What Spiritual Benefit Is Going To Mass For One Excommunicated Due To Remarriage?

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Understanding that Sunday and Holy Days obligation doesn’t go away just because one is excommunicated, none the less, what exactly or speculatively would be the spiritual benefits to that person by continuing to go to Mass? Would there be any more spiritual benefit to that same person by attending Mass on this special plenarily indugenced Feast of The Immaculate Conception than before the Holy Father’s decree - the feast without the indulgence?

By the term spiritual benefits I mean those benefits that go beyond the good that anyone would derive from reading the scriptural readings appointed for the day; hearing an uplifting homily; being in the presence of The Lord (understandably no trivial occurance).

Would appreciate any and all thoughts on this as well as information about whether this question is addressed in any documents of the Church. Thank you!
 
Maybe being at Mass, such a person will be moved to get himself right with the Church.:amen:
 
Just as a point of clarification – remarriage without the benefit of an annulment does not lead to excommunication! Because of the objectively grave situation that this connotes, however, access to the sacraments is, in general, not possible until the situation is resolved. Such a person is, however, still a member of the Catholic Church.

Deacon Ed
 
The main benefit I can see in attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation is that it makes one less grave sin to have to be dealing with while trying to straighten out any marital irregularities. I don’t know why people seem to think that the Church closes its doors to sinners guilty of sexual sins in particular when the express purpose of Christ’s Church is to bring sinners to salvation no matter what sin a person may have committed or is committing. All of us are sinners of one sort or another. Let us cling to Christ and make full use of the sacraments, including reconciliation, available to us in Christ’s Church.
 
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rafaella:
Understanding that Sunday and Holy Days obligation doesn’t go away just because one is excommunicated, none the less, what exactly or speculatively would be the spiritual benefits to that person by continuing to go to Mass? Would there be any more spiritual benefit to that same person by attending Mass on this special plenarily indugenced Feast of The Immaculate Conception than before the Holy Father’s decree - the feast without the indulgence?

By the term spiritual benefits I mean those benefits that go beyond the good that anyone would derive from reading the scriptural readings appointed for the day; hearing an uplifting homily; being in the presence of The Lord (understandably no trivial occurance).

Would appreciate any and all thoughts on this as well as information about whether this question is addressed in any documents of the Church. Thank you!
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You indicate that a person who is married invalidly is excommunicated? This was true at one time. But Pope Paul VI lifted all excommunications for invalid marriages in the 70’s. in the 1983 Code of Canon Law there is no excommunication attached to this action.
 
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rafaella:
Understanding that Sunday and Holy Days obligation doesn’t go away just because one is excommunicated, none the less, what exactly or speculatively would be the spiritual benefits to that person by continuing to go to Mass? Would there be any more spiritual benefit to that same person by attending Mass on this special plenarily indugenced Feast of The Immaculate Conception than before the Holy Father’s decree - the feast without the indulgence?

By the term spiritual benefits I mean those benefits that go beyond the good that anyone would derive from reading the scriptural readings appointed for the day; hearing an uplifting homily; being in the presence of The Lord (understandably no trivial occurance).

Would appreciate any and all thoughts on this as well as information about whether this question is addressed in any documents of the Church. Thank you!
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First of all: one is not excommunicated because he is living with someone whom the Church considers not ot be his spouse. That is, after all, how the Church views remarriage. One is, however, living in mortal sin. Remarriage does not constitute Latae Sentiae excommunication.

Secondly, for someone excommunicated, since he is no longer part of the Church, he no longer has any obligation whatsoever to attend mass and (depending on the type of excommunication) may not be allowed to.

Thirdly, someone living in mortal sin (such as someone living with his “second spouse”) can recieve no spiritual benefit from the mass except, perhaps, the grace of repentance. This is because one in mortal sin is spiritually dead and cut off from God. He must recieve absolution before he can either receive the sacrements or receive grace from assisting at mass.
 
Happily have noted one is not excommunicated for a marriage irregularity. Is the sin any less grave if the new spouse (not Catholic but Christian) refuses to be married in the Church? In light of the refusal, are there ever any exceptions at any level in the Church wherein the Catholic spouse could be granted pernission to receive the sacraments while both live together as man and wife?

