We didn't go to church on Easter Sunday ... did we commit a mortal sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sir_Knight
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sir_Knight

Guest
I know how I would answer this question if it was possed to me but since I am directly involved, I’m interested in an independent opinion in case I’m not being completely objective about the matter.

This morning we had every intention of going to Mass. We got up early giving us plenty of time to shower and get ready to attend the last Mass of the day (we were going to go to the last Mass for reasons which are not really pertinent to this discussion).

Halfway there, my daughter developed a coughing fit and began to vomit for the next several minutes. After a few minutes of this, my wife (who was sitting in the back with my daughter) and my daughter needed a change of cloths. And since the coughing / vomiting wasn’t stopping, we decided to turn back and go home.

By the time we got home, changed and cleaned out the car, Mass was already underway. Looking at the clock, if we left, we would be arriving just in time for the communion or the final blessing. So, we didn’t go. Since this was the last mass of the day, we ended up missing mass on Easter Sunday.

Is this a mortal sin? Should we have had a back-up plan in place to ensure that we didn’t miss Mass? Should I have contacted other Parishes to see if they had a later Mass (unlikely, but possible)? Comments? Opinions? Discussion?
 
I vote not a mortal sin since illness prevented you from being able to go. You couldn’t very well have gone to mass with your wife & daughter covered in vomit, could you? I learned in RCIA in order for it to be a mortal sin, you had to be fully aware & intend to SIN. You intended to go to mass - not to stay home so how could it be a mortal sin? But then again I’ve only been officially Catholic for less than 24 hours so don’t take mine as the voice of experience/authority.

P.S. Hope you still have a Happy Easter & your daughter is feeling better.
 
No, I do not believe it is a mortal sin; God knows you did not miss Mass on purpose.

If you still feel uneasy then just have a quiet talk with your Priest and explain the situation.

Yours in the Spirit

Pious
 
carol marie:
I vote not a mortal sin since illness prevented you from being able to go. You couldn’t very well have gone to mass with your wife & daughter covered in vomit, could you? I learned in RCIA in order for it to be a mortal sin, you had to be fully aware & intend to SIN. You intended to go to mass - not to stay home so how could it be a mortal sin? But then again I’ve only been officially Catholic for less than 24 hours so don’t take mine as the voice of experience/authority.

P.S. Hope you still have a Happy Easter & your daughter is feeling better.
Click to expand...
Although you’ve been a Catholic for less than 24 hours, you are right on target. Sir Knight had every intention to go, put forth the effort to do so, and through no fault of her own was unable to attend. In my opinion, there has been no sin committed, mortal or venial.

Congratulations Carol Marie. Welcome Home!
 
I don’t think that would be a sin since you and your family made a effort to get there. You can’t attend mass with vomit on you. I would probably have checked to see if there was a mass at another parish since I have a list of all the Easter sevices in our diocese.
 
Let me just throw in my vote for “not even a venial sin”. Your daughter was sick, and your wife was covered in vomit! Take care of your family, man!

This isn’t even remotely a case of “we could go if we really wanted to, but screw it”. You guys were in the car, on the way, and circumstances changed and prevented you from attending. Personally, I think God would be very pleased with you if you stay home today and care for your sick child. We are, after all, commemorating the day when God took care of His sick children. 🙂

Dying on the Cross wasn’t exactly at the top of God’s list of “Things I Wanted To Do Today”, but He bucked up and laid it down for us. You wanted to go to Mass and celebrate, but you had to tend for your sick child. Somehow I think God can relate, and understands perfectly 😉
 
Sir Knight:
Is this a mortal sin?
Click to expand...
No.

Someone has to attend the last mass at the parish. 🙂 In general, I try to know the last mass in the local area (for me it is a Spanish mass at 6:00pm Sunday).
 
I was very tired, so I slept until 4 pm today. (I got very little sleep the night before, because I was anxious about my reception into the Church on Saturday.) The last mass at my Church is at 4.30 pm, so I just didn’t go.

After I woke up I also looked up whether the Easter Vigil mass meets the requirements for the Sunday mass, and what I’ve read said that it does.

Is this right? Or have I sinned?
 
Hermione: If you went to Easter Vigil, you fulfilled your obligation. In fact, you were more pious than myself even though I went on Sunday; I avoided the Vigil partially because I didn’t want to sit around while 50 people were baptised. I’d say you did your part above and beyond 🙂
 
Hermione- Easter Vigil definitely “counts”. You didn’t sin. Congratulations and welcome home!

Sir Knight- God bless you. You didn’t sin either (I agree with everyone else). I hope your daughter is feeling better.
 
Sir Knight: No sin at all. I hope you’re little girl is better and that you can celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday next week.
 
Welcome to the Church!

While I don’t think you commited a mortal sin, I’ll share with you what I do when I find myself pondering did I or didn’t I sin gravely. I simply go to confession asap and confess it. If it was a mortal sin, I am forgiven, if it wasn’t a mortal sin and only a venial sin, I am still forgiven. If it was no sin at all, I still get the graces of a good confession.

Sincerely,

BD
 
Canon law specifially states that illness and caring for the ill are valid reasons for missing Mass. (Going by memory here, so forgive me if I slightly misquoted).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top