Why am I at peace for missing Mass?

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LoveTherese

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Hi everyone,
Without going into much detail I am currently moving and have other stresses in my life that are heavy crosses. In all this Im very blessed with a happy home, wonderful husband and children and so much more.
Almost every day I would go to Mass at 8am before I start work because I felt I needed the Lord in me to deal with evil people at work. I still had horrible days when I came home from work so it wasn’t like magic, I have to believe it would have been worse had I not gone to Mass.

But as of about a week and a half ago my stress levels and anxiety have gotten a bit worse and this morning I felt bad because I knew if I left NOW I could make it. But after praying (a really good prayer that made me feel good) I felt that God was ok with me just having my coffee, reading the Magnificat, and saying the rosary on my way to the bus stop.
Am I crazy to have had peace in this decision. Am I falling for the enemy’s subtle tactics to keep me away from the highest form of worship and praise in receiving my Lord by telling me it’s ok not to rush when you’re very stressed in this season in your life and that I shouldn’t feel like I won’t have Gods protection if I miss Mass or be as close to Him as I want because I’m not putting in a better effort.

Yesterday I didn’t go to Mass and when I got home from work I went to my room and thanked God for bringing me home from this battle safe. ( My husband gave me that nice outlook of being at work is like a battle. Many of our coworkers are captives to the enemy and they don’t treat me kindly at all-there’s lots of gossip, jealousy just like high school drama, they make me feel insecure ).

I jjust don’t want to be LESS protected by God on the days I miss Mass because I mentally am too tired to rush and (I hate to say this) rather, in this condition, have my coffee, read the daily readings and relax before beginning my battle day.

I really appreciate your thoughts as my brothers and sisters in Christ and fellow servants and soldiers in this battle. Is there a Sargeant Major that’s going to yell at me and tell me to get up and stop being lazy in this battle than I am happy to take your advice !
 
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You may have been trying to do too much, and that only adds to stress.
With your situation at work, a little relax time beforehand sounds like a good idea.
Just be open to it if God leads you to start attending daily Mass again, whether every day, or just some days.
 
Thank you. I do have a lot on my plate and I miss Mass but I almost feel like I don’t want to go because I’m trying to slow down my days as much as I can. I even dropped all of my summer classes (I’m in my forties but take classes online) because although I was ready to be superwoman I knew dropping those classes was the best for my stress levels now.
 
There is the possibility that you attend mass to “get something out of it”

Our true reason for attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is:
  1. To obey the command of Christ
  2. To offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God.
Those are inseparable. We have been created to know, to love and to serve God. If we reverse any aspect of that, our relationship with God is in peril.
 
I have had times in my life when God called me to attend Daily Mass. I have times when I know God wanted me to be there. I had times when I know it was right for me.

Right now, it’s not. Weekly Mass is a requirement–although there are allowances for care of infants and illness there, too.
 
Assuming you are only talking about daily Mass, it might be that day you just needed a little longer to rest quietly.
 
You’re not required to go to weekday Mass.
It’s totally your choice.
I wouldn’t read too much into your feelings on this one,
 
Thank you very much. It makes me feel better because I go because Of love Him and NEED him but now i’m feeling mentally unstable with this stress that any moment of rest is like a blessing. It’s hard to describe this feeling. But I am looking forward to when we have our car back (wow i should have mentioned this before…i’m not going because our car has been in repair and I take the bus which makes me have to leave much earlier)
 
Thanks so much, I feel guilty for not taking an early bus since our car broke down. I should have mentioned that earlier!
 
Daily mass is a pious practice, but, it is not required.

Even Jesus took time away from His ministry to be alone.
 
Thanks, I forgot to mention that our cr broke down and I really meant that I feel bad I don’t feel like getting up earlier to catch the early bus to make it to Mass. I could if I want to but I don’t really want to. Once our car is back there are still times (not often) that I don’t want to go and I force myself to and then I feel good that I went because I received our Lord. Maybe since it’s a habit and there’s still a chance of me going if I leave earlier… that’s why I feel a bit like I’m making an excuse. I’m not sure (stress makes me have a bit of clouded thinking)
 
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I don’t enjoy adding to your stress, but Jesus was very clear: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you”.
 
Thank you LittleLady. The books arrived and I’m enjoying both of them very much. I go daily because iIm fortunate that we have a Catholic church right where I work and after 2 years of not going I started going everyday when my coworkers started giving me extra anxiety.
 
Prayers for you @LoveTherese. I don’t attend daily Mass, so I really can’t comment. My thought is to remember that we think in terms of time/days. Christ is outside of time, and in the scheme of life, our days are but a blimp in time, especially when you try to think about “how long” eternity will be. I think we too often try to justify our actions, when in reality God knows our desires. I admire your love for Christ and doing His will.
 
Yes I miss receiving my Lord, hopefully we’ll get our car back but maybe i’ll make the extra effort to get out of the house for my Lord. There certainly is no better reason on earth.
Thank you everyone for your responses, I feel less guilty for choosing coffee some quiet time over rushing but if I miss Him that much I know it will always be worth it to sleep early and get up early. I forgive myself for these past few days because I’ve learned our Lord doesn’t want us to wallow in regrets (which is something i used to do).
 
That was a beautiful perspective, thank you very much for sharing that. God bless you.
 
Thank you so much for your response. I go because I need His strength so I suppose you’re right. I also go because I love Him and want to be very close to Him especially first thing in the morning before dealing with evil personalities that surround me.
 
St. Francis de Sales says in the Introduction to the Devout Life, “a different devotion is required of each - the noble, the artisan, the servant, the prince, the maiden and the wife; and furthermore such practice must be modified according to the strength, the calling, and the duties of each individual. I ask you, my child, would it be fitting that a Bishop should seek to lead the solitary life of a Carthusian? And if the father of a family were as regardless in making provision for the future as a Capucin, if the artisan spent the day in church like a Religious, if the Religious involved himself in all manner of business in his neighbor’s behalf as a Bishop is called upon to do, would not such a devotion be ridiculous, ill-regulated, and intolerable?”

God appreciates your extra efforts, but I think He is sending you a message that sometimes it’s okay to relax, especially if you’re already stressed. A rosary at home and some reading is fine. If sometime you feel it won’t be too much to go to mass before work, God will surely give you many graces for your efforts.
 
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I heard that going to sleep early can help relieve stress.
 
Thank you so much. That’s very helpful I love St Francis deSales and have been trying to read that book forever! I go because it’s to me like arming myself first thing in the morning before I begin the battle of my workday and dealing with these people. I love starting the day with the Lord which is why this low energy, both mental and physical, is upsetting but I’ve learned to be kind to myself (very new to me). I knew in my heart the Lord was okay with me resting because I know He is the one that knows my true desires, weakness and motives.
 
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