When are children required to attend Mass

[utah_rose]

Currently I’m a new catechesist teaching a 7th grade class. Apparently to receive the Sacraments the children must be in their second year of catechesis in our parish… Of 13 students, only 3 are in formation. The rest are not. Many are in their first year and know nothing. I have been stressing the need to attend Mass, know and obey the Ten Commanments as their books seem to assume they know them already. My question is, do they have an obligation to attend Mass, even though they haven’t received Holy Communion yet? I thought since they’ve attained the age of reason they do, but since they haven’t had the Sacrament of Penance yet, would this still be a requirement? I’m very worried about them because this is an age when things begin happening such as drugs, sex, etc. and in my last class something promoted me to warn them about the Particular judgment we receive when we die and any of them could be in danger if they were in an accident so they must stay in a state of grace. Could you please enlighten me on this subject? Also, I need your prayers. They’re good Hispanic kids, and I know I have a lot of responsibility as I volunteered for the job when they were short of teachers.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

If they’re baptized Catholics, they’re obligated to attend Mass on Sunday’s and Holy Days of Obligation once they hit the age of reason (which is the same time First Confession should occur, since such kids are capable of sinning now).

 

[Don_Ruggero]

If they’re baptized Catholics, they’re obligated to attend Mass on Sunday’s and Holy Days of Obligation once they hit the age of reason (which is the same time First Confession should occur, since such kids are capable of sinning now).

God bless you. Teaching today is a great challenge – and you have what has to be the hardest age group, in my experience. I am guessing we are talking about children in the age range of 12-14? It is a bit extraordinary to have children that age who have not received first penance and first Communion…at least in my experience.

This matter, though, has to be handled with a maximum of pastoral sensitivity and discretion. A child of the age you indicate normally would be fulfilling the Mass obligation by attending with their parent(s) or other relative. Children that age may or may not be able to betake themselves to Mass on their own. There are circumstances and places where it is feasible and even normal but there are other circumstances and places in the world where it is absolutely not. And, even in those places where it is possible, it could only happen if the parents make allowance for it.

A parent or older sibling or relative or someone who is responsible would have to accompany the child to Mass in many parts of the world. If such persons cannot or will not and the caregiver for the child will not make some provision, one cannot impute moral guilt for a failure to fulfill the Sunday obligation to a child of that age and in such circumstances.

I can only speak to where I have ministered as a priest. I don’t even know what country you are in or what the situation of your parish is. It is one thing to be in a city, town or village where the church is a short walk away and another to be in the countryside where the parish may require traversing miles.

I can say that as far as participation in the parish’s religious education program and concurrent attendance at Mass, this is a discussion that has to occur, ultimately, between the parents and the parish priest since the parish priest is not only the one who has the cura animarum for both the parents and the children, he is the determiner for admitting or declining to admit to the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and Confirmation.

Have you spoken to either the director of the program for which you are teaching or with the priests or deacon of your parish for guidance and also to alert them to this situation?

 

[otjm]

Currently I’m a new catechesist teaching a 7th grade class. Apparently to receive the Sacraments the children must be in their second year of catechesis in our parish… Of 13 students, only 3 are in formation. The rest are not. Many are in their first year and know nothing. I have been stressing the need to attend Mass, know and obey the Ten Commanments as their books seem to assume they know them already. My question is, do they have an obligation to attend Mass, even though they haven’t received Holy Communion yet? I thought since they’ve attained the age of reason they do, but since they haven’t had the Sacrament of Penance yet, would this still be a requirement? I’m very worried about them because this is an age when things begin happening such as drugs, sex, etc. and in my last class something promoted me to warn them about the Particular judgment we receive when we die and any of them could be in danger if they were in an accident so they must stay in a state of grace. Could you please enlighten me on this subject? Also, I need your prayers. They’re good Hispanic kids, and I know I have a lot of responsibility as I volunteered for the job when they were short of teachers.

