missing mass

[benedictaoo]

Dad, there's also what we call "cooperating in the sin of another." You could also be morally culpable for giving permission for what you know is wrong. I sense that your conscience is already speaking to you, or you would not have posted this thread.

But then again, she's a 9 year old girl who wants to go and have fun and be with her friends and a parent says ... "You can't go, you'll miss Mass". I don't know, not my call but it screams legalistic but on the other hand I know its not.

and I know I'll hear all about the wonders of the spiritual riches and Jesus giving up His life so she can have Mass so why can't a 9 year old give this up...

She's 9, you know... so I see the dilemma.

 

[benedictaoo]

Technically, if there is no REAL impediment, then you're not supposed to miss Mass. On the other hand, social development is key for children. The Church is organic, not rigid. It calls people to spiritual development as much as it calls them to human development. Not knowing the specifics of your situation beyond "she wants to go camping," it is hard to give an answer.

exactly, 100% my opinion as well.

 

[St_Barnabus]

But then again, she's a 9 year old girl who wants to go and have fun and be with her friends and a parent says ... "You can't go, you'll miss Mass". I don't know, not my call but it screams legalistic but on the other hand I know its not.

Legalistic??? You would teach exemptions to the rule as a catechist? Having fun is one of them?
A nine-year old who made first communion and who is very is impressionable.

 

[Fantine]

If you are very concerned, you could go to your diocesan website and see if any churches have Sunday evening Masses. Many churches have youth Masses around dinner time on Sundays, followed by the youth program.

Campus ministries often have Masses as late as 9 p.m. on Sundays because college students love to sleep in on weekends.

I would also venture to say that your daughter's prayer life is not as brand-dependent as yours might be. Would she have an opportunity to pray at her friend's church? It might be a wonderful experience for her. It might give emotional support to her faith to know that people of many faiths all over the world believe in Jesus, even if they do not express that faith in exactly the same way. While she is unlikely to go up for an altar call, she would still have a chance to pray, to hear the word of God preached.

 

[benedictaoo]

Legalistic??? You would teach exemptions to the rule as a catechist? Having fun is one of them?
A nine-year old who made first communion and who is very is impressionable.

Barking up the wrong tree here with me. and I'm not a catechist... so...

Its a hard call and I would refer you to Dark Lites post. It's how I feel about it and it is a dilemma-- least the dude would not have posted it.

as parents we do not want our kids to miss out on a fun time with friends becuase that is important to their social development but I get that it's Mass and you have to sacrifice becuase that's the name of the game, sacrifice... He did it so we should to.

But she's 9... not 29... and I hardly doubt from a purely going to rot and burn in hell perspective the child or the dad will for this. But its not my call. Not my kid, not my dilemma.

 

[Guardian Angel]

I actually e-mailed two priests in our parish on this matter and they both said the same thing; that in a circumstance such as this where there is no available mass to attend, that my daughter would not be sinning. It was also emphasized by both priests that it should be explained to my daughter about the importance of not missing mass on Sundays, and that in the future the attendance of Sunday mass should take precedence over a camping trip.

 

[benedictaoo]

I actually e-mailed two priests in our parish on this matter and they both said the same thing; that in a circumstance such as this where there is no available mass to attend, that my daughter would not be sinning. It was also emphasized by both priests that it should be explained to my daughter about the importance of not missing mass on Sundays, and that in the future the attendance of Sunday mass should take precedence over a camping trip.

see? law of compassion- not just "dems' da rules..."

 

[Nymira]

I'm happy to see you've resolved the issue, GA.

 

[prophecyistrue]

I was just curious couldn't you take some of the bread and wine from a previous weekend and pack it like you would a to go lunch, and while your out of town or in the woods have your own little mass ceremony......I mean is there a certian length of time that the bread and wine remain body and blood, or once removed from the church are they changed back into bread and wine........Or is this not a acceptable solution

 

[Nymira]

No, that would be sacrilege of the highest order. It's the Body and Blood of Christ; it's not something you can just pack like a lunch. It's not supposed to be taken out of the church after it's consecrated except in rare circumstances, such as by a Eucharistic minister. And furthermore, you cannot have your own little mass ceremony as only priests can validly celebrate mass. And I can't really tell if this a a genuine question or if you're just trolling, to be honest.

 

[princess_ballet]

If you don't let her go, she may get a jaded view of mass. Just sayin'.

 

[princess_ballet]

Nope. Only in real serious matter may that be the case, like if ones job prevented one from attending any Mass anywhere for the whole weekend.

It's a Sunday obligation- not a Tuesday or Wednesday obligation. There is the Saturday vigil Mass that can fulfill your obligation but not many Catholics know this, you have to have a good reason to attend the Saturday Vigil Mass.

