Missing Mass on Sundays

[ServantofMary]

Hi everyone. I had a question.  My question is why is missing Mass on Sundays considered a MORTAL sin.  Now, I understand that it is considered a sin, since it is against the Scriptural exhortation not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.  But I don't understand why it is considered a MORTAL sin.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[CanadianCatholic]

I have always known it to be Mortal, yes. Unless of course you have good reason to miss. But missing Mass outta laziness/negligence is Mortal, because it is the Lords day, and thats the one day a week he asks us, under pain of sin, to honor Him.

[Herr_Mannelig]

Hi everyone. I had a question.  My question is why is missing Mass on Sundays considered a MORTAL sin.  Now, I understand that it is considered a sin, since it is against the Scriptural exhortation not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.  But I don't understand why it is considered a MORTAL sin.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

It is only a sin when it is deliberate. If it is not possible, or overly dangerous/difficult, it isn't a sin at all.

So, the simple act of missing mass is not a mortal sin.

The three conditions for a mortal sin:

* Grave matter
* Full knowledge
* Deliberate consent

The only one which may not be obvious is "grave matter". It is a grave matter because it is a violation of what is known to be God's will (expressed through the Church).

I can see two reasons why it is God's will:

* It is necessary for us
* It is honouring God

It is sort of like the reason why eating or bathing should be done regularly. Without it, we stink or waste away. Without regular observance of the Mass, our souls waste away. For those unable to attend, I'm sure God gives extra aid (probably not to the extent of actually attending mass, but enough).

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

Hi everyone. I had a question.  My question is why is missing Mass on Sundays considered a MORTAL sin.  Now, I understand that it is considered a sin, since it is against the Scriptural exhortation not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.  But I don't understand why it is considered a MORTAL sin.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/command.htm

See #3

[ServantofMary]

Thanks ya all for your replies.  I appreciate it.  Here's my situation:

My family and I are members of a NO parish (the nearest TLM is over two hours away, and it is not feasible for us to drive that far).  Our priest is very liberal.  He has said such things as "it doesn't matter what church a person goes to, as long as they go somewhere."  His liturgies are very casual and irreverent, and he is always adding or taking things out of the liturgy.  In fact, as a former Protestant, I really feel like my Catholic Faith is being Protestantized.

My wife and I have four kids, and we really do not want them to be exposed to these things, since kids are very impressionable, and often simply accept things as truth without questioning them.  For example, we don't want them to hear our priest say things like mentioned above, and believe that it really doesn't matter what church a person goes to.  In fact, we have already had to straighten our nine-year-old (our oldest) out because she heard at our parish that all a person has to do to be saved is have faith.  Nothing about the necessity of baptism, obedience, etc.  We also don't want our kids to think that Mass is suppose to be casual and irreverent.

Now, because of these things, my wife and I are having a hard time being motivated to go to Mass.  In fact, this last Sunday we missed Mass because we simply didn't want to put up with it all.  We feel bad that we missed, because we don't want our kids to think that going to Mass isn't important.  But at the same time, we don't want our kids to be exposed to false teaching and irreverent liturgies.  We're not the only ones in our parish who feel this way, but there doesn't seem to be anything we can do.  I hate thinking that I may be in mortal sin for not going to Mass, but what am I to do?

[CanadianCatholic]

you shuold try and make it to the TLM once a month or something, and do the NO otherwise. Explain to your kids that you are just there to fulfill your obligations.

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

Your profile says you're in Missouri.  Where in MO?

[SoCalLocal]

Thanks ya all for your replies.  I appreciate it.  Here's my situation:

My family and I are members of a NO parish (the nearest TLM is over two hours away, and it is not feasible for us to drive that far).  
....

 I hate thinking that I may be in mortal sin for not going to Mass, but what am I to do?

Is there a halfway decent NO within, say, 30 minutes drive?

[ServantofMary]

Your profile says you're in Missouri.  Where in MO?

We live in the southern extreme of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

[ServantofMary]

Is there a halfway decent NO within, say, 30 minutes drive?

Honestly, we haven't taken the step to visit around yet.  There are three parishes within 30 minutes of us.  One has the same priest that we do.  One is an even more liberal parish than what we attend (I visited there when I first wanted to convert to the Catholic Faith, and I was told that I didn't need to, since there are many paths to God. I turned around and walked out).  The last one we visited once years ago, and I don't know how it is now.

[glgas]

Hi everyone. I had a question.  My question is why is missing Mass on Sundays considered a MORTAL sin.  Now, I understand that it is considered a sin, since it is against the Scriptural exhortation not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.  But I don't understand why it is considered a MORTAL sin.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

The Church has binding and loosing power, and the Church decided that the Sunday Mass is so important (not for the community meeting, but for the union with Christ) that the deliberate omission without grave cause is mortal sin.

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

Your profile says you're in Missouri.  Where in MO?

We live in the southern extreme of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Ack.  I'm from Kansas City, so I know what you mean. That part of the Diocese is kind of desolate, Church speaking.  Even the heralded Bishop Finn has a hard time getting his reach to that corner of the Diocese.

The good news is that nearby Stockton, MO has a great Traditional Latin Mass for you at 12:00 Noon every Sunday.

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church
222 Highway J
Stockton, MO 65785
(417) 276-5588

[ServantofMary]

Thanks Roamin, but Stockton is still 1 1/2 hours from here, and that's too far for us to go.  I know there are some here who travel farther than that for a TLM, but it's not an option for us.

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

Thanks Roamin, but Stockton is still 1 1/2 hours from here, and that's too far for us to go.  I know there are some here who travel farther than that for a TLM, but it's not an option for us.

Then the best that I can suggest is to document specific problems that you see at Mass and direct them to the Bishop.  You have a Chancery that will get your back if you give them something to address specifically.

[ServantofMary]

You have a Chancery that will get your back if you give them something to address specifically.

Yeah, I absolutely love Msgr. Offutt at the Chancellor's Office.  He fills in a lot when our priest is gone.  He is a very good and holy priest.  I love it when he is here.