Am I obligated?

[Highway of Life]

I had the situation today where, because of circumstances either My mom or myself could not go to Mass tonight.

I chose to stay and let my mom go to Mass because I needed the extra sleep.

What does the church say about obligation?

And is obligation real? I've heard about it, but I just don't think God puts that kind of 'leash' on his people.

What do you say?

Highway of Life

 

[MrZoom]

Highway,

You are obligated to keep the Sabbath Day holy, per the 3rd Commandment. For Catholics the normal way to keep this commandment is to attend Sunday Mass.

However, God understands if circumstances make getting to Mass difficult for you. How you deal with such circumstances is up to your own (INFORMED) conscience. If you truly can't get to Mass, you should find some other way of marking the Lord's Day. (I would suggest meditating on today's Scripture readings, and perhaps praying a Rosary.)

 

[Benedicta00]

I had the situation today where, because of circumstances either My mom or myself could not go to Mass tonight.

I chose to stay and let my mom go to Mass because I needed the extra sleep.

What does the church say about obligation?

And is obligation real? I've heard about it, but I just don't think God puts that kind of 'leash' on his people.

What do you say?

Highway of Life

If you are not yet catholic then you really don’t have an obligation but if you were… staying home from Mass because you need extra sleep is not acceptable (I'm sure Jesus needed the extra sleep too on the night he was betrayed) and a mortal sin, IF you know better.

 

[Highway of Life]

If you are not yet catholic then you really don’t have an obligation but if you were… staying home from Mass because you need extra sleep is not acceptable (I'm sure Jesus needed the extra sleep too on the night he was betrayed) and a mortal sin, IF you know better.

I see.

So I am in mortal sin.

But, If I did not go, my mom would be in mortal sin.

Hmmm.... I would rather be the one in fault than my mom.

I need extra sleep because I work 82 hours a week. (That is why I am here so sparsely)

Point number two: Can somebody please present church teachings on Obligation.... if it exits?

Highway

 

[Carrye]

What does the church say about obligation?

And is obligation real? I've heard about it, but I just don't think God puts that kind of 'leash' on his people.

What do you say?

It doesn't matter what I say, or what I think, but here's what the Church teaches in the Catechism:

The Sunday obligation
2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

From Canon Law:

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
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.

 

[ps139]

Highway, why would your mother be in mortal sin if you did go to Mass? How did this happen?
And remember a mortal sin must involve full knowledge of the gravity of the sin, and deliberate consent.

 

[Highway of Life]

Highway, why would your mother be in mortal sin if you did go to Mass? How did this happen?
And remember a mortal sin must involve full knowledge of the gravity of the sin, and deliberate consent.

I am a manager of 3 businesses. Without giving sensitive details, here is the situation: If I where to go to Mass, my mom would have to deal with the businesses. If my mom where to go to Mass, I would have to deal with the businesses.

I could have chosen to go, and had my mom stay instead.

Why is it not going to mass 'mortal sin'?

The church changed it's policy on obligation at Vat II right? What did it used to be?

Highway

 

[Carrye]

Why is it not going to mass 'mortal sin'?

Mortal sin consists of three parts, and all three need to be present for a sin to be mortal:

1) Grave Matter - Sunday Obligation is included here
2) Full Kknowledge - you know what you're doing/not doing.
3) Full Consent - you know 1 and 2, but choose to act anyway. Extenuating circumstances sometimes fit in to make consent not an issue (traffic, etc)

 

[jukesk9]

I'm not sure you're in a state of mortal sin. If your body hasn't had any sleep, then it needs it to function. Not having sleep is dangerous. It's something I'd bring up to your priest but we can't sit here and say you've committed a mortal sin because you needed sleep. God knows your heart, we don't.

 

[Paul S]

One must go to Mass on Sunday - Vatican II didn't change this. It did, however, allow a Saturday evening Mass to qualify as Sunday, following the Jewish custom of the day beginning at sundown. In the pre-Vatican II liturgy, Sunday's Office begins with First Vespers, which are said Saturday evening, so the idea isn't completely new.

Maybe you could go to the Saturday evening Mass if you really can't make it on Sunday.