Several years ago I attended a Mass in Spanish, in Orem. I can’t say much about the catechesis there, as I was on vacation; but I would have given just about anything to understand the homily. the priest ws fluent, and I swore he was going to reach down in their throats and pull their tonsils out. And the great majority did not go to Communion (which I udnerstand is culturally consistent with Hispanics, for whatever reason).

Good luck. My guess is the kids may be second generation, and the parents do not have much education in religion…

 

[otjm]

God bless you. Teaching today is a great challenge – and you have what has to be the hardest age group, in my experience. I am guessing we are talking about children in the age range of 12-14? It is a bit extraordinary to have children that age who have not received first penance and first Communion…at least in my experience.

This matter, though, has to be handled with a maximum of pastoral sensitivity and discretion. A child of the age you indicate normally would be fulfilling the Mass obligation by attending with their parent(s) or other relative. Children that age may or may not be able to betake themselves to Mass on their own. There are circumstances and places where it is feasible and even normal but there are other circumstances and places in the world where it is absolutely not. And, even in those places where it is possible, it could only happen if the parents make allowance for it.

A parent or older sibling or relative or someone who is responsible would have to accompany the child to Mass in many parts of the world. If such persons cannot or will not and the caregiver for the child will not make some provision, one cannot impute moral guilt for a failure to fulfill the Sunday obligation to a child of that age and in such circumstances.

I can only speak to where I have ministered as a priest. I don’t even know what country you are in or what the situation of your parish is. It is one thing to be in a city, town or village where the church is a short walk away and another to be in the countryside where the parish may require traversing miles.

I can say that as far as participation in the parish’s religious education program and concurrent attendance at Mass, this is a discussion that has to occur, ultimately, between the parents and the parish priest since the parish priest is not only the one who has the cura animarum for both the parents and the children, he is the determiner for admitting or declining to admit to the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and Confirmation.

Have you spoken to either the director of the program for which you are teaching or with the priests or deacon of your parish for guidance and also to alert them to this situation?

She is in Utah, a western state known for being primarily LDS; Sandy is southeast of Salt Lake City a few miles.

Changes have occurred over the last few years with a great influx on businesses, many bringing their own workers, and as a result the area around Salt Lake is no longer majority LDS (they voted blue in the last two elections). the state, however, remains primarily LDS.

Odds are the majority of the families she is dealing with are primarily immigrants first and second generation.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

LDS being Latter Day Saints, or “Mormons”, founded by Joseph Smith in the 19th Century US.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Currently I’m a new [catechist] teaching a 7th grade class. Apparently to receive the Sacraments the children must be in their second year of catechesis in our parish… Of 13 students, only 3 are in formation. The rest are not. Many are in their first year and know nothing.

7th grade meaning 12-13 year olds? They have not received first Holy Communion? That seems unusually late.

 

[frangiuliano115]

Currently I’m a new catechesist teaching a 7th grade class. Apparently to receive the Sacraments the children must be in their second year of catechesis in our parish… Of 13 students, only 3 are in formation. The rest are not. Many are in their first year and know nothing. I have been stressing the need to attend Mass, know and obey the Ten Commanments as their books seem to assume they know them already. My question is, do they have an obligation to attend Mass, even though they haven’t received Holy Communion yet? I thought since they’ve attained the age of reason they do, but since they haven’t had the Sacrament of Penance yet, would this still be a requirement? I’m very worried about them because this is an age when things begin happening such as drugs, sex, etc. and in my last class something promoted me to warn them about the Particular judgment we receive when we die and any of them could be in danger if they were in an accident so they must stay in a state of grace. Could you please enlighten me on this subject? Also, I need your prayers. They’re good Hispanic kids, and I know I have a lot of responsibility as I volunteered for the job when they were short of teachers.

I was a catechist till last year. Had to stop. Have had children of all ages but I liked the bigger ones more even though it’s tougher because you could start talking about christian concepts.

