Traveling and Sunday Mass Dispensations

[MissRose73]

I was traveling overseas recently. I did research out and found some churches online but due to issues obtaining reliable transport and being too far away for me to walk due to health reasons, was not able to make it to Mass. I did confess the fact I missed and why due to those reasons, but the priest did consider it a sin anyways. Should I have sought out a dispensation in case that was a possibility, and it turned out that I missed Sunday Mass through no fault of my own?

 

[robwar]

I was traveling overseas recently. I did research out and found some churches online but due to issues obtaining reliable transport and being too far away for me to walk due to health reasons, was not able to make it to Mass. I did confess the fact I missed and why due to those reasons, but the priest did consider it a sin anyways. Should I have sought out a dispensation in case that was a possibility, and it turned out that I missed Sunday Mass through no fault of my own?

That seems strange but since you did go to confession over it, it seems like it should be resolved for you. Maybe ask the priest what to do if this sort of situation happens again and if you should get a dispensation ahead of time.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I suggest getting a dispensation in advance in the future, but also try to make it to Mass anyway.

 

[Bookcat]

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

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.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm#II

Now of course it if is impossible for one to make it --like one finds oneself in some particular Muslim Country where there are no Masses or something --well that is the case of an impossibility…

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I was traveling overseas recently. I did research out and found some churches online but due to issues obtaining reliable transport and being too far away for me to walk due to health reasons, was not able to make it to Mass. I did confess the fact I missed and why due to those reasons, but the priest did consider it a sin anyways. Should I have sought out a dispensation in case that was a possibility, and it turned out that I missed Sunday Mass through no fault of my own?

There are often threads asking this same question. I think it is too subjective a situation for any of us to answer your question. Obviously, this is not what you want to hear. You want a more definite answer. The problem is this: we are obliged to go to Mass on Sundays. I beleive if we cannot genuinely get to Mass we are excused. Because we can be excused I am not sure why it would be necessary to get a dispensation. We cannot know your personal circumstances. Only you can honestly answer your own question. If you are concerned over the matter it would be appropriate for you to speak to a priest.

 

[joanofarc2008]

I had a situation where I was going away for business and unfortunately was going to be in meetings all day Saturday and Sunday into the evening. I did check Mass times and there were no Masses that could be made. I asked me priest ahead of time and he gave me dispensation. As it was I did meet up with another Catholic and we had an opportunity to discuss the Gospels for that Sunday. Not as good but it was something.