Not going to Mass isn't necessarily mortal sin - all three conditions must be met. It is always grave matter, since God commands us to keep the Sabbath holy and to worship him, and the Church through her power of binding and loosing, requires us to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

 

[Carrye]

In the pre-Vatican II liturgy, Sunday's Office begins with First Vespers, which are said Saturday evening, so the idea isn't completely new.

And that custom held post-Vatican II as well.

Not going to Mass isn't necessarily mortal sin - all three conditions must be met. It is always grave matter, since God commands us to keep the Sabbath holy and to worship him, and the Church through her power of binding and loosing, requires us to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Well said, as always, Paul.

 

[Paul S]

And that custom held post-Vatican II as well.

I thought it did, but I'm a lot less familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours than the Breviary, so I wasn't sure if First Vespers still existed.

 

[ps139]

Highway, I would be very hesitant to say it is a mortal sin. In your first post I got the impression that you didn't go to Mass because you wanted to sleep in . With the other information, those seem to be exenuating circumstances! But don't trust my judgement, I'm not qualified to say whether it is or it isn't.

 

[Highway of Life]

One must go to Mass on Sunday - Vatican II didn't change this. It did, however, allow a Saturday evening Mass to qualify as Sunday, following the Jewish custom of the day beginning at sundown. In the pre-Vatican II liturgy, Sunday's Office begins with First Vespers, which are said Saturday evening, so the idea isn't completely new.

Maybe you could go to the Saturday evening Mass if you really can't make it on Sunday.

Not going to Mass isn't necessarily mortal sin - all three conditions must be met. It is always grave matter, since God commands us to keep the Sabbath holy and to worship him, and the Church through her power of binding and loosing, requires us to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

If I keep the Sabbath holy by worshiping him at home, is that not good enough? (I like singing worship songs, praying the divine mercy etc... with my family)

I just don't see God putting us under that kind of bondage. (Going to Mass specifically, as opposed to Worshiping him in other ways)

Highway

 

[epiclesis]

Just a random question, I guess it's none of my business really, but you couldn't have gone to separate Masses?

 

[Highway of Life]

I thought it did, but I'm a lot less familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours than the Breviary, so I wasn't sure if First Vespers still existed.

Did they not add the exceptions at Vatican II?

Highway

 

[Highway of Life]

Just a random question, I guess it's none of my business really, but you couldn't have gone to separate Masses?

Not really. Would it make up for it if I went to Mass twice next Sunday?

HoL

 

[MrZoom]

If I keep the Sabbath holy by worshiping him at home, is that not good enough? (I like singing worship songs, praying the divine mercy etc... with my family)

I just don't see God putting us under that kind of bondage. (Going to Mass specifically, as opposed to Worshiping him in other ways)

Worshipping at home is great, but it's important to connect with the larger Christian community. Scripture says that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The obligation to attend Mass is an implementation of that verse.

 

[Paul S]

If I keep the Sabbath holy by worshiping him at home, is that not good enough? (I like singing worship songs, praying the divine mercy etc... with my family)

I just don't see God putting us under that kind of bondage. (Going to Mass specifically, as opposed to Worshiping him in other ways)

Highway

Singing and praying is a good way to worship God - I do that at home, too, but it doesn't even begin to compare to how we worship God at Mass. At Mass, we are literally at the foot of the Cross at the crucifixion, where the sacrifice of Our Lord is re-presented to us, and then He allows us to receive Him in Holy Communion. The Mass is the highest form of worship in the Church, and it is done as a community.

Read Leviticus and Deuteronomy sometime. They give the laws under the Old Covenant, many of which were quite exact and demanding. If one broke the Sabbath under the Old Covenant, the punishment was death. Compared to that, the obligation to give one hour a week to God at Mass isn't so demanding.

It's also a way of God telling us we need to put Him first. Family and work and other activities are important and good, but the first thing in our lives must be Him.

 

[epiclesis]

Not really. Would it make up for it if I went to Mass twice next Sunday?

HoL

no.


I was just kind of thinking how many Masses are offered between the 6+ churches in my area, and just though probably everywhere else too. saturday 4. 4:40, 5, Sunday: 7, 8, 10, 10:30, 5 pm....

Ah, my post could be taken the wrong way, I'm really not sounding mean, honest.