Children should be attending Mass even BEFORE they start catechism classes. It has nothing to do with receiving the sacraments. I used to insist more when it was the year for Reconciliation and also Communion. But, if you’re not careful, they end up thinking that those are the only two years they’ll ever have to go.

Big problem is that the parents these days are not involved in their children’s spiritual upbringing and they, as we say, are the first catechists. If what they learn in catechism class is not reinforced at home - how much good do you think it’ll do? But everything is better than nothing. I mean anything.

Also, you’re talking to them about particular judgement. They can’t relate to this kind of stuff at this age. They feel like you’re just trying to scare them. Staying in a state of grace and all that. Kids are too darn sharpt these days. Way back when, they just accepted anything you told the - now they want to know more and they can reason, etc. I had a couple of little atheists in my last class, about 11/12 yrs old. Already it was starting. They’d ask me who created God. And I’d ask them who created the universe! They seemed to come around, but who can know for sure? They did listen.

You’re right in separating the age of reason with the receiving of sacraments. If you’re at the age of reason, and you understand your obligaton- then there you are. However, don’t get too rulesy with them - they just turn that off. Stress how much Jesus loves them and what He did for them and how they should stay close to Him because He knows what’s good for them.

It’s not a religion class - it’s a catechism class. Big difference. They’re there so they could get to know God, not know about God. Try to stress that Jesus is their friend and that they should follow Him.

I could go on forever, but I’m sure you don’t want me to!

Will be reading the other posts.

Fran
BTW, thank you for the work you’ll be doing. I think it’s not appreciated enough.

 

[pianistclare]

Well, I’m in Georgia, and we have many children in RCIC (or whatever you guys want to call it, it always brings about an argument) because people just “forget” to get their kids Baptized even!

Since most Diocese require 2 years formation, and immigrants tend to move around a lot and not register in a parish, they have no records and no formation in any one given place that could write on their behalf to the new parish/pastor.
So, they tend to start and stop catechism classes in starts and fits. Eventually, when the family finds a place with employment and welcome, they put their kids in catechism. So, many of the Hispanic children are anywhere from 5th grade to high school with nothing beyond Baptism and no catechesis at all. Most DO have their children Baptized though.
We had the Rite of Welcome and Acceptance this weekend, and the vast majority of candidates and catechumens were youth and children.
But, yeah, our Sunday school enrollment has been dropping steadily for years. People just don’t bring their children to class or enroll them even. They see it as “inconvenient”. Then they bring them back to us, all upset in their teens years because the kids have not had any instruction and are a problem at home. We’re supposed to “fix” them and teach them about Jesus.
We do, but it’s a lot of bad habits to unpack.

 

[frangiuliano115]

God bless you. Teaching today is a great challenge – and you have what has to be the hardest age group, in my experience. I am guessing we are talking about children in the age range of 12-14? It is a bit extraordinary to have children that age who have not received first penance and first Communion…at least in my experience.

This matter, though, has to be handled with a maximum of pastoral sensitivity and discretion. A child of the age you indicate normally would be fulfilling the Mass obligation by attending with their parent(s) or other relative. Children that age may or may not be able to betake themselves to Mass on their own. There are circumstances and places where it is feasible and even normal but there are other circumstances and places in the world where it is absolutely not. And, even in those places where it is possible, it could only happen if the parents make allowance for it.

A parent or older sibling or relative or someone who is responsible would have to accompany the child to Mass in many parts of the world. If such persons cannot or will not and the caregiver for the child will not make some provision, one cannot impute moral guilt for a failure to fulfill the Sunday obligation to a child of that age and in such circumstances.

I can only speak to where I have ministered as a priest. I don’t even know what country you are in or what the situation of your parish is. It is one thing to be in a city, town or village where the church is a short walk away and another to be in the countryside where the parish may require traversing miles.

I can say that as far as participation in the parish’s religious education program and concurrent attendance at Mass, this is a discussion that has to occur, ultimately, between the parents and the parish priest** since the parish priest is not only the one who has the cura animarum for both the parents and the children, he is the determiner for admitting or declining to admit to the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and Confirmation. **

Have you spoken to either the director of the program for which you are teaching or with the priests or deacon of your parish for guidance and also to alert them to this situation?

