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po18guy
Well-known member
Negligence in regard to properly planning to attend mass out of love of God, and arrive on time. It has to do with the vice of sloth (acedia) and the contrasting virtue of diligence.
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dans0622
Guest
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mommamaree
Guest
My pastor says that when we are prevented from being in the Mass through no fault of our own, that it does not matter how late we come in, we may join the procession to receive Communion. The obligation to attend Mass and the requirements for receiving Communion are not entwined. That is why Communion may be delivered to those who are home-bound or in the hospital. Hope that helps!
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wcknight
Guest
This was a weekday mass… not on a holy day,
I would feel awkward receiving IF I were not there for at least most of the mass/// but thanks for all the (name removed by moderator)ut… learn something new every day even after 50+ years.
I would feel awkward receiving IF I were not there for at least most of the mass/// but thanks for all the (name removed by moderator)ut… learn something new every day even after 50+ years.
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Joannm
Guest
But I would think that if someone arrived just as communion is being distributed then they indeed did not fulfill their obligation to attend Mass and thus cannot receive Communion unless they intend to attend an additional Mass that same Sunday.
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maryjk
Guest
Yep. As long as you are there for distribution and you haven’t already received, then you aren’t too late.
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Joannm
Guest
I would disagree. What is the purpose of attending Mass, just to receive communion or to worship God with praise and thanksgiving? To just pop in at the end of mass and get on the communion line (unless impeded by extenuating circumstances) seems to me like treating communion like a consumer product. Even if it is not a Sunday Mass and one is in the state of Grace, I would question why a person would even do that? They want to receive Jesus, yes, but they don’t want to sit through the rest of the Mass? Personally, if I arrive late at Mass, and for me that would mean once the readings begin, I don’t go to communion. There is no law that says you have to go to communion. Sometimes sitting out provides incentive to make sure I get to Mass early and to reflect on what receiving the Eucharist really means. If it was OK to just come in at the end why not have a drive in so people can get their Jesus fix and move on to other things.
Yep. As long as you are there for distribution and you haven’t already received, then you aren’t too late.
I am sorry if this sounds too harsh, but why reap the benefits without participating in the sacrifice?
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thistle
Guest
You are entitled your opinion. I happen to totally disagree with you. When a person is in a state of grace and properly disposed to receive it is NOT for you to judge that person if he/she comes to Church and goes directly into the Communion line to receive (which they are perfectly entitled to do).
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glendab
Guest
Yo! What a kettle O’ fish!
I went thru RCIA and on the day that Monsignor instructed us, he explained it this way: There is no obligation for being on time for Mass during the days of the week or any other day that isn’t Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation. On Sundays and Holy Days however, we ARE expected to attend Mass under pain of Mortal Sin if we don’t. In order to fulfill this, we must arrive BEFORE the reading of the Gospel. This is a specific time in the Mass. It must be heard in it’s entirety for you specifically to have fulfilled your obligation. He said that was the defining line for too late for Mass to “count”. Monsignor was very explicit when he explained it. It isn’t just a courtesy to be on time.
If circumstances beyond your control prevent you from hearing the full text of the Gospel for Sunday or the Holy Day, then there is no sin. But waking up late and missing the bus for Church isn’t sufficient excuse. One simply has to abstain from Communion and make a good Confession of one’s sin BEFORE presenting oneself for Communion again. Communion isn’t our “reward” for showing up sort of on time most of the time. The Eucharist is God in the flesh, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. One must be properly disposed to receive Him. If one loves Him, one will make sure he or she embraces Him in a state of Grace. I think the Monsignor was correct in his explanation of our Obligations.
Oh, I need to add that if one is late and the Gospel has already started then if there is another Mass that day, one can stay and simply attend that one. In that case, then one is early!
If an entire Mass is too much time to give to God, then why would one want to spend one’s eternity with Him?
Glenda
I went thru RCIA and on the day that Monsignor instructed us, he explained it this way: There is no obligation for being on time for Mass during the days of the week or any other day that isn’t Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation. On Sundays and Holy Days however, we ARE expected to attend Mass under pain of Mortal Sin if we don’t. In order to fulfill this, we must arrive BEFORE the reading of the Gospel. This is a specific time in the Mass. It must be heard in it’s entirety for you specifically to have fulfilled your obligation. He said that was the defining line for too late for Mass to “count”. Monsignor was very explicit when he explained it. It isn’t just a courtesy to be on time.
If circumstances beyond your control prevent you from hearing the full text of the Gospel for Sunday or the Holy Day, then there is no sin. But waking up late and missing the bus for Church isn’t sufficient excuse. One simply has to abstain from Communion and make a good Confession of one’s sin BEFORE presenting oneself for Communion again. Communion isn’t our “reward” for showing up sort of on time most of the time. The Eucharist is God in the flesh, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. One must be properly disposed to receive Him. If one loves Him, one will make sure he or she embraces Him in a state of Grace. I think the Monsignor was correct in his explanation of our Obligations.
