Too sick for Sunday Mass? How to decide

[Marybeloved]

I recently wrote this on another thread here:

I’m very tired and feel sick. I didn’t attend mass in the morning because of an emergency at home with my sick dad- trying to get the doctor home etc- I intended to go for the evening mass as I normally do when I don’t attend Morning Sunday mass for some reason. I arranged for a cousin to drive me. When I went to my room to change my clothes to go, I felt sick, like dizzy/nauseous and did not change. I sat back, thinking that if I went I would feel horrible during and after mass on the way home. I didn’t have lunch, so I asked for something to eat. I kept feeling like I should push myself but I felt bad/ill and though I could definitely push myself, it would be very unpleasant. I have not gone.

Here’s my problem: I did not “feel” like going today, either. So I’m confused about consent- How do I know when I’ve consented when on top of feeling ill, I also don’t feel like going? How do I know that it’s sufficient to relieve the Sunday obligation or merely an excuse?

Also: How seriously ill counts as sufficient grounds to relieve Sunday obligation? I definitely am not so ill that I require hospitalization, but I was in a condition that I saw that going at that time, to mass or anywhere, basically moving about, would be very unpleasant for me.

Please answer me: When I feel ill, but also don’t feel like going, how can I judge which is the true motive for my not going to mass? I’m really confused.

 

[Castello]

Would you go shopping? To the store (aside from grabbing a bottle of medicine or something vital)? To the park? To a party? To a wedding? To work? To class? To hang out with a friend? If you would do any of these other things, you are not too sick for Mass.

 

[Mintaka]

You don’t have to judge your “true motive.” This one is a no-brainer, and you are overthinking it. (As many of us Catholics are prone to do!)

Going to church when you’re ill is a bad idea for you, and for anybody else you might infect. If you have trouble getting there and if your reactions are impaired, you could also cause an accident or other difficulties. So stay home!

Now, if you’re sick, you’re probably tired from that. You may be depressed by your illness, also, or unable to concentrate; and in this case, you were certainly saddened and worried about what was going on with your father. So of course you wouldn’t feel like going to church. That’s your body’s way of saying, “Oh, please, let me stay home! Don’t drag me to the grocery store or to church or make me do a hard day’s work on the farm!”

Now, if your body and your prudent mind are both telling you not to push your sick body, that’s not a sin. That’s God’s handiwork working the way it’s supposed to, providing you with wisdom and helping you decide. Don’t feel guilty about it!

Now, if you keep feeling like that when you’re well again, you’re probably just feeling sad and blah because you were sick and are still a bit worn down. You will probably start to feel a little better when you get back to your routine and go to church. (Maybe you will still feel blah, but at least you’ll be at church.) Take a little walk in the morning, get out in the sunshine, take your vitamins, eat nourishing food, get your sleep, drink fluids, etc., but don’t worry about the blahs too much as long as you’re able to continue your regular routine.

If you were to get into a situation where you only felt sick on Sunday mornings (and not because you were exposed to a lot of allergens or exhaustion on Saturday night or Sunday morning), then you might start to wonder if your brain and body are playing tricks on you. But this was just one occurrence, so it’s not anything like that.

 

[wendy_w]

Would you go shopping? To the store (aside from grabbing a bottle of medicine or something vital)? To the park? To a party? To a wedding? To work? To class? To hang out with a friend? If you would do any of these other things, you are not too sick for Mass.

 

[anp1215]

The way I judge, is to ask myself “Would I go to work?” If the answer is yes, and I can go to work for 8 hours (my job is outside, on my feet the entire time), then I can spend one hour sitting in a pew.

Thank the Lord for my health, I am rarely sick. If I am sniffly, I go to Mass. If I was throwing up, I would not go.

I think that’s a good test to determine if you are too sick for Mass. For some people, it might not work. My husband is crazy about work, he would still go if he was throwing up. It drives me crazy! That is not good.

 

[rhiannonh]

You don’t have to judge your “true motive.” This one is a no-brainer, and you are overthinking it. (As many of us Catholics are prone to do!)

Going to church when you’re ill is a bad idea for you, and for anybody else you might infect. If you have trouble getting there and if your reactions are impaired, you could also cause an accident or other difficulties. So stay home!

Now, if you’re sick, you’re probably tired from that. You may be depressed by your illness, also, or unable to concentrate; and in this case, you were certainly saddened and worried about what was going on with your father. So of course you wouldn’t feel like going to church. That’s your body’s way of saying, “Oh, please, let me stay home! Don’t drag me to the grocery store or to church or make me do a hard day’s work on the farm!”

Now, if your body and your prudent mind are both telling you not to push your sick body, that’s not a sin. That’s God’s handiwork working the way it’s supposed to, providing you with wisdom and helping you decide. Don’t feel guilty about it!

Now, if you keep feeling like that when you’re well again, you’re probably just feeling sad and blah because you were sick and are still a bit worn down. You will probably start to feel a little better when you get back to your routine and go to church. (Maybe you will still feel blah, but at least you’ll be at church.) Take a little walk in the morning, get out in the sunshine, take your vitamins, eat nourishing food, get your sleep, drink fluids, etc., but don’t worry about the blahs too much as long as you’re able to continue your regular routine.

If you were to get into a situation where you only felt sick on Sunday mornings (and not because you were exposed to a lot of allergens or exhaustion on Saturday night or Sunday morning), then you might start to wonder if your brain and body are playing tricks on you. But this was just one occurrence, so it’s not anything like that.

Amen

 

[lauraabarlow]

My situation is different-car problems and finances. I’ve been driving my son’s car since sept because my car needs engine mounts and I was unable to afford it. I was unemployed and behind on bills but started a new job, so I had no choice but to drive my son’s car. Yesterday, his tension pulley and belt broke, so me, being a broken soul who has yet to get my income taxes is without a vehicle. I am not only struggling but broken down both physically and mentally. Hopefully, it will be fixed by this weekend. I may or may not make mass nest week :<

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

Please answer me: When I feel ill, but also don’t feel like going, how can I judge which is the true motive for my not going to mass? I’m really confused.

At the beginning of flu season our parish bulletin runs an announcement asking people who suspect they’re contagious with anything to not attend parish functions. The wording is something like If you have a fever, and/or you can’t keep your droplets to yourself, please stay home.

There are plenty of people who shop, work, go to school, and socialize when they’re sick, and all they’re doing to spreading contagion to all kinds of people who need to be careful: chemotherapy patients, little ones, pregnant women, old folks, anyone with a weak/compromised immune system, not to mention people who just don’t want to get sick.

Of you need help discerning your “true motive” for missing Mass, speak with your priest and follow his pastoral guidance.

Luna

 

[Kay_Cee]

My Spiritual Director ordered me to stay home from Mass if I even suspect I might be contagious.

He explained that I dare not take the chance of infecting someone with a compromised immune system, infants, or the elderly.

 

[Listener]

Would you go shopping? To the store (aside from grabbing a bottle of medicine or something vital)? To the park? To a party? To a wedding? To work? To class? To hang out with a friend? If you would do any of these other things, you are not too sick for Mass.

An exception to these ideas might be going out to get something to eat. If you’re the cook, and you’re not sick in your stomach, I think it might be okay to go to a restaurant and eat a bowl of soup if you’re feeling too sick to cook, especially if your husband is willing to drive you there.

The way I look at it, at Mass you would be coughing all over everybody and shaking hands with them. At a restaurant, you wouldn’t get that close to people.