IF you’re really a priest (my apologies but who can know for sure?) then I’d just like to make this comment.

My priest had everyone receive both the sacrament of reconciliation and communion. He thought that it was not correct to marginalize any one child - his exact words.

I live in a different country and plus do not expect you to comment on this, however, I do think this type of thinking is wrong because it tends to remove the importance of sacraments - especially in the eyes of the parents who know less than their children do by the age of 12/13, I’m sorry to say.

I do feel that their faith needs to be learned and that when there is understanding (suitable to the age) then the sacrament should be administered - otherwise it loses all meaning.

There were other catechists who agreed with this position. It seems to be a general belief here, and not only of this one priest. We’ve tried so many different approaches and, alas, nothing seems to work here. Atheism and non-practicing catholics reign supreme - only the Holy Spirit will be able to convict those that are open to Him.

Fran

 

[Neofight]

And when dealing with the formation of children (and adults, for that matter) we might want to emphasize the reasons for attending Mass beyond “obligation”.

Pre-teens and teens are naturally rebellious, so often a sense of obligation imposed by adults and authority figures lands on deaf ears.

Formation and catechesis should also provide an element to foster a personal impetus for attending Mass out of desire.

Peace and all good!

 

[Luz_Maria]

Currently I’m a new catechesist teaching a 7th grade class. Apparently to receive the Sacraments the children must be in their second year of catechesis in our parish… Of 13 students, only 3 are in formation. The rest are not. Many are in their first year and know nothing. I have been stressing the need to attend Mass, know and obey the Ten Commanments as their books seem to assume they know them already. My question is, do they have an obligation to attend Mass, even though they haven’t received Holy Communion yet? I thought since they’ve attained the age of reason they do, but since they haven’t had the Sacrament of Penance yet, would this still be a requirement? I’m very worried about them because this is an age when things begin happening such as drugs, sex, etc. and in my last class something promoted me to warn them about the Particular judgment we receive when we die and any of them could be in danger if they were in an accident so they must stay in a state of grace. Could you please enlighten me on this subject? Also, I need your prayers. They’re good Hispanic kids, and I know I have a lot of responsibility as I volunteered for the job when they were short of teachers.

Hi Utah Rose!

Thank you for the great work you are doing. May Our Loving Father reward you abundantly.

Many have already given very good (name removed by moderator)ut. I’ll give you my :twocents: worth.

Are they all Spanish-speakers? Do these young people speak Spanish? Do you know any Spanish? If you do, try starting a prayer in Spanish and see how the young ones react. What many times happens is that the Parents teach their children the prayers in Spanish! A Priest here told a group of Spanish-speaking (in many cases completely bilingual) Catechists that he would try to pray with the young ones in English and they did not know the prayers at all. He went to Spanish and everyone joined in! These kids spoke English!

How about telling them about the “Feasts” such as the Feast of “San Francisco Javier” (Dec. 3) or the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), etc. Try approaching them on Faith, Family, and Feasts . Most likely every single one of them knows his or her Feast Day (and that of each Parent and sibling), could they say something about that Saint or Blessed Mother? If the name is Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar, October 12), that girl can give quite a history of the first Marian devotion. :yup:

Also, you could be an instrument in starting a group to guide the Parents on what their children are learning (that is done in Latin America) . It is the adult version of their child/ren’s class so they may be able to help their child/ren grow in the Faith. Some times one has to be careful because the parents may be working 7-days a week. This would not be a RICA class, though. I will try to PM you the “Act of Contrition” in Spanish so that you may give it to them. Most likely it is the same one their Parents and Grandparents learned for it is not a translation from English.

Thanks again! I will keep you in my prayers. Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Luz Maria

 

[frangiuliano115]

Hi Utah Rose!

Thank you for the great work you are doing. May Our Loving Father reward you abundantly.

