When you miss mass on sunday!

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MirandaRiver

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Hi everyone.
As its been a while since I’ve been able to post I’ll give you a recap of me and this situation 🙂

I’m a non-catholic and non-christian, however due to a meeting someone who is catholic I have felt a very strong pull towards the Church and to the teachings of Jesus. Since Easter I have been regularly going to Mass on Sundays, and often another day in the week depending on my work pattern.
However, last sunday, of pentecost, I didn’t go. Partly because of work, but also because as I dont have an obligation to go it just slipped my mind.
And today the following Tuesday I am feeling really guilty that I haven’t been to Mass - reading on catholic sites about Pentecost etc I feel like I’ve missed something really important like Christmas and it does feel like a weight on me that I didn’t go.
So, I’ve decided to go to Mass this evening to just get me back into Church and see if I feel any different/better then.

Are there other folk who in their period of discernment and inquiry that felt like this when they missed Sunday Mass? Or am I just beating myself up about something unecessarily?
Thanks for your replies in advance as its nice to know people at least read my posts 🙂

MR
 
MirandaRiver you’re upset because you WANT to be at Mass, even though you don;t have an obligation. That is a great thing to see! 👍

Obviously your heart knows where it wants to be.
 
The fact that you feel bad that you missed Mass shows that the Holy Spirit is drawing you near. It’s wonderful that you’ve been attending Mass. Please don’t beat yourself up. It’s a good thing that you miss going to Mass. He’s calling you home. You will be in my prayers.
 
Since you are not Catholic, you do not have the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and should not feel bad about not going. You did, however, miss something special for Pentecost, but not to worry, you can make it a point to go next year; all is well!
 
Yes, Pentecost is an important day in the Catholic Church! Other than the Last Supper, it’s the day I would LOVE to have been present for…Talk about MIND-BLOWING!

Find the readings for Pentecost and study them. Think about them. Put yourself into the Scriptures, imagine how absolutely INSANE it must have been! 🙂 It’s not a story, this REALLY happened!

Your zeal for the Church is inspiring!

:love:
 
I’ll tell you a tiny story about what happened to me a few weeks ago, and then hope you can relate.

You see, I’m in the Canadian Military, and my military duties precluded me from attending mass on a Sunday a few weeks ago. As I went to the “church tent” on the Saturday prior to departing to the field to pray my daily rosary, the RC chaplain happened to be there. In talking with him, he realised that I would miss mass the next day. So, he got together the necessary items and held mass for me.

I thanked him profusely, and I told him that I realised that it’s not a sin to miss mass when you are physically unable to attend, but that I was more afraid of missing it. He knew exactly what I meant.

In your case, you may not have been baptised, but I think that the feeling you have for missing mass this past weekend could be an indication of where your soul wants you to go. So, having said that, have you started RCIA?

In any event, your story is heart-warming to this cradle Catholic!
 
MirandaRiver, when I missed going to Mass a few weeks ago when I visited my family, |I felt the same!

I’m baptised RC but not yet confirmed, and I’m joining RCIA this September.

Although I know logically that there is no obligation for me to go on Sunday, I felt guilty that I didn’t go, and wished strongly that I had.

But for me, I decided to put it behind me and keep on attending all the Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) Masses that I can!

Good luck in your journey and I hope your quest will lead you to the Catholic faith 🙂
 
Thank you all for your replies 🙂 It has brought a big smile to my face…
as did going to Mass.

Perhaps the time away helped me to connect with it much more, to even catch a feeling of the Holy Spirit amongst the people within the Church. Whilst Sunday Mass is special, there is something special about people’s devotion to Jesus by coming to Mass on a weekday. I find it so heartwarming on a Tuesday for us all to be together, mostly with rosaries together.

I feel a lot better, a weight has been lifted. I will, as you suggested read over the readings of the Pentecost mass. But I feel much more at peace now 😃

I havent spoken to anyone about RCIA as I find that a difficult step to take on my own, but if I hear anyone mention that one will be starting I might step forward. At the moment I just sit out and pray whilst others are receiving the Eucharist and kneel when everyone in my pew has come back - stops people having to step over my legs! I know I could go up for a blessing but I find that difficult to do on my own - like a great big hypocrite in Church, so out of respect I sit out.

Thanks again for all your comments - made my day 🙂
 
You can always call the parish office anonymously if you’re shy!

Some parishes start RCIA classes up again right after Easter, some at the beginning of summer, some not until fall. It’s better to call the parish office and find out, rather than wait around and find out you missed an announcement. Also, they may be waiting to see if they get interested people asking before starting.