A lot of Catholics like to go on Saturdays becuase its more convenient and it frees up their Sunday's . ah-ah, not supposed to do that.

Now that we have gotten out of the way the legal aspect of it...

A 9 year old girl has a camping trip and will miss Mass... personally, I don't see her 9 year old world truing upside down by her missing and not going. It's not like, I hate God and refuse to go to Mass.

If there isn't an opportunity for her to go to Mass on Saturday or a late Sunday or very early Sunday Mass, then that's their (parents) call.

I both don't see and at the same time I do see the big deal in it.

Oh, come on. For crying out loud, at least they're going.

 

[Fantine]

Please list the source of your allegation that one needs to have "a good reason" to attend a Saturday vigil Mass instead of a Sunday Mass.

I do have a good reason for attending a Saturday vigil Mass. I play the organ at that Mass, and now that I know that the regular attendees are all blatant heathens who are ignoring their obligation to be there on Sunday instead, I know that I have an even better reason--those blatant heathens need some uplifting inspirational music so that they can give up their blatant heathen ways of attending Mass 12 hours early!

Except that I don't think one must have "a good reason." Sheesh! Legalism!

 

[epiclesis]

I don't think I'd let her go....


If it were my situation, if it wasn't too far away (an hour or so), I'd probably make the trip, take her to Mass. Or a Sunday night Mass if she's getting home on Sunday anyway.


Hopefully, I never have these problems. All my friends are Catholic so if we ever traded around kids, they would have it as a high priority themselves to go to Mass.

 

[St_Barnabus]

I actually e-mailed two priests in our parish on this matter and they both said the same thing; that in a circumstance such as this where there is no available mass to attend, that my daughter would not be sinning. It was also emphasized by both priests that it should be explained to my daughter about the importance of not missing mass on Sundays, and that in the future the attendance of Sunday mass should take precedence over a camping trip.

So, in the opiinion of your parish priests, it is okay to commit a mortal sin THIS TIME, but in the future, she should let Mass take precedence over a fun thing. I do have to wonder how you worded your email for them to respond this way.

Suppose she wanted to do an overnighter [pajama party, perhaps] with some noncatholic friends who would not be getting up for mass the next morning. Is it more important to develop a good social life than offend God?

 

[united4Peace]

I was just curious couldn't you take some of the bread and wine from a previous weekend and pack it like you would a to go lunch, and while your out of town or in the woods have your own little mass ceremony......I mean is there a certian length of time that the bread and wine remain body and blood, or once removed from the church are they changed back into bread and wine........Or is this not a acceptable solution

Protestants can do that. We can have communion anywhere, in our own homes if so be, however with Catholics this is not possible. Only a Priest is allowed to serve communion. I know this as I was schooled Catholic, my husband is Catholic as is some of my family and most of his family

 

[united4Peace]

Please list the source of your allegation that one needs to have "a good reason" to attend a Saturday vigil Mass instead of a Sunday Mass.

I do have a good reason for attending a Saturday vigil Mass. I play the organ at that Mass, and now that I know that the regular attendees are all blatant heathens who are ignoring their obligation to be there on Sunday instead, I know that I have an even better reason--those blatant heathens need some uplifting inspirational music so that they can give up their blatant heathen ways of attending Mass 12 hours early!

Except that I don't think one must have "a good reason." Sheesh! Legalism!

My inlaws go on Saturday evenings as they find it's actually quieter (which they prefer) than Sunday's where they live.

 

[Anhelyna]

St Barnabus

I'm soooooooo glad you know better than 2 priests !

GA [ the OP BTW ] gave the Priests' answers and IF you read them you will see that they also as well as advising, suggest that GA also teaches his daughter about her responsibilities as a Catholic , [ as did I in post #15 which you chose to ignore ]

This is a 9 year old CHILD and screaming ' It's a MORTAL SIN to miss Mass so of course you can't go ' is the best way I know to turn someone against the Church.

 

[underheaven]

Of course you should let her go...

I agree .In fact she might well turn away completely as millions have,
thinking that Man was made for the sabbath,instead of the sabbath for man.
But in any case,it is not even the sabbath.
In other words Jesus loved children,and I am very sure He would
say yes,let her go.

 

[St_Barnabus]

I'm soooooooo glad you know better than 2 priests !

I did not know that sharing a difference in opinion qualified for a rebuttal of saracasm. Twice in this thread already.

FWIW, I did some checking and offer the information I found. Looks like I learned something new. One may be DISPENSED by their priest, so I am assuming this was what the OP finally did. Again, my devotion to Mass and sense of obligation as a parent was the basis for sharing my "opinion" - right or wrong.

Here's a thread where opinions are just as varied as they are here. It doesn't make an adverse opinion worthy of the type of affronts I've seen here. Armchair bishops have no business giving this kind of advice. I hope the lesson sticks.

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