Communion, Missing Mass

FaithT · Oct 12, 2024

I like to go to Mass on Saturday evening. Two weeks ago my family and I went out for my birthday dinner so I ended up skipping Mass. Then last week I felt badly all day from my flu/covid shots, though by the time Mass started I felt a lot better. Not 100% but better. I missed Mass again. I know it’s recommended that I should go to Confession tomorrow before receiving Communion but MUST I go? What happens if I don’t? I must add this is a repeated sin of mine and I’ve received anyway, which I guess is another sin.

AlexB23 · Oct 12, 2024

FaithT said:
I like to go to Mass on Saturday evening. Two weeks ago my family and I went out for my birthday dinner so I ended up skipping Mass. Then last week I felt badly all day from my flu/covid shots, though by the time Mass started I felt a lot better. Not 100% but better. I missed Mass again. I know it’s recommended that I should go to Confession tomorrow before receiving Communion but MUST I go? What happens if I don’t? I must add this is a repeated sin of mine and I’ve received anyway, which I guess is another sin.

I have skipped Mass in the past, and prayed to God to forgive me. But yes, I do recommend that you go to confession. God will not strike you down if you confess directly to Jesus and you take communion at Mass for a minor sin such as skipping Mass. Scrupulosity is unhealthy.

Michie · Oct 12, 2024

FaithT said:
I like to go to Mass on Saturday evening. Two weeks ago my family and I went out for my birthday dinner so I ended up skipping Mass. Then last week I felt badly all day from my flu/covid shots, though by the time Mass started I felt a lot better. Not 100% but better. I missed Mass again. I know it’s recommended that I should go to Confession tomorrow before receiving Communion but MUST I go? What happens if I don’t? I must add this is a repeated sin of mine and I’ve received anyway, which I guess is another sin.

Yes, the Church instructs you go to confession before receiving again. You can explain to the priest and he can take it from there. Does your parish have a later Mass on Sunday?

FaithT · Oct 12, 2024

Michie said:
Yes, the Church instructs you go to confession before receiving again. You can explain to the priest and he can take it from there. Does your parish have a later Mass on Sunday?

Yes. I just don’t like going then.

Michie · Oct 12, 2024

FaithT said:
Yes. I just don’t like going then.

Well it’s an option if your Saturdays become busy. But I totally get where you are coming from.

mourningdove~ · Oct 12, 2024

Michie said:
Yes, the Church instructs you go to confession before receiving again. You can explain to the priest and he can take it from there. Does your parish have a later Mass on Sunday?

@Michie
When reading this thread, I became confused.
I know things have changed, and continue to change, in the Church.
So I thought I would ask you.

My understanding is that it is a mortal sin to miss Mass, except for cases of illness, et.
And it is my understanding that mortal sin must be dealt with in confession, with a priest.

And it is my understanding that one should not take Communion while in the state of mortal sin.
To do so is considered to be a form of sacrilege. It is a grievous sin to receive Communion unworthily.

Has this teaching changed?
Is it sufficient now for one to just confess to Jesus directly for mortal sin, and then go to Communion?

Michie · Oct 12, 2024

mourningdove~ said:
@Michie
When reading this thread, I became confused.
I know things have changed, and continue to change, in the Church.
So I thought I would ask you.

My understanding is that it is a mortal sin to miss Mass, except for cases of illness, et.
And it is my understanding that mortal sin must be dealt with in confession, with a priest.

And it is my understanding that one should not take Communion while in the state of mortal sin.
To do so is considered to be a form of sacrilege. It is a grievous sin to receive Communion unworthily.

Has this teaching changed?
Is it sufficient now for one to just confess to Jesus directly for mortal sin, and then go to Communion?

You are absolutely correct. Unless you are sick, a family member is sick, an accident, bad weather… whatever is beyond your control. It is considered a sin to just blow off Mass. And one must go to confession to receive again. Nothing has changed in that regard unless you get an exemption from your priest. I know there are some that suffer panic attacks that have gotten an exemption. Those people will usually attend the 30 minute Mass during the week or have the Eucharist brought to them in their home.

RileyG · Oct 12, 2024

AlexB23 said:
I have skipped Mass in the past, and prayed to God to forgive me. But yes, I do recommend that you go to confession. God will not strike you down if you confess directly to Jesus and you take communion at Mass for a minor sin such as skipping Mass. Scrupulosity is unhealthy.

It's actually considered a MORTAL sin to miss Mass, not minor sin.

RileyG · Oct 12, 2024

FaithT said:
Yes. I just don’t like going then.