Many have already given very good (name removed by moderator)ut. I’ll give you my :twocents: worth.

Are they all Spanish-speakers? Do these young people speak Spanish? Do you know any Spanish? If you do, try starting a prayer in Spanish and see how the young ones react. What many times happens is that the Parents teach their children the prayers in Spanish! A Priest here told a group of Spanish-speaking (in many cases completely bilingual) Catechists that he would try to pray with the young ones in English and they did not know the prayers at all. He went to Spanish and everyone joined in! These kids spoke English!

How about telling them about the “Feasts” such as the Feast of “San Francisco Javier” (Dec. 3) or the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), etc. Try approaching them on Faith, Family, and Feasts . Most likely every single one of them knows his or her Feast Day (and that of each Parent and sibling), could they say something about that Saint or Blessed Mother? If the name is Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar, October 12), that girl can give quite a history of the first Marian devotion. :yup:

Also, you could be an instrument in starting a group to guide the Parents on what their children are learning (that is done in Latin America) . It is the adult version of their child/ren’s class so they may be able to help their child/ren grow in the Faith. Some times one has to be careful because the parents may be working 7-days a week. This would not be a RICA class, though. I will try to PM you the “Act of Contrition” in Spanish so that you may give it to them. Most likely it is the same one their Parents and Grandparents learned for it is not a translation from English.

Thanks again! I will keep you in my prayers. Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Luz Maria

Your last pp is a wonderful idea.

Not all catechists did this, but I did and also one other catechist.

We held “meetings” but kept it to a minimum or they wouldn’t show up! Maybe 4 a year and “go through” what was being taught to the children.

Sometimes the parents would have questions and it was a good opportunity to discuss things - even political church things they didn’t like. Always had at least 5 parents there - which is okay. Everything helps.

I’d encourage others to follow your suggestion. I’d always ask the priest to be at the first meeting so they could see that it was “official”.

Fran

 

[hcruz402]

If you are a Latin Rite Catholic in the United States, then you need to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. The following Canon, in the Code of Canon Law, addresses how to fulfill this obligation for Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

“Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.”

Keep in mind that attending a Vigil Mass/Mass of Anticipation on the evening of the preceding day fulfills the obligation to attend Mass for a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation (In case you cannot make it to Mass on the day of, itself).

Every Sunday is technically a Holy Day of Obligation.

In the United States, there are six Holy Days of Obligation (days that Catholics are obligated to go to Mass, in addition to the Sunday obligation) (These rules have been established by the (The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) USCCB):

1. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Patronal Feast of the United States) (December 8/9): Since the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the Patroness of the United States, the obligation to attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception remains, if December 8 NATURALLY falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday. In short, the Immaculate Conception is ALWAYS a Holy Day of Obligation, WHENEVER it is observed on December 8.

However, there is one small caveat. If December 8 falls on a Sunday (which would be on a Sunday of Advent), then at all of the weekend Masses (Saturday evening (4 p.m. or after) and Sunday (December 7/8)), the Sunday of Advent is celebrated (i.e., The Sunday of Advent takes liturgical precedence over the Immaculate Conception). As a result, the Immaculate Conception MUST be transferred over to the next day (Monday, December 9), but the obligation is NOT transferred over with it. It is when this occurs, and ONLY when this occurs, that the obligation to attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception is dispensed for a particular year (Moreover, this is the ONLY instance, where the Immaculate Conception is transferred to a day outside of its natural date of observance).

1. The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (December 25): Regardless of which day of the week it falls on, The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), December 25, is ALWAYS a Holy Day of Obligation.

• 1. The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God (January 1)

1. The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (The Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter/The Seventh Sunday of Easter): In the ecclesiastical provinces (A region of dioceses that consist of an archdiocese, along with a cluster of smaller dioceses that are geographically associated with the archdiocese) of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia, the Ascension continues to be observed on the proper Thursday (Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter), and is ALWAYS observed as a Holy Day of Obligation in these provinces.