Oh, I need to add that if one is late and the Gospel has already started then if there is another Mass that day, one can stay and simply attend that one. In that case, then one is early!
If an entire Mass is too much time to give to God, then why would one want to spend one’s eternity with Him?
Glenda
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ProVobis
Guest
But would he have to attend the whole Mass since he has already part of it?
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thistle
Guest
Neither Canon Law nor any Church document states that the Sunday obligation can only be fulfilled by attending the entire Mass. It is certainly disrespectful not to attend the whole Mass unless by good reason but it is not a sin and it does not mean your obligation has not been fulfilled.
If anyone claims that then ask them to provide the Church document. They can’t because none exists.
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maryjk
Guest
You may not agree, but I am stating what the Church requires. You are stating opinion.
If you don’t want to go to Communion if you are late or unable to attend the entirety of Mass, that is your choice.
But the Church allows it. It even has rules about how to do it.
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glendab
Guest
To Everyone - My point is this: The Mass is a foreshadow of Heaven and we all supposedly want to get there, *but if we can’t give God one full hour of our time *each Sunday and Holyday, why on earth would you look forward to Heaven? Heaven is after all an ETERNITY long! Really.
And yes, it is true that Communion cannot be denied by the minister because he or she saw you come in late.
I don’t have a bunch of “Documents” and a degree in Canon Law but the Monsignor who instructed me in RCIA did and I don’t think he was wrong.
All the Canon lawyers in the world cannot undo one mortal sin and there won’t be one assigned to you upon your particular judgment to split the hairs of St. Peter’s head for you. What’s so hard about getting to Church on time? And if you don’t, go to Confession. I’m happy that I got told the truth about how late is too late.
Glenda
And yes, it is true that Communion cannot be denied by the minister because he or she saw you come in late.
I don’t have a bunch of “Documents” and a degree in Canon Law but the Monsignor who instructed me in RCIA did and I don’t think he was wrong.
All the Canon lawyers in the world cannot undo one mortal sin and there won’t be one assigned to you upon your particular judgment to split the hairs of St. Peter’s head for you. What’s so hard about getting to Church on time? And if you don’t, go to Confession. I’m happy that I got told the truth about how late is too late.
Glenda
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glendab
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BTW, I think Father McNamara’s reply to the question at the EWTN site is very helpful.
Glenda
Glenda
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maryjk
Guest
But the question wasn’t how late can I be and still meet my obligation.
It was how much of Mass do I have to attend before I can receive Communion.
Two totally different questions.
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ProVobis
Guest
As I understand it, the first communion of the day can be received outside Mass. The second communion must be accompanied by the Mass; how much of it is necessary I’ll leave to canon lawyers.
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thistle
Guest
As the Church allows it that means he is wrong, assuming he said what you told us he said. There is no mortal sin involved.
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glendab
Guest
I think I have one more thing to say about this subject.
We are obliged to hear Mass every Sunday and Holy day of obligation under pain of MORTAL SIN. That means that missing Mass those days IS a MORTAL SIN which must be Confessed BEFORE receiving Communion.
How late can a person be before he or she is considered too late to have heard all of Mass? I shared how a MONSIGNOR explained this very question to me and about 12 other people in a room conducting RCIA, and yes he was actually a JCD at that time! He is correct then as now.
I apologize if this seems not in keeping with how some would view the Church, but it is true…you CAN be too late for Mass and if you are, go to Confession or stay and hear a whole nuther Mass. I won’t kill you to do so and especially if you are planning on spending your entire eternity in Heaven…
Glenda
We are obliged to hear Mass every Sunday and Holy day of obligation under pain of MORTAL SIN. That means that missing Mass those days IS a MORTAL SIN which must be Confessed BEFORE receiving Communion.
How late can a person be before he or she is considered too late to have heard all of Mass? I shared how a MONSIGNOR explained this very question to me and about 12 other people in a room conducting RCIA, and yes he was actually a JCD at that time! He is correct then as now.
I apologize if this seems not in keeping with how some would view the Church, but it is true…you CAN be too late for Mass and if you are, go to Confession or stay and hear a whole nuther Mass. I won’t kill you to do so and especially if you are planning on spending your entire eternity in Heaven…
Glenda
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maryjk
Guest
Actually, it is grave matter. For MORTAL SIN, three conditions must be met.
That is great that you had a Canon Lawyer conducting your RCIA. (When you say, “at the time,” I presume you mean is still a Canon Lawyer.)
But the question wasn’t how much of Mass you have to hear to meet your obligation. The question was about receiving Communion.
I apologize if this seems not in keeping with how some would view the Church, but it is true…you CAN be too late for Mass and if you are, go to Confession or stay and hear a whole nuther Mass. I won’t kill you to do so and especially if you are planning on spending your entire eternity in Heaven…
The question was about receiving Communion.
In fact, the OP was talking about daily Mass.
No one has said that there isn’t an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. How much of Mass? If you claim that it is before the start of the Gospel, I would love to know which Canon Law your Monsignor is quoting.
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