I suggest going to confession and briefly explain the situation.

God bless

fide · Oct 12, 2024

Michie said:
You are absolutely correct. Unless you are sick, a family member is sick, an accident, bad weather… whatever is beyond your control. It is considered a sin to just blow off Mass. And one must go to confession to receive again. Nothing has changed in that regard unless you get an exemption from your priest. I know there are some that suffer panic attacks that have gotten an exemption. Those people will usually attend the 30 minute Mass during the week or have the Eucharist brought to them in their home.

Just to add the weight of the Universal Catechism in the matter:

The Sunday obligation

CCC 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.”<CIC, can. 1247> “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.”
[CIC, can. 1248 # 1]

CCC 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.[Cf. CIC, can. 1245] Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

CCC 2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

CCC 2183 “If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.”[CIC, can. 1248 # 2]

It is truly a sad reality in these times, that generally speaking, many many Catholics do not hold the importance of the Holy Eucharist with the deference, profound respect, awe, humble esteem... what words are adequate to express this Most Holy Sacrament and the Sacred Liturgy which is its celebration and enactment?
The great importance of the Mass ought to be in the air we breathe, permeating the culture of the days and the life of Catholics. But it too often is not. The habitual, often worldly chatter before Mass that resumes at the end - before the priest can make it to the end of his procession out the door, ought to bring tears to our eyes. And it does, to a few but to only a few - if any - on any given celebration. How many priests still tremble as they did in their first Mass, and ought to still tremble as if that Mass were to be their last Mass on this earth? How many Catholics are still "there," in their hearts, still quiet with the mystery just received, walking in silence to their cars, soon to be once more in the hectic confusion of "this world"?

mourningdove~ · Oct 13, 2024

fide said:
It is truly a sad reality in these times, that generally speaking, many many Catholics do not hold the importance of the Holy Eucharist with the deference, profound respect, awe, humble esteem... what words are adequate to express this Most Holy Sacrament and the Sacred Liturgy which is its celebration and enactment?

You may disagree with me, but I put the blame for this situation on the pastors/priests.

If the pastors/priests do not emphasize what is important in the church, how are persons to know?
And if pastors/priests don't enforce that which they believe to be right, who will?

Many of us here, we 'deep study' on our own. We enjoy digging deep into matters of faith. But not everyone is prone to do such things. And that is why we need strong, godly pastors/priests to instruct persons in the way that is right.

I don't fault persons for what they do not know. I blame the pastors, the priests, for not catechizing their people well ... and for apparently not wanting 'the best' for their people.

fide · Oct 14, 2024

mourningdove~ said:
You may disagree with me, but I put the blame for this situation on the pastors/priests.

If the pastors/priests do not emphasize what is important in the church, how are persons to know?
And if pastors/priests don't enforce that which they believe to be right, who will?

Many of us here, we 'deep study' on our own. We enjoy digging deep into matters of faith. But not everyone is prone to do such things. And that is why we need strong, godly pastors/priests to instruct persons in the way that is right.

I don't fault persons for what they do not know. I blame the pastors, the priests, for not catechizing their people well ... and for apparently not wanting 'the best' for their people.

I would say that both priests and people have a part in the sad condition of the Church, and God will sort it out in the end. As a catechist for a while I've seen the problem from several viewpoints. There are some priests seeking holiness personally, and seeking from the depths of their hearts to be true and good shepherds for the people entrusted to them. They are few. I've seen priests who are trying to do right, but who are inadequately formed in their own spiritual and intellectual and moral lives. And as working priests, have few resources and little time to seek and receive the help they need. And then there are others who seem to me are well-described by Jesus in His piercing words in Mt 23.

And the people - the laity? Some seek holy Truth, and because they seek, they will find. Others? As Jeremiah found:

Jer 5:30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land:
Jer 5:31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Time is not yet over, and God is merciful and just. We must be faithful, and trust in Him always, no matter what is happening around us.

joymercy · Oct 14, 2024

There are live streams of daily as well as weekly Mass online as well as Adoration.

RileyG · Oct 14, 2024

joymercy said:
There are live streams of daily as well as weekly Mass online as well as Adoration.

I think we used to have it in our chapel, but it shut down.

Lady Bug · Oct 14, 2024

FaithT said:
I like to go to Mass on Saturday evening. Two weeks ago my family and I went out for my birthday dinner so I ended up skipping Mass. Then last week I felt badly all day from my flu/covid shots, though by the time Mass started I felt a lot better. Not 100% but better. I missed Mass again. I know it’s recommended that I should go to Confession tomorrow before receiving Communion but MUST I go? What happens if I don’t? I must add this is a repeated sin of mine and I’ve received anyway, which I guess is another sin.