The Ascension is observed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, everywhere else in the United States. Hence, the Ascension carries the regular Sunday obligation in the rest of the United States (outside of the 6 previously mentioned provinces).

Either way, the Ascension ALWAYS holds an obligation of Mass attendance.

• 1. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
• 1. The Solemnity of All Saints (November 1)
• The Saturday-or-Monday Rule: If January 1 (Mary, the Mother of God), August 15 (the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), or November 1 (All Saints) falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday, then the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day is dispensed for that particular year.

However, if either December 8 or December 25 falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday, then you MUST attend Mass twice: You must attend one Mass for the Holy Day, as well as another Mass for the preceding/following Sunday. In short, attending only one Mass CANNOT fulfill both obligations.

If a Holy Day of Obligation’s natural date of observance falls on a Sunday (with the exception of the Immaculate Conception and the Ascension (in those provinces that continue to observe it on the proper Thursday)), then the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day coincides with the Sunday obligation, and there is only one Mass that you would need to attend.

There are four Holy Days of Obligation that may hold an obligation in other countries, but the Bishops in the United States have either transferred to Sundays or have suppressed the obligations, altogether:

x 1. The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Traditional Date: January 6

Transferred to: The Sunday after January 1 (Mary, the Mother of God)

o 2. The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 19)

Obligation suppressed

x 3. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Traditional Date: The Thursday after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (i.e., Holy Trinity Sunday (The Sunday after Pentecost))

Transferred to: The Sunday after Holy Trinity Sunday

o 4. The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the Apostles (June 29)

Obligation suppressed

I know that this seems like a quite thorough explanation about Mass attendance, but it should be sufficient for any Catholic of the Latin Rite in the United States to know about when they need to attend Mass. I hope that helps.

Pax Vobiscum,

Herbert Cruz

 

[Luz_Maria]

Greetings, Mr. Cruz.

I do not know if you are a Latino or not, and you are very knowledgeable. Culturally speaking, with the Spanish-speaking Catholics, giving them . . . well us (am one of “them”) all these “laws” and “rules” might just turn them (us) off. We are a huge Church and in order to reach each different culture within the Church the approach may be different at times. It may be best to give the rules and laws after they have come to love Our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the young people will “do it” because they love Him – Who is worthy of all our love.

Please do not get me wrong, for I follow “the laws and the rules”, out of love because I do not want to offend (hurt) a God - The God - Who loves me so very much. It is just like our Act of Contrition states:

**pero mucho más me pesa porque pecando ofendí **
**a un Dios tan bueno y tan grande como Tú. **

Please be assured that am not saying no to giving them all the rules. It is just the time and the way the rules and laws are presented.

Sure hope this helps!

May He be with you always,

Luz Maria

 

[frangiuliano115]

Greetings, Mr. Cruz.

I do not know if you are a Latino or not, and you are very knowledgeable. Culturally speaking, with the Spanish-speaking Catholics, giving them . . . well us (am one of “them”) all these “laws” and “rules” might just turn them (us) off. We are a huge Church and in order to reach each different culture within the Church the approach may be different at times. It may be best to give the rules and laws after they have come to love Our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the young people will “do it” because they love Him – Who is worthy of all our love.

Please do not get me wrong, for I follow “the laws and the rules”, out of love because I do not want to offend (hurt) a God - The God - Who loves me so very much. It is just like our Act of Contrition states:
Please be assured that am not saying no to giving them all the rules. It is just the time and the way the rules and laws are presented.

Sure hope this helps!

May He be with you always,

Luz Maria

Mr. Cruz may not be a catechist. I think he was just stating some facts.

You’re right in everything you say. Not only for children, but also for adults.

A slave works because he has to
A friend works because he wants to

And, as you said in spanish, friends hate to hurt each other.

Jesus doesn’t want us to follow a bunch of rules and regulations; he wants us to be transformed - to be more like Him. To follow Him as a child follows a Father and to trust Him as such. He even said that we are to be like children; because children have trust.

