Weekly Mass

[Questioner28]

What are some documents I can quote and cite in order to convince my relatives that refusing to attend mass is a mortal sin and that confession is obligatory in order to receive God’s forgiveness ?
They don’t seem to want to listen to people that would say otherwise perhaps I can find a way to explain these things to them.

 

[RosaryFan]

What are some documents I can quote and cite in order to convince my relatives that refusing to attend mass is a mortal sin and that confession is obligatory in order to receive God’s forgiveness ?
They don’t seem to want to listen to people that would say otherwise perhaps I can find a way to explain these things to them.

Are your relatives Catholic?

For starters, the Third Commandment, “Keep Holy the Lord’s Day” could not be any clearer. It is very hard to misinterpret that Command from the very Mouth of God. And don’t let them try to tell you they can pray “privately in their rooms to God”, because people who don’t want to get out of bed and go to Mass do not do that. That’s a poor excuse for trying to justify not going to Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation. If they understood the significance and importance of the Mass and what actually takes place on the altar, they would understand how we are obliged to go, at the very least, one hour a week to thank Our Savior, IN PERSON, for the sacrifice He made for our salvation. Jesus’ passion, death and ressurection are made present for us at Mass. God actually takes that moment in time from 2,000 years ago and brings it into our present time, in our very Church on that very altar. We must be there to celebrate this victory over death, or else we will not benefit from that victory. A priest in our parish once explained that missing Mass is like saying to Christ, “You mean to tell me that you died for me on the Cross and you expect me to come and watch?!” It gives you a whole new perspective on how missing Mass offends our dear Lord.

Regarding confession: there are biblical references to Jesus giving the power to His Apostles to “loose or hold bound” the sins of man (Matthew 18:18). Also, Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives this power to St. Peter, our first Pope.

Jesus also commands us to “confess our sins to one another”, which can be found in James 5:16.

Hope this was helpful.

 

[Bezant]

What are some documents I can quote and cite in order to convince my relatives that refusing to attend mass is a mortal sin and that confession is obligatory in order to receive God’s forgiveness?

They don’t seem to want to listen to people that would say otherwise perhaps I can find a way to explain these things to them.

As a correction the Sacrament of Confession isn’t the only way to receive forgiveness–it’s the only ordinary, guaranteed way. You’ve several ways other ways: private remorse and repentance, confession to another person, charitable acts, and even taking the Eucharist, I’ve heard.

How did this conversation come about with your relatives (who I assume are Catholic)? Did they ask for the Church’s position, Biblical verses?

If they’ve been dismissing you repeatedly, I’m afraid you may be talking to the wall.

The catechism, Bible, Church authority, etc., mean nothing to those who don’t accept it; whether they’re in the right or in the wrong is besides the point.

Pointing out the wages of sin is, IMO, the wrong way to go about it, especially because you suggest they’re not educated in Catholicism.

Rather, you should convince them there’s a positive motivation to attend, e.g., the Mass and Sunday are a way for Christians to relax and focus on God.

 

[Questioner28]

The relatives I spoke to claim to be Catholic but they don’t think that missing mass on a weekly basis is a mortal sin. I’m thinking that they might be ‘lapsed’ Catholics.

 

[RosaryFan]

The relatives I spoke to claim to be Catholic but they don’t think that missing mass on a weekly basis is a mortal sin. I’m thinking that they might be ‘lapsed’ Catholics.

Lapsed, perhaps, but certainly “cafeteria Catholics” (those who think they can pick and choose what they wish to believe and put aside those Commandments that are too burdensome for them).

I always wonder about that. How can someone be so arrogant as to think that the Church Christ founded should change to accommodate their lifestyle? Mr. Smith thinks missing Mass is okay, so let’s do away with the obligation altogether. Mrs. Jones thinks it’s okay to use artificial birth control, so let’s start condoning that. Little Janie thinks it’s fine and dandy to have pre-marital sex, so why don’t we just erase the 6th Commandment from the Tablets.

 

[Bezant]

Lapsed, perhaps, but certainly “cafeteria Catholics” (those who think they can pick and choose what they wish to believe and put aside those Commandments that are too burdensome for them).
I always wonder about that. How can someone be so arrogant as to think that the Church Christ founded should change to accommodate their lifestyle? Mr. Smith thinks missing Mass is okay, so let’s do away with the obligation altogether. Mrs. Jones thinks it’s okay to use artificial birth control, so let’s start condoning that. Little Janie thinks it’s fine and dandy to have pre-marital sex, so why don’t we just erase the 6th Commandment from the Tablets.

A lapsed Catholic and a cafeteria Catholic aren’t necessarily the same thing. Furthermore, we do not know what their reasoning is behind their decision to skip Mass. You’re making this more than it is.

 

[RosaryFan]

We don’t know what their thinking behind their decision is. A lapsed Catholic is not necessarily a cafeteria Catholic, and it is inappropriate of you to link them so readily.

A cafeteria Catholic is one that picks and chooses what they want to follow and what they don’t deem necessary to follow…correct? Didn’t the OP say his relatives have decided it’s not a mortal sin to miss Mass? That is “cafeteria Catholic”. I don’t know if they’re “lapsed”, but thinking that Mass is not necessary is “cafeteria”. I’m just stating the obvious, based on what the OP said. Not passing judgment on anyone. It doesn’t much matter what “their thinking is behind the decision” because they have chosen to disregard the Church’s teaching on that issue. Cafeteria.

Now, it would be fair to say that I shouldn’t so readily link them to the term “lapsed” (which I didn’t), but cafeteria is a term that describes their actions REGARDLESS of the reasons for their actions. That is why I didn’t say they were lapsed (because THAT I don’t know).

 

[Bezant]

The relatives I spoke to claim to be Catholic but they don’t think that missing mass on a weekly basis is a mortal sin. I’m thinking that they might be ‘lapsed’ Catholics.

OK. If they don’t have basic Catholic beliefs, for practical purposes, they’re outside the Church.

Try to encourage them to come with you to Mass on important days, like Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, etc.

 

[Bezant]

A cafeteria Catholic is one that picks and chooses what they want to follow and what they don’t deem necessary to follow…correct? Didn’t the OP say his relatives have decided it’s not a mortal sin to miss Mass? That is “cafeteria Catholic”. I don’t know if they’re “lapsed”, but thinking that Mass is not necessary is “cafeteria”. I’m just stating the obvious, based on what the OP said. Not passing judgment on anyone.

It sounded like you passed judgment on them in your second post, however indirectly.

A ‘cafeteria’ Catholic must have been one initiated into the Church, holds retains some basic, core Catholic beliefs and practices, while ignoring others – while knowing that he’s obligated to accept the entire deal.

A ‘lapsed’ Catholic does not need to retain any core beliefs or practices.

It doesn’t much matter what “their thinking is behind the decision” because they have chosen to disregard the Church’s teaching on that issue. Cafeteria.

Yes, it does matter, because their thinking determines how you counter the problem.

Is this a decision based on “arrogance,” fitting one’s lifestyle to Church teaching, instead of vise versa? Or is this the result of poor education, since they’re unaware of the catechism’s position on the matter? A negative experience at church?

Do they even see themselves as part of the Church (e.g., sharing core beliefs)? If they don’t have one of these fundamentals – if they don’t see the Church’s teaching on the matter as authoritative – you might as well bin showing them what the catechism says, and find another approach.