(No pressure…) 🙂
 
Don’t be shy about going up for a blessing from the priest. I also am not yet a Catholic but I truly cant wait to be. But after going up for a blessing at Mass if feel so much at peace. My Deacon told me it is perfectly acceptable for a non Catholic to go up for blessing. I truly cant wait until i finally am able to recieve Communion.
 
MirandaRiver said:
Thank you all for your replies 🙂 It has brought a big smile to my face…
as did going to Mass.

Perhaps the time away helped me to connect with it much more, to even catch a feeling of the Holy Spirit amongst the people within the Church. Whilst Sunday Mass is special, there is something special about people’s devotion to Jesus by coming to Mass on a weekday. I find it so heartwarming on a Tuesday for us all to be together, mostly with rosaries together.

I feel a lot better, a weight has been lifted. I will, as you suggested read over the readings of the Pentecost mass. But I feel much more at peace now 😃

I havent spoken to anyone about RCIA as I find that a difficult step to take on my own, but if I hear anyone mention that one will be starting I might step forward. At the moment I just sit out and pray whilst others are receiving the Eucharist and kneel when everyone in my pew has come back - stops people having to step over my legs! I know I could go up for a blessing but I find that difficult to do on my own - like a great big hypocrite in Church, so out of respect I sit out.

Thanks again for all your comments - made my day 🙂
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Actually you are doing EXACTLY the right thing to stay in the pew. The blessings are not supposed to be done at that point in the Mass but that practice somehow crept in and stuck. The priest gives us all a blessing as he closes the Mass.

May God bless you in your journey “home!”

:love::crossrc:
 
The realJulian is correct. some parishes "allow " the practise. In ours this is frowned upon. we had statements in homilies directing people to not stand in line during communion to receive a blessing. It is not appropriate and causes confusion in our case.
 
Youd think that would be standardized lol. Ill have to remember that if i ever visit another parish.
 
MirandaRiver said:
Thank you all for your replies 🙂 It has brought a big smile to my face…
as did going to Mass.

Perhaps the time away helped me to connect with it much more, to even catch a feeling of the Holy Spirit amongst the people within the Church. Whilst Sunday Mass is special, there is something special about people’s devotion to Jesus by coming to Mass on a weekday. I find it so heartwarming on a Tuesday for us all to be together, mostly with rosaries together.

I feel a lot better, a weight has been lifted. I will, as you suggested read over the readings of the Pentecost mass. But I feel much more at peace now 😃

I havent spoken to anyone about RCIA as I find that a difficult step to take on my own, but if I hear anyone mention that one will be starting I might step forward. At the moment I just sit out and pray whilst others are receiving the Eucharist and kneel when everyone in my pew has come back - stops people having to step over my legs! I know I could go up for a blessing but I find that difficult to do on my own - like a great big hypocrite in Church, so out of respect I sit out.

Thanks again for all your comments - made my day 🙂
Click to expand...
Jesus is calling you. I know you hear His voice. Follow the Good Shepard. I am praying for you. You will have such resounding joy when you are fully able to participate in the Sacrament of The Eucaharist fully.
 
Increase your faith,and come back to the Catholic Church,where life in the Church helps us grow spiritually.If you miss Sunday mass, you should definitely not attend holy communion,as it would be sacrilegious and you should go to confession first confessing that you didn’t go on Sunday then receive communion.God Bless You.
 
thomc1980 said:
Youd think that would be standardized lol. Ill have to remember that if i ever visit another parish.
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It really IS standardized, I don’t have the canon law or CCC handy, but the parishes that do it are violating the norms. Our less orthodox parish puts a statement up on the screens that “Non Catholics and Catholics not prepared to receive are welcome to come for a blessing.” I cringe inside every time I see it, and I wish to goodness they’d stop and let the practice fade away. There is no need for a blessing at that point and the EMs can’t bestow a blessing anyway, so what is the point? Just to make the non Catholic guests feel welcome? :rolleyes:
 
TheRealJuliane said:
It really IS standardized, I don’t have the canon law or CCC handy, but the parishes that do it are violating the norms. Our less orthodox parish puts a statement up on the screens that “Non Catholics and Catholics not prepared to receive are welcome to come for a blessing.” I cringe inside every time I see it, and I wish to goodness they’d stop and let the practice fade away. There is no need for a blessing at that point and the EMs can’t bestow a blessing anyway, so what is the point? Just to make the non Catholic guests feel welcome? :rolleyes:
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Well, anyone CAN say ‘God bless you’ to anyone else, we most of us do it when someone sneezes, no?

Having said which, it is true that EMs cannot impart a blessing in the same manner as a priest does, and equally true that the practice is contrary to the norms for Mass.
 
Well to put this thread back on topic…
I went to Mass today for Trinity Sunday and I feel all happy inside now. Even if I did get to get up early to get Mass in before my work shift this afternoon.
 
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