Sunday obligation, mortal sin

[fineca]

Dear all,

is there any evidence that the early church believed that you could lose your salvation by failing to attend Sunday Mass as the Catholic Church teaches nowadays?

Do you think it’s possible that this passage in the Bible teaches just that (it seems to connect not attending Mass with mortal sin…)

Heb 10:23-27

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.

 

[Pax]

This verse could support the view. The commandment to “Keep Holy the Lord’s Day” would be another.

The most obvious thing about the seriousness of not attending mass would be based upon what the mass is vs. the alternative choices that we make that prevent our attendance. It seems that any such choice would be similar to Esau giving up his birth right for a pot of stew.

What exactly are we saying to God when we choose to watch Football as opposed to attending mass. Substitute any other chosen activity and weigh it against worshipping almighty God. The choice is obvious, and the implications and consequences of the wrong choice appear obvious as well.

 

[RomanCrusader]

I think that in some cases it could be a mortal sin, in others not.

If you are not aware of its importance or of the theological reasons on why you should be there, then it might just be a venial sin.

However if you know you should be there and you know the Church’s reasoning and you still neglect Mass, then you are probably mortally sinning.

 

[happygal]

Dear all,

is there any evidence that the early church believed that you could lose your salvation by failing to attend Sunday Mass as the Catholic Church teaches nowadays?

Do you think it’s possible that this passage in the Bible teaches just that (it seems to connect not attending Mass with mortal sin…)

Heb 10:23-27

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.

Well as a protestant thought we don’t press hard on members to attend service, however if we are Christ Believer then we should know failing to go Service is not a good thing to do (provide we are terribly sick) otherwise if anyone who on purpose don’t go for service then they are responsible on their own action as they are answerable for this doing

 

[Protestant101]

Dear all,

is there any evidence that the early church believed that you could lose your salvation by failing to attend Sunday Mass as the Catholic Church teaches nowadays?

Do you think it’s possible that this passage in the Bible teaches just that (it seems to connect not attending Mass with mortal sin…)

Heb 10:23-27

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.

The phrase “meet together” is not proven to be the Mass. In it’s context here, it could mean all manner of meeting together for worship; and with Catholics, yes, it might include mass, but the text just does not say it that difinitively. This text does not mandate Mass in any way.

 

[Black_Knight_MI]

Read this from St. Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Smyrnaens and tell me that they didn’t consider it a Mass in the sense that we do today.

Note especially chapters 7-9.

This man was a friend and disiciple of St. John the apostle and this letter was written less than 10 years after the apostle died as this bishop of the church was on his way to Rome to be martyred for teh faith by being thrown to wild animals.

How does it look like he interpreted that passage?
**Blackie **

 

[Protestant101]

Read this from St. Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Smyrnaens and tell me that they didn’t consider it a Mass in the sense that we do today.

Note especially chapters 7-9.

This man was a friend and disiciple of St. John the apostle and this letter was written less than 10 years after the apostle died as this bishop of the church was on his way to Rome to be martyred for teh faith by being thrown to wild animals.

How does it look like he interpreted that passage?
**Blackie **

There is absolutely nothing in the Bible to prove your point about the text in question here. It doesn’t matter who Ignatius knew; his comments are not inspired, as are the Bible. Ignatius believed and taught many things that are not in the Bible. Again; Mass is not being referred to in the text we are discussing. Actually, the article you referred to above; Ignatius doesn’t even mention the text we are discussing. Your post, therefore, is quite confusing.

 

[Sir_Knight]

There is absolutely nothing in the Bible to prove your point about the text in question here.

And the bible also says that there are many of Christ’s teachings that are not found within it’s pages. So the fact that there is “absolutely nothing in the Bible to prove the point”, has no bearing on anything.

 

[CRW]

Dear all,

is there any evidence that the early church believed that you could lose your salvation by failing to attend Sunday Mass as the Catholic Church teaches nowadays?

Do you think it’s possible that this passage in the Bible teaches just that (it seems to connect not attending Mass with mortal sin…)

Heb 10:23-27

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.

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.

Our faith is also based on the Traditions of the Church that teaches that keeping Holly the Sabbath is a must, a grave sin if not, unless a serious reason prevents one from attending.

 

[wjp984]

our priest gave a homily on why it is not a mortal sin to miss mass. For the record I strongly disagree but he is very liberal.

 

[Mendieta]

Going to Mass on a Sunday shouldn’t feel like something you should HAVE to do because everyone else goes or even because your scared that its a Sin. You SHOULD be going to mass purely because you hunger and starve for it, because you crave to receive Christ. This is something everyone should continously try to achieve. I know when i go to Mass because i am “obligated” has a different impact to when i want to go to mass. The mass is so much for meaningful and sacred. The connection with God is so much deeper.

 

[patg]

is there any evidence that the early church believed that you could lose your salvation by failing to attend Sunday Mass as the Catholic Church teaches nowadays?

Actually, Jesus made it clear that “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath”. It seems quite possible that one could do something far more pleasing to God than attending church every sunday.

I agree one should attend and I agree attendance is sometimes of great benefit but what is the value the church sees in threatening eternal torture for non-attendance?

