Why is missing one mass a mortal sin?

[caroljm36]

gladtobe:

I wanted to add, that a whole lot of people are Catholics via baptism when they were infants and they attended Catholic schools. So through their adult years they never become a member of such a such church, but just attend ANY Catholic church when they feel the need. Because they’re already Catholic, they don’t feel the need to become a member.

You mean become a member of a parish? Sure they can go to any Catholic church (in good standing) but they should not take communion if they are conscious of grave sin…which they probably are not.

 

[ppcpilot]

Nothin that a little reconcilliation won’t fix, if you are truly sorry!

 

[puzzleannie]

John Joseph:

This is exactly the type of conversation that I got involved with here at work with my Protestant friends. They basically told me that Holy days of obligation were Catholic dogma and that they “went to church because they wanted to, not because they had to…”

how protestants worship is up to the dictates of whatever denomination they belong to, but as Christians all Protestants are obliged to worship God and are in a state of sin if they deliberately fail to do so.

 

[Steven_Merten]

gladtobe:

How can missing mass one time or a couple times be a mortal sin? It’s not like murder or doing something immoral. If that is the case then millions of Catholics could be headed to hell. Because I know quite a few that seldom go. Please explain this.

Hello gladtobe,

How can eating an apple damn a person and all of mankind to eternal death? Is eating an apple, when God commands you not to eat an apple, be equal too or greater than murdering someone when God commands you not to murder?

Free will toward the Command of God gives man the tremendous opportunity to love God and this is the first Great Commandment. Loving ones neighbor as yourself through obeying the commandments is only the second Great Commandment.

We tend to distort the Commandments by putting the second Great Commandment above the first Great Commandment. We tend to think what harms man should be more imoral. The Commandments, though many of them protect man, were given as an opportunity to love God. Loving God is the foundation on which the Commandments stand and the Commandments acting to protect people is the second Great Commandment.

Please visit Choices Of The Heart and Jesus, What Must I Do To Share In Everlasting Life?

**NIV JOH 14:23 **

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” NAB DEU 5:6

For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishments for their fathers’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation but bestowing mercy, down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain. 'Take care to keep holy the sabbath day as the LORD, your God, commanded you. Six days you may labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.

NAB DEU 6:1

"These then are the commandments, the statutes and decrees which the LORD, your God, has ordered that you be taught to observe in the land into which you are crossing for conquest, so that you and your son and your grandson may fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey." The great commandment. Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.NAB MAR 12 The Great Commandment.

Jesus replied, "This is the first:
’Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!
Therefore you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.'
“This is the second,
’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

NAB LEV 19:18

(God speaks through Moses.)

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. "

NAB ROM 13 Love Fulfills the Law.

Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another. He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment there may be are all summed up in this, saying (namely) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love never wrongs the neighbor, hence love is the fulfillment of the law.

Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

 

[Brad]

gladtobe:

How can missing mass one time or a couple times be a mortal sin? It’s not like murder or doing something immoral. If that is the case then millions of Catholics could be headed to hell. Because I know quite a few that seldom go. Please explain this.

The road to Heaven is less-traveled. No matter how many people decide against communion with God, the means for such communion do not change.

 

[fix]

gladtobe:

How can missing mass one time or a couple times be a mortal sin? It’s not like murder or doing something immoral. If that is the case then millions of Catholics could be headed to hell. Because I know quite a few that seldom go. Please explain this.

I do not think it is a numbers game. Intentionally saying no to God is not a good thing. I am wondering how many Catholics go to Church and know so little of their faith that they think skipping mass is not a mortal sin? What is going on here?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Mar__,

I read that the Council of Trent made a policy of automatic excommunication if you don’t go to Mass at least once a year

You are probably referring to the obligation to receive communion at least once a year during Easter time. See Canon Law:

Can. 920 §1 Once admitted to the blessed Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year.

§2 This precept must be fulfilled during paschal time, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year.

Verbum