Taking a break from daily mass

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I attend Mass nearly every day. I’ve been going through a very frustrating and upsetting time in my life, and I sometimes let that frustration and anger and sadness spill over into my faith life - I get angry and frustrated with God because of my situation. One of the first signs of that is that I start getting tired of daily Mass, feeling like I don’t want to be there.

What has helped me is stopping and taking a moment to reflect on why I attend daily Mass. It isn’t because I feel I have to - it’s because I genuinely want to be there. No matter how bad my day has been, I can find a sense of calm and peace while I’m there. Sometimes it feels like a refuge from the rest of my life, and I’ll even stay after to pray because I want to hold onto that peace.

Maybe it would be helpful to take some time and reflect on why you attend Mass and why you are feeling less inclined to attend now. I think a full prayer life is very important, especially when you’re facing other challenges in your life, and if you’re feeling disconnected from this form of prayer, it’s probably worth examining the reasons behind that.

You should also talk to your doctor about your medication. Some antidepressants can have the opposite effect with some people - worsen depression rather than remedy it - and both fatigue and disinterest in activities you once enjoyed are pretty telltale symptoms of depression.
 
Lostsage said:
I’ve been going to daily mass for about 4-5 years. Lately, I really haven’t been feeling like going do to lack of energy and depression. Has anyone ever taken a break from going to daily mass for a week or so and found that it has reinvigorated your desire to go? The only thing that keeps me going at this point is love for God and the feeling of guilt if I don’t go.
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I think a time like this, is when you need to go even more. I am watching Catherine the Sienna documentary and one highlight of this documentary is that each time we go to mass or do adoration, Jesus transformed our heart.

Hold on, and keep going.
 
Chantal25 said:
I think a time like this, is when you need to go even more. I am watching Catherine the Sienna documentary and one highlight of this documentary is that each time we go to mass or do adoration, Jesus transformed our heart.

Hold on, and keep going.
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I would add to this that going to mass daily builds discipline, like the athlete exercising every day in the wee hours of the morning, or the soldier practicing his skills.

Also, if the mass you attend is just the Latin rite Novus Ordo, that’s one of the easiest services to sit through. You can understand everything, there is minimal kneeling, etc. Just imagine the Tridentine mass, which can sometimes take as long as two hours and is all in Latin (nothing like getting lost in your missal at the moment of the consecration!) Or the Byzantine liturgy, where you stand through the whole thing (and you have to try not to faint from all of the standing and incense - don’t buckle your knees, and wear comfy shoes!)

I don’t mean to sound arrogant or judgmental here. Just some perspective. 🙂
 
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