I also hear comments about “craving to receive Christ” - well just what happened to the Christ I received last week? Is he so temporary that he has decayed like some radioactive element? Just where did he go?

 

[LilyM]

The value is that we’re worshipping God by giving him our time - purely for him, for his sake, nothing that will have any obvious practical benefit for us.

Pretty much every other good work that we do can also be said to be somewhat self-serving - ie it adds to our own warm fuzzies, our own good standing in the community, our own reputation as a doer of good.

Attending church isn’t a showy way of demonstrating our faith really, especially these days when so many don’t belive in God or care about church at all.

As for what happened to the Christ you received last week … it’s not that he is temporary, it’s that we are so fickle, forgetful and changeable.

I did some work experience at a daycare centre. It was interesting to see how bitterly some of the children would cry at being separated from their parents - and how quickly they would forget and cheer up when given something to distract them.

That’s how quickly we forget Christ even minutes and hours after we’ve received him in Communion. For our own sake we need to keep reminding ourselves of him.

 

[CRW]

our priest gave a homily on why it is not a mortal sin to miss mass. For the record I strongly disagree but he is very liberal.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

#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.” "The precept pf 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.

The Precepts of the Church

#2042: The first precept ("**You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation **and rest from servile labor") requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principle liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.

Canon Law: #1247: On Sundays and other holydays of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the 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.

It is also the third commandment of God. I would discuss this with the priests. If that fails, the bishop. If that fails, I would change to a different Church. We all know that sometimes we cannot attend (sick, fireman, police, etc.); however, we must make an honest attempt to make the Vigil or Sunday Mass.

 

[CRW]

The value is that we’re worshipping God by giving him our time - purely for him, for his sake, nothing that will have any obvious practical benefit for us.

Pretty much every other good work that we do can also be said to be somewhat self-serving - ie it adds to our own warm fuzzies, our own good standing in the community, our own reputation as a doer of good.

Attending church isn’t a showy way of demonstrating our faith really, especially these days when so many don’t belive in God or care about church at all.

As for what happened to the Christ you received last week … it’s not that he is temporary, it’s that we are so fickle, forgetful and changeable.

I did some work experience at a daycare centre. It was interesting to see how bitterly some of the children would cry at being separated from their parents - and how quickly they would forget and cheer up when given something to distract them.

That’s how quickly we forget Christ even minutes and hours after we’ve received him in Communion. For our own sake we need to keep reminding ourselves of him.

The Mass is a memorial, banquet and sacrifice. God made the sabbath for man, not for God. In Mass, we give praise and thanks to God for offering up his only son for us. He also said, “Do this in remembrance of me”. We also participate with the communion of saints in the adoration of that sacrifice. Do we benefit from Mass attendance, you bet.

 

[fineca]

The priest that preached the homily on why it’s not a mortal sin to miss mass should be given a kick in the *** - or a catechism - which explicitly contradicts his claim saying that missing mass is a grave sin (unless for a serious reason like long distance or illness etc.) - you should write to your bishop that a priest in his diocese teaches falsehood publicly in church

And to the Protestant who said “that’s not in the Bible” - well, your argument isn’t in the Bible either, so I can just as well dismiss it

E

 

[InLight247]

Going to Mass is all about Him, not about us.

God all mighty who gives us our lives and everything we have deserves at least one hour each week to be worshiped. Period.

Can anyone disagree that giving at least one hour per week to worship this all loving God is the very basic thing every believer should do?

Feel like to go or not, we must go. We are talking about the minimum here

 

[patg]

Going to Mass is all about Him, not about us.

I think it is much more mutual than that and I repeat, “the sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath”. I think that’s pretty clear.

God all mighty who gives us our lives and everything we have deserves at least one hour each week to be worshiped. Period.

There are many forms of worship.

Can anyone disagree that giving at least one hour per week to worship this all loving God is the very basic thing every believer should do?

Yes, they should. But why the threat of eternal torture if they don’t? Or if they do far more worshipful activities but just don’t like to go on Sunday? Or if they go one or more days a week and skip Sunday?

If someone puts a knife to your throat and orders you to bow down before an earthly ruler, do you respect and honor them when you do it? It seems that God might be rather insulted that the church feels it has to threaten its members with eternal torture to get them to show up when it wants.

I’d like the pope to explain how a catholic who chose to go to mass on Monday instead of Sunday will be standing in hell next to a murdering rapist child abuser.

Feel like to go or not, we must go. We are talking about the minimum here

Pretty legalistic…

 

[drforjc]

Patg
are you next going to deny that Christ gave the church the power to bind and loose?

 

[fix]

If someone puts a knife to your throat and orders you to bow down before an earthly ruler, do you respect and honor them when you do it?

There is no knife. We have a free choice.

It seems that God might be rather insulted that the church feels it has to threaten its members with eternal torture to get them to show up when it wants.

Justice is not torture. Christ spoke of hell often, was He insulting us?

I’d like the pope to explain how a catholic who chose to go to mass on Monday instead of Sunday will be standing in hell next to a murdering rapist child abuser.

Only murderers and rapists are worthy of hell? So, the measure of morality is to be better than a murderer?

Pretty legalistic…

Obeying the law is not legalism. Doing the will of Christ is no legalism.