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Seeking Grace
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| Joined: | Tue May 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
| First Name: | Ted | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Baptist, Evangelical Free, Presbyterian, current Catholic canidate |
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 05:25 am |
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I recently received a job offer to work as a wilderness instructor with troubled teens. The position entails working 8 days on followed by 6 days off. As we are with the students 24/7 and in the wilderness for most of the 8 days, I would necessarily miss attending mass two weeks out of the month. I am not yet a Catholic (though likely to become a candidate soon and hopefully reconcile in the near future), and still do not fully agree with or understand the Church's teachings on mortal sin and the Sunday obligation, but I do not want to take any chances here and wanted to see what others thought about my work situation and the possibility that by taking this job offer I could be missing mass and thus committing a grave sin.
Some points that my serve to highlight my situation: I do not will to miss mass. I understand that missing mass is a grave matter. I do need money to live on and this job fits my interests and skills quite well. So by signing up to this job would I by extension be willing my missing of mass since I'm willing something that would cause me to miss mass? Couldn't I just have personal Bible studies/prayers in the woods and consecrate the day and my actions (particularly towards the kids) to God?
Apologies if this post is rambling or perplexing. I'm just stressed here and need some help. Thanks!
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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1053 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 06:02 am |
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Hi, Ted. Welcome to the forum.
Here's the url for a past thread which contains many helpful links.
Click here and follow all links.
Don't miss the link from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Becky
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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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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: Tue May 6th, 2008 01:33 pm |
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There is no problem here at all since you are not Catholic. You are not committing a mortal sin by missing Mass any more than any other non-
Catholic would be. You still are feeling badly and missing going to church but this is not a sin at this point.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
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| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 01:44 pm |
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| Another consideration is the type of job itself. This job seems to be helping to further God's work here on earth. I think you should be taking that into consideration too.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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kimdyuma
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
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| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 02:34 pm |
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| Since I sometimes work 2 twelves, therefore missing all chances of Masses from Saturday vigil to the last Sunday one I was told that A: since it was necessity not choice it was not in the mortal sin category and that also it was possilbe to get a dispensation to call the weekday my Sunday if I talked to the father
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Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
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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: Tue May 6th, 2008 05:46 pm |
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| That's good. The rules are not intended to punish people who have to live in the real world, just to encourage people to take the commandments seriously. The fact that we ask for things like dispensations proves to our priests that we are trying to be faithful.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 05:53 pm |
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Seeking Grace wrote: I recently received a job offer to work as a wilderness instructor with troubled teens.
First of all, Ted, welcome to the forum. We are glad to have you with us, and look forward to the day you can join us at the Eucharistic banquet.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells us to take care of the least of his people, and that those who fail to do so will be condemned. I can't think of a more needy person than a troubled teen.
Our obligation to attend mass is a serious one, but it is automatically dispensed for good reason (such as the obligation to work). Where I live, many people work offshore for 7 days, and then come home for 7. Many medical professionals must work weekends from time to time. I can't imagine where I would be today if the emergency room had been empty a couple of Sundays ago!
I think you are doing God's work by helping troubled teens, and even more so if you can get them to pray with you. But if you still have doubts, discuss it with a priest. Any priest can dispense your obligation to attend mass.
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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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Candlemass
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| Joined: | Tue May 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 465 |
| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, AOG, Baptist, non - denominational, Anglican, CC for life! |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 01:00 am |
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I do lawn care for a living, I have to work when the weather permits. 
____________________
"For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries."--1st Peter 4:3 NKJV
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:28 am |
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Yes, Mark, but in your case one hour once a week for Mass (available Saturday evenings as well as much of the day Sunday in most places) won’t kill your livelihood.
David
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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
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| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 07:12 am |
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"Any priest can dispense your obligation to attend mass."
Do you mean that any priest can dispense