And with that, I say

Buenas Noches
Fran

 

[hcruz402]

While I understand your concerns, it is also very important to remember that deliberately choosing not to attend Mass for either a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation is a mortal sin (Breaking the Third Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy (grave matter), and if done deliberately (deliberate consent of the will), knowing that this is a very serious sin (full knowledge), makes it a mortal sin).

 

[Luz_Maria]

While I understand your concerns, it is also very important to remember that deliberately choosing not to attend Mass for either a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation is a mortal sin (Breaking the Third Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy (grave matter), and if done deliberately (deliberate consent of the will), knowing that this is a very serious sin (full knowledge), makes it a mortal sin).

And I understand yours. All that is fine if they know it, but they do not know it right from the get go. However, Catechists have to bring them to know and love Our Lord Jesus Christ first. It is “baby steps”. It is not tricking them into the Church.

This thread is about “Hispanics” – a completely different culture and our Holy Mother Church is a very understanding Mother with different (Roman) Catholic traditions in different lands. In many of Spanish-speaking countries the Roman Catholic Church has many more Holy Days of Obligation! Catechists must reach them where they are at and with a culturally “correct” method. It starts with the “natural” to build upon it the “super natural” which in Spanish is a more understandable “sobre natural” literally “upon or on top of the natural”. The child must be born first, then we may Baptize it. No child, no Baptism.

I don’t think am writing clearly enough and, although you selected a Spanish-looking “name for CAF”, I do not know if you are culturally a Spanish-speaker or not.

Fran (frangiuliano115) stated it very well

A slave works because he has to
A friend works because he wants to

I think Utah Rose has all the information s/he needs, so I’ll say good-bye. You asked for prayers, so count with mine, Utah Rose. Here is one of my favorites and I shall keep on praying for you.

ORACIÓN POR LA PAZ

Señor, haced de mí un instrumento de paz.
Que allí donde haya odio, ponga yo amor;
Donde haya ofensa, ponga perdón;
Donde haya discordia, ponga unión;
Donde haya error, ponga verdad;
Donde haya duda, ponga fe;
Donde haya desesperación, ponga esperanza;
Donde haya tinieblas, ponga vuestra luz;
Donde haya tristeza, ponga yo alegría.

¡Oh, maestro!
Que no me empeñe tanto
en ser consolado como en consolar;
en ser comprendido como en comprender;
en ser amado como en amar,
pues dando, se recibe,
olvidando, se encuentra,
perdonando, se es perdonado,
muriendo, se resucita a la vida eterna.

May Our Lord Jesus Christ give each one who wrote on this thread the graces each may need to be able to bring others to Him. May He keep you always in His loving Heart.

Happy Thanksgiving Day on Thursday!

Luz Maria

 

[Don_Ruggero]

While I understand your concerns, it is also very important to remember that deliberately choosing not to attend Mass for either a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation is a mortal sin (Breaking the Third Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy (grave matter), and if done deliberately (deliberate consent of the will), knowing that this is a very serious sin (full knowledge), makes it a mortal sin).

In addition to the very good words that others have posted, I wish to add:

The question of the original poster concerns children. It is not correct to impute to them, of necessity, moral guilt for failing to fulfill the Sunday obligation, above all when they are not independent and able to attend Mass individually and of their own volition.

As I said in my previous post, a child in this age group cannot decide to attend Mass on his/her own; they are dependent on their parents or another responsible person and it is incorrect to treat them as though they were emancipated from parental care and supervision. A confessor is – and should rightly be – attentive to that basic reality.

 

[hcruz402]

Luz, I have a question, if you don’t mind. What do you mean, when you say that there are many more Holy Days of Obligation, in the Spanish-speaking countries? Which ones? The ten that I mentioned in my first post are the ten Holy Days of Obligation that are recognized by Canon Law. Moreover, I forgot that the post was about children, so I apologize if I came off in a rude fashion.