Unable to attend mass

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Tighty_Whitey

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I have several jobs a few of which are very physically demanding. On Saturdays I work from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and am physically wiped out by the end of the day. On Sundays I work from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a second job from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. I am trying to support my family as best I can. Obviously my question is, how can I fulfill my commitment and obligation to attend mass? Suggestions? Thanks!
 
Tighty_Whitey said:
I have several jobs a few of which are very physically demanding. On Saturdays I work from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and am physically wiped out by the end of the day. On Sundays I work from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a second job from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. I am trying to support my family as best I can. Obviously my question is, how can I fulfill my commitment and obligation to attend mass? Suggestions? Thanks!
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What did your pastor say?
 
Tighty_Whitey said:
I have several jobs a few of which are very physically demanding. On Saturdays I work from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and am physically wiped out by the end of the day. On Sundays I work from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a second job from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. I am trying to support my family as best I can. Obviously my question is, how can I fulfill my commitment and obligation to attend mass? Suggestions? Thanks!
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You can ask your pastor for a dispensation.
 
There must be a Mass somewhere that you can attend. Mass is not a chore. It’s a peaceful. joyful, and necessary respite from the world and it’s stresses. Try viewing it in that light, and maybe you’ll feel more inclined to do what you can to spend that one hour with Christ.
Best wishes.
 
pianistclare said:
…maybe you’ll feel more inclined to do what you can to spend that one hour with Christ.
Best wishes.
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I’m not advising anything but shouldn’t your entire day be with Christ? The guy is after all trying to support a family with His help. 🙂
 
ProVobis said:
I’m not advising anything but shouldn’t your entire day be with Christ? The guy is after all trying to support a family with His help. 🙂
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My point is…(and I think you know what my point is :rolleyes: )
that it’s one hour.
It’s restorative, it’s not a burden for most people.
I work all weekend every weekend. Mass is the one time when I get to breathe.
We should not view Mass attendance as a chore, that’s all. It might be the time when the family comes together in love of each other, Our Lord, and their parish community. 🤷
 
Isn’t there a canon law that addresses problems such as “physically or morally impossible” in context of fulfilling one’s obligation?
 
There is a website called masstimes.org that can help you locate a mass time that might fit into your busy and exhausting work schedule. Hopefully, you will be able to find either a later Saturday anticipatory Mass or an earlier Sunday Mass near enough to you.

St. Francis de Sales said that we need to pray for 15 minutes every day, and when we are busy, we need to pray 30 minutes. 😛

With the amount of hard labor you are putting into supporting your family (and God bless you for that!) you need even more the graces and the rest offered to you from weekly Mass, and especially the Eucharist.

I hope you are able to find a way to both support your family financially and be able to worship and commune with Our Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If there are no other Masses available to you that you could fit into your work schedule, then I think the next step would be to email your pastor and ask for his guidance in the matter.
 
ProVobis said:
Isn’t there a canon law that addresses problems such as “physically or morally impossible” in context of fulfilling one’s obligation?
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I don’t think anyone is saying that it’s impossible.
He’s saying it’s HARD.
I’m saying that going is RETORATIVE.
Big difference.
 
pianistclare said:
I don’t think anyone is saying that it’s impossible.
He’s saying it’s HARD.
I’m saying that going is RETORATIVE.
Big difference.
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It’s actually whatever the Latin means. One can make a case nothing is impossible as it’s stated in the English.
 
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