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faithfl1
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 64 |
| First Name: | Sharon | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant, non-denominational (born-again), Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 12:48 pm |
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I am a convert (close to 20 yrs. ago) but I never learned near as much as I needed to. The Priest gave me a few 1 on 1 classes, went to confession and Boom! not long after I was making my confirmation and first communion. Don't get me wrong, I was in my Glory and excited beyond words, but, I am about to share something that I'm so embarrased to admit.
I never knew that missing Mass was a Mortal Sin!! I was told this on another Catholic Forum and when I was talking to our Parish Secretary I asked her. Basically, she said, this is what the Church taught us from the beginning, but nowadays people do as they please. They commit many sin's and never even go to confession before participating in the Eucharist. I knew this much, but I was blown away and thought "missing Mass is just as bad as committing murder??!!" Can someone please verify this for me. Maybe I have already received the answer, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around it. Thanks in advance!
I know that being "good" is not a ticket into heaven. I go to confession, once in awhile, attend Mass almost every week and try even harder on Holy Days of Obligation, help other's, Love other's etc. , but find it very hard to try and live like a Saint! I am just a lowly sinner standing humbly before the Lord and doing my best to be like him. I don't know what more I can do as a human. I have many more thought's and questions that I will wait to ask in another post. God Bless!
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Sharon S.
...I love you, Lord, my strength Psalm 18:2
I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me. Phil 4:13
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1271 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 02:13 pm |
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Dear Sharon, missing Sunday mass is the number one confession I have to make, most often. I sometimes have stomach and colon problems and don't know if it will act up or not, so I stay home and then it doesn't act up. I finally talked to the priest about it and he said when that happens, to make a spiritual communion. But I still feel I have to confess it sometimes. You were not committing a sin if you didn't know it was a sin. To commit a sin you have to make a conscious decision to sin. But now that you know, yes, it is a mortal sin to miss mass on Sunday without a valid reason. The parish secretary should know that. Wow!
We all have to struggle to live holy lives. I can't remember hearing of anyone that it just came easily to. What would be the point? God loves us lowly sinners. Who did He spend time with while He was on earth?    :X  
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 02:26 pm |
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faithfl1 wrote: I never knew that missing Mass was a Mortal Sin!!
There are three things necessary for a sin to be mortal:
1. It must be a grave matter.
2. We must know it's a grave matter.
3. We must do it willingly.
Failure to keep holy the Lord's Day is a violation of one of the commandments. The Church tells us in the Precepts of the Church that we are to attend mass on Sunday as part of our obligation to keep the Lord's Day holy. So that means missing mass is a grave matter. Whether it is a mortal sin or not is another question and depends on the second and third conditions. If you truly did not know it was an obligation to keep the Lord's Day holy by attending mass, then it was not a mortal sin. And even if you knew but had a good reason (illness, work, car trouble, etc.) that prevented you from attending, it would not be a mortal sin.
So if you truly did not know it was considered a grave matter and an obligation, then no, you did not commit a mortal sin. You should confess it anyway (if you haven't already) because you do have an obligation to learn the Church's laws and follow them, and you failed to do that. Whether a sin is mortal or venial is irrelevant if it is forgiven, so don't get hung up on having committed a sin. The important thing is that it is forgiven, so you can move forward from here.
Missing mass is a mortal sin when we just decide we want to sleep in, or we want to go shopping or fishing, or do something else unnecessary instead. Habitually missing mass is a more serious issue, as it shows a lack of respect for God, the Church, and our fellow Catholics. So put it all in perspective, and don't beat yourself up for what's in the past. Once it's forgiven, it's forgotten.
And welcome to the forum. We're glad to have you here with us.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 977 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 02:49 pm |
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faithfl1 wrote:
I am a convert (close to 20 yrs. ago) but I never learned near as much as I needed to. The Priest gave me a few 1 on 1 classes, went to confession and Boom! not long after I was making my confirmation and first communion. . . . I never knew that missing Mass was a Mortal Sin!!
Hi, Sharon,
Here's a great little catechism recommended to me by a priest. It won't overwhelm you (very small, 72 pages) but will help you ascertain where you need more study.
Penny Catechism
It's very direct and plain. For example: Question 232--
232. Is it a mortal sin to neglect to hear Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation? It is a mortal sin to neglect to hear Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation.
Here's another helpful book that speaks very plainly but has a charming sense of humor as well.
Click here.
page 135 ". . .missing Mass on Sunday or on a holy day of obligation is a mortal sin, unless bad weather, illness, or a real emergency prevents it."
As Rick and Marsha have said, Sharon, you need not beat yourself about the ears over this. You have a good heart, and I'm sure you are willing to learn more about what is required and to follow in obedience. I am trying to do the same.
Edited to shorten link.Last edited on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 03:53 am by Intercessor
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"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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faithfl1
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 64 |
| First Name: | Sharon | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant, non-denominational (born-again), Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 03:15 pm |
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Thank you all so much! I am learning so much lately, it's scary, yet refreshing and exciting. I was sad last night when I went to Mass and saw only a handful of people there. I'm sure some went to the 7am Mass but I thought the 7pm Mass would have been packed. Oh well, that's none of my business, it just made me feel sad. God Bless all of you here, I'm grateful for this forum, as this is where I'm learning a great deal! Oh Yeah, thank you very much, intercessor, for the recommendation's and for the link. I will go and check it out now!!Last edited on Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 03:17 pm by faithfl1
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Sharon S.
...I love you, Lord, my strength Psalm 18:2
I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me. Phil 4:13
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 04:28 pm |
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Attendance is very low on holy days of obligation where I am too. Also on football Saturdays. And for any other lame excuse. People just don't go to Mass any more with the numbers that used to. Even those who know it is a mortal sin don't seem to care that much. The fact that you do care speaks volumes.
A good little catechism book is "This is Our Faith" by Pennock. Fr. used it with me. It goes through the commandments and sacraments and all the important things. It does have a section on obligations and what mortal sins are, etc.
I miss Mass frequently too for the same sort of reason, I feel crummy and may get worse and am afraid to drive so far on the highway to get there but then I don't get worse and I realize I might have felt better if I had gone to Mass and gotten the healing from the sacraments. But God sees what is in our hearts and he knows our sufferings too.
Last edited on Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 04:29 pm by Annie
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Annie
Ora et labora
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