, but I feel that she will continue on arguing with me that then she shouldnt even be studying on that day, etc etc.

I hope I made some sense?

Catholics are not allowed to replace Sunday Mass with Protestant services. Catholics are not allowed to replace Sunday Mass with weekday Mass. Here is the appropriate information from the Catechism:

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]

 

[Freshman88]

Sometimes we forget that mass is the bloodless sacrifice of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Mass emphasizes that fact and out of its rubrics and Holy Orders it brings us to something that no one else can… Himself. We may receive His body and blood - no Protestant service offers this.

The Catholic mass is at its heart, the sacrifice on Calvary - not merely a representation, but when the Eucharist is given out, it is the very same Flesh that was there on Good Friday. Whereas most protestant services are some form of bible study or a mere “representation” of the sacrifice.

So I think of it like this… Catholic mass offers you the chance to go back to the moment of sacrifice at Calvary. So pretend you are at the time of Christ’s death - Catholics by virtue of the mass are bringing themselves to the very place of Christ’s sacrifice whereas its as if non-Catholic services are saying … nah, you know what Lord, its not possible to go through the passion with you so instead we have a better idea… were going to go down the street and recreate the passion or better yet, were going to sit around scripture and simply talk about it.

 

[rwoehmke]

Sometimes we forget that mass is the bloodless sacrifice of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Mass emphasizes that fact and out of its rubrics and Holy Orders it brings us to something that no one else can… Himself. We may receive His body and blood - no Protestant service offers this.

The Catholic mass is at its heart, the sacrifice on Calvary - not merely a representation, but when the Eucharist is given out, it is the very same Flesh that was there on Good Friday. Whereas most protestant services are some form of bible study or a mere “representation” of the sacrifice.

So I think of it like this… Catholic mass offers you the chance to go back to the moment of sacrifice at Calvary. So pretend you are at the time of Christ’s death - Catholics by virtue of the mass are bringing themselves to the very place of Christ’s sacrifice whereas its as if non-Catholic services are saying … nah, you know what Lord, its not possible to go through the passion with you so instead we have a better idea… were going to go down the street and recreate the passion or better yet, were going to sit around scripture and simply talk about it.

And that is why a Catholic Mass is not the same as a few praise songs and a long sermon on a scriptural reading as one might endure in a Baptist service.

As for intentionally and willfully not attending and taking part in the Mass on Sunday being a serious, mortal sin, it is the fact that the Church, having been given the Keys and the power to bind and to loose by Jesus Christ himself (cf. Matthew 16:9) has the authority to bind us under pain of mortal sin to Keep Holy the Lord’s Day by going to Mass on that day with no substitutions.

 

[Ankabaranka_87]

Thanks alot! I should have known, but … that’s me …miss forgetful

Although now, I now need to explain to my friend (that went to a Protestant service) how the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. sigh. I think there’s already alot of board topics covering this, so no need to create a new one in this thread .

Also, I heard that you should only go to mass on Sundays.The only time you can go to the Saturday evening mass (the ‘Sunday mass’) is when you are not able to go on the Sunday. Is this true? I considered Saturday evening mass always acceptable, since (correct me if I am wrong) it stems out from the Jewish tradition of Sabbath (which starts on Friday evening). But I may be wrong…

And specifically, what are the differences between weekday and weekend masses? I know that weekday mass is significantly shorter (usually half of the weekend mass), there’s only one reading, one psalm and the gospel, and there is (depends on church) usually no singing, but what else? my friends wanted to know the differences between the two types of masses and nothing came into mind (apart from those few points).

 

[lak611]

Also, I heard that you should only go to mass on Sundays.The only time you can go to the Saturday evening mass (the ‘Sunday mass’) is when you are not able to go on the Sunday. Is this true? I considered Saturday evening mass always acceptable, since (correct me if I am wrong) it stems out from the Jewish tradition of Sabbath (which starts on Friday evening). But I may be wrong…

You do not need a reason to go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday rather than the Sunday Mass. It is the same and fulfills your obligation. As the Catechism says:

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]

The same information is found in the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holydays of obligation, the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body.

Can. 1248 ß1 The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.

And specifically, what are the differences between weekday and weekend masses? I know that weekday mass is significantly shorter (usually half of the weekend mass), there’s only one reading, one psalm and the gospel, and there is (depends on church) usually no singing, but what else? my friends wanted to know the differences between the two types of masses and nothing came into mind (apart from those few points).

The daily Masses during the week also omit the recitation of the Creed. In many cases, there also is no homily (the homily is required for the Sunday Mass, but not for the daily Mass). The main difference is that daily Mass is not required to be attended. Sunday Mass must be attended, under penalty of mortal sin.

 

[Ankabaranka_87]

You do not need a reason to go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday rather than the Sunday Mass. It is the same and fulfills your obligation. /QUOTE]

Hmm. That’s what I understood as well. I also read that part of the Catechism before, but the source where I heard this ‘you can’t go to Saturday Vigil Mass’ came from a lady who heard this from one of the priests preaching during Sunday mass. Hence why I assumed that there might be some part of the Church which said that (and I didn’t know). I personally prefer Saturday evening masses because then I enjoy the mass fully (while on Sunday, there is that dread of Monday )

 

[Ankabaranka_87]

You do not need a reason to go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday rather than the Sunday Mass. It is the same and fulfills your obligation. .

Hmm. That’s what I understood as well. I also read that part of the Catechism before, but the source where I heard this ‘you can’t go to Saturday Vigil Mass’ came from a lady who heard this from one of the priests preaching during Sunday mass. Hence why I assumed that there might be some part of the Church which said that (and I didn’t know). I personally prefer Saturday evening masses because then I enjoy the mass fully (while on Sunday, there is that dread of Monday )