OK, here is something that people will hate, lol. I don't think birthdays are a good reason to miss any important event. During RCIA, there was some sort of important event for the catechumens and candidates - I forgot what it was, but one of the catechumens made a fuss about it being her birthday that day and I'm like OH.MY.GOSH.

However, the second situation where you felt bad after the shots - I can understand that one. Perhaps you didn't get a weak enough vaccine. I don't know. I think missing the Saturday one was more of an issue than the Mass you missed by virtue of the shots.

FaithT said:
Yes. I just don’t like going then.

I hate going on Sunday evenings too. It might sound bad to say but oh well. I just don't have one iota of motivation go once noon passes. I'm starting to think that's the reason church was traditionally held in the mornings, because once the day starts passing, the motivation to go gets harder and harder. I'm very thankful, however, that an option exists for many parishes these days but - on a cold, rainy October night, UGH, GOSH.

RileyG said:
I think we used to have it in our chapel, but it shut down.

My Diocesan Cathedral had to shut the livestream down when it caused Mass attendance to decline after the Covid era was over.

FaithT · Oct 14, 2024

fide said:
Just to add the weight of the Universal Catechism in the matter:

It is truly a sad reality in these times, that generally speaking, many many Catholics do not hold the importance of the Holy Eucharist with the deference, profound respect, awe, humble esteem... what words are adequate to express this Most Holy Sacrament and the Sacred Liturgy which is its celebration and enactment?
The great importance of the Mass ought to be in the air we breathe, permeating the culture of the days and the life of Catholics. But it too often is not. The habitual, often worldly chatter before Mass that resumes at the end - before the priest can make it to the end of his procession out the door, ought to bring tears to our eyes. And it does, to a few but to only a few - if any - on any given celebration. How many priests still tremble as they did in their first Mass, and ought to still tremble as if that Mass were to be their last Mass on this earth? How many Catholics are still "there," in their hearts, still quiet with the mystery just received, walking in silence to their cars, soon to be once more in the hectic confusion of "this world"?

I do hold the Eucharist of great importance and I kind of resent your implication that maybe I don’t.
BTW, I went to Confession Saturday.

FaithT · Oct 14, 2024

mourningdove~ said:
You may disagree with me, but I put the blame for this situation on the pastors/priests.

If the pastors/priests do not emphasize what is important in the church, how are persons to know?
And if pastors/priests don't enforce that which they believe to be right, who will?

Many of us here, we 'deep study' on our own. We enjoy digging deep into matters of faith. But not everyone is prone to do such things. And that is why we need strong, godly pastors/priests to instruct persons in the way that is right.

I don't fault persons for what they do not know. I blame the pastors, the priests, for not catechizing their people well ... and for apparently not wanting 'the best' for their people.

Thanks Mourningdove.

Lady Bug · Oct 14, 2024

PS sorry if I sounded unkind in my comment; TBH I was more frustrated at the fellow catechumen.

Lady Bug · Oct 14, 2024

I have an idea why don't you contact the priest from the parish you want to receive the Eucharist from?

FaithT · Oct 14, 2024

Lady Bug said:
PS sorry if I sounded unkind in my comment; TBH I was more frustrated at the fellow catechumen.

Lady Bug said:
OK, here is something that people will hate, lol. I don't think birthdays are a good reason to miss any important event. During RCIA, there was some sort of important event for the catechumens and candidates - I forgot what it was, but one of the catechumens made a fuss about it being her birthday that day and I'm like OH.MY.GOSH.

However, the second situation where you felt bad after the shots - I can understand that one. Perhaps you didn't get a weak enough vaccine. I don't know. I think missing the Saturday one was more of an issue than the Mass you missed by virtue of the shots.

I hate going on Sunday evenings too. It might sound bad to say but oh well. I just don't have one iota of motivation go once noon passes. I'm starting to think that's the reason church was traditionally held in the mornings, because once the day starts passing, the motivation to go gets harder and harder. I'm very thankful, however, that an option exists for many parishes these days but - on a cold, rainy October night, UGH, GOSH.

My Diocesan Cathedral had to shut the livestream down when it caused Mass attendance to decline after the Covid era was over.

We dont have Sunday evening Mass at our parish. I go on Saturday evenings, though I went Sunday morning on Easter.
I think that if anything, my vaccine could’ve been too strong or maybe I am too weak, because some people only had a sore arm. I felt awful.

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