Traveling to island where Mass is unavailable.

[runwaymodel]

I’ll keep this short and sweet: As my title suggests, I will soon be traveling to a tropical island where Catholic mass is not available. I plan on taking my bible and saying the rosary while on the flight, and while that isn’t the same (obviously) I don’t know what other solution there is. Desperately open to advice and suggestions.

 

[SMHW]

I’ll keep this short and sweet: As my title suggests, I will soon be traveling to a tropical island where Catholic mass is not available. I plan on taking my bible and saying the rosary while on the flight, and while that isn’t the same (obviously) I don’t know what other solution there is. Desperately open to advice and suggestions.

The usual advice is to speak to the pastor of your parish and ask for a dispensation.

If you can’t get to Mass then you can’t get to Mass. But it’s always best to speak to your pastor (not just any priest) if you know in advance that Mass is not a possibility.

 

[pianistclare]

Common sense and speak to your priest.

 

[eamonnroma]

How can you be required to go to Mass where there is no Mass?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

God does not demand the impossible. If there is no Mass available, then there is no obligation.

A deeper question might be how necessary it is to spend Sunday on an island where there is no Mass available.

 

[rose_kelly]

It shouldn’t be necessary to ask a priest about it, if mass isn’t available there that isn’t your fault.

 

[runwaymodel]

Just needed to be sure because I travel quite a bit yet there was one instance in the past where I felt like I was being reprimanded unjustly for the same situation so I wasn’t sure how to approach it this time. I want to “cover all my spiritual bases”, so to speak.

 

[pianistclare]

Just needed to be sure because I travel quite a bit yet there was one instance in the past where I felt like I was being reprimanded unjustly for the same situation so I wasn’t sure how to approach it this time. I want to “cover all my spiritual bases”, so to speak.

Again, talk to your pastor. It’s his advice you should take, but yeah, you can’t do the impossible, but he may insist that you go at another time, when you return to make up for it.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

God does not demand the impossible. If there is no Mass available, then there is no obligation.

A deeper question might be how necessary it is to spend Sunday on an island where there is no Mass available.

I don’t believe the Church requires that one can only vacation or travel to places where there are churches, or travel on cruise lines that have priests on board. I think the real question is deliberate avoidance of Mass vs. happenstance.

 

[LoyalViews]

You’d just assume that there’s no obligation. It’s not your fault.

If there’s the Orthodox or any Anglicans, it wouldn’t hurt to stop by (if Anglican, just for a look, not for communion or prayer or anything, you get the gist)

 

[GoGoDiego]

Consult your pastor to ask that you may be dispensed from your Sunday Obligation or:
Refrain from servile labor on that day and keep a spirit of prayer.

 

[Mount_Carmel]

Common sense and speak to your priest.

-And might I suggest an extra [weekday] Mass - before or after your trip? Maybe offer that one up for the Holy Souls and those of the faithful who normally live in parts of the world were regular Mass is impossible.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

I’ll keep this short and sweet: As my title suggests, I will soon be traveling to a tropical island where Catholic mass is not available. I plan on taking my bible and saying the rosary while on the flight, and while that isn’t the same (obviously) I don’t know what other solution there is. Desperately open to advice and suggestions.

Impossibility (as opposed to difficulty) of attendance is usually a valid reason for missing Mass. So is the demands of traveling. Your intent while planning may have some bearing on it as well.

You can still watch Mass - if you have access to the internet. For several weeks last May and again in July I was in an intensive care unit. Although the hospital chapel had Mass, I was unable to leave my bed for many days (tubes, wires, IV’s, etc.) and could not attend Mass on any of the Sundays during my time in the hospital. I did, however, look online for Mass and watched Sunday Masses and several daily Masses on my iPhone.

If you have internet access on the Island, you can watch a web broadcast of that Sunday’s Mass. Google it and you’ll find that quite a few Masses are broadcast online. Say some extra prayers and try to get copies of the Mass readings for that day.

Mention it in your next confession afterwards, but also state that you’re not being scrupulous and are pretty sure you did not commit a sin under the circumstances. Also explain that there as no Mass on the island and your intent in going there was not to avoid Mass. You might also list what you did in lieu of Mass - e.g. Rosary, readings, extra prayers, Acts of Spiritual Communion, etc. I’m sure the priest will tell you that you’re fine.

Safe travels!!

 

[Elizium23]

You should at least make a diligent search to find a priest somewhere nearby. Does the island have a ferry service, which would take you to an island where Mass is celebrated? Is there an interdenominational chapel that might be occasionally used for Mass when a priest is present? Find the diocese and bishops’ conference for your island, and make inquiries with them. You can also check masstimes.org.

One thing to be aware of is that you might find yourself in an emergency and requiring the sacraments. How would you get to Confession if you have committed a mortal sin, or how would you receive anointing if you were in danger of death?

 

[OraLabora]

How would you get to Confession if you have committed a mortal sin, or how would you receive anointing if you were in danger of death?

Wouldn’t an act of perfect contrition cover that situation? Of course (s)he would be bound to have sacramental confession once returned to a place where it is available.

Normally an act of contrition with the intent to confess as soon as is practicable is sufficient when grave reasons exist such as danger of death and unavailability of sacramental confession.

 

[eamonnroma]

You’d just assume that there’s no obligation. It’s not your fault.

If there’s the Orthodox or any Anglicans, it wouldn’t hurt to stop by (if Anglican, just for a look, not for communion or prayer or anything, you get the gist)

Why can you not pray with Anglicans? The Pope prays with Jews and Moslems. JPII used to pray with all Faiths in his inter Faith weeks in Assisi

 

[Phemie]

Why can you not pray with Anglicans? The Pope prays with Jews and Moslems. JPII used to pray with all Faiths in his inter Faith weeks in Assisi

There was a time when you were only to attend a non-Catholic service for funerals or weddings and even that was not considered wise. Priests admonished you not to pray with them at those times or “participate” in the service in any way.

Today you can attend a service, sing hymns and pray in any way that is not anti-Catholic as long as you refrain from receiving receiving “Communion” in a church that doesn’t have valid Holy Orders.

 

[Elizium23]

Today you can attend a service, sing hymns and pray in any way that is not anti-Catholic as long as you refrain from receiving receiving “Communion” in a church that doesn’t have valid Holy Orders.

An ecclesial community that does not have valid Holy Orders is not a Church.