I very much appreciate being in communion with such knowledgable and charitable souls. You all are an answer to prayer and a great consolation. Thank you for your considerate replies.

rafaella
 
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totustuusmaria:
First of all: one is not excommunicated because he is living with someone whom the Church considers not ot be his spouse. That is, after all, how the Church views remarriage. One is, however, living in mortal sin. Remarriage does not constitute Latae Sentiae excommunication.

Secondly, for someone excommunicated, since he is no longer part of the Church, he no longer has any obligation whatsoever to attend mass and (depending on the type of excommunication) may not be allowed to.

Thirdly, someone living in mortal sin (such as someone living with his “second spouse”) can recieve no spiritual benefit from the mass except, perhaps, the grace of repentance. This is because one in mortal sin is spiritually dead and cut off from God. He must recieve absolution before he can either receive the sacrements or receive grace from assisting at mass.
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A remarried person is not necessarily living in mortal sin. The couple could have been to Confession and thereafter be living a celibate life. In such cases they can receive Communion.
 
Where Do You Stand With the Church? The Dilemma of Divorced Catholics by John T. Catior, Alba House1979

this is a book worth checking out. Obviously in order to be remarried, at one time you were divorced. Perhaps it will help explain the benefits of remaining close to the church.

It is through the church we obtain salvation and the sacraments…which is the best way to meet Christ. We go to church so we can be closer to Him in so many ways. The graces and benefits of being there cannot be diminished just because of your marital situation.

People in other countries where the practice of their faith would certainly attest to that. People have been and continue to be martyred just because they won’t deny their faith. Pray on it…Get closer to your faith and your God by reconciling your marital situation. You will never ever regret it. Pray for your spouse as well. If your spouse wants what is best for you…body and soul, he/she will not deny you this great opportunity to be closer to God.
 
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rafaella:
Happily have noted one is not excommunicated for a marriage irregularity. Is the sin any less grave if the new spouse (not Catholic but Christian) refuses to be married in the Church? In light of the refusal, are there ever any exceptions at any level in the Church wherein the Catholic spouse could be granted pernission to receive the sacraments while both live together as man and wife?

I very much appreciate being in communion with such knowledgable and charitable souls. You all are an answer to prayer and a great consolation. Thank you for your considerate replies.

rafaella
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I actually do believe there is - check with a good Catholic Priest on this, each situation is so unique, there is always a possibility and hope. Going to Mass is the best prayer there is, even if one could not receive Holy Communion.
 
What wonderful replies! Of course I know that there are untold treasures awaiting the soul that steps through the humble doors of the Church. I will always be in Mass. I just want to hear that God would find reason enough to give grace to souls that are not currently elegible for reception of the Sacraments - there is plenty of evidence that He must - it is just good to hear about it from another’s experience or spirtual sense. One still has to give an accounting no matter their relationship to the Chuch.

I would be eternally grateful for your prayers for the conversion of my spouse and ultimately marriage in the Church. I love my spouse dearly and I love Christ in His Church - I know that God wants us all together with Him in His Church, as I want this painfully much as well.

Thank you and God Bless you all for your prayers!

rafaella
 
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rafaella:
What wonderful replies! Of course I know that there are untold treasures awaiting the soul that steps through the humble doors of the Church. I will always be in Mass. I just want to hear that God would find reason enough to give grace to souls that are not currently elegible for reception of the Sacraments - there is plenty of evidence that He must - it is just good to hear about it from another’s experience or spirtual sense. One still has to give an accounting no matter their relationship to the Chuch.

I would be eternally grateful for your prayers for the conversion of my spouse and ultimately marriage in the Church. I love my spouse dearly and I love Christ in His Church - I know that God wants us all together with Him in His Church, as I want this painfully much as well.

Thank you and God Bless you all for your prayers!

rafaella
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You can receive permission from your Bishop to be married in a non-Catholic Church, or in a ceremony outside of the Catholic Church–look into that!

I really do appreciate your desire to do right, but it is vitally important that you not put any impediments up to the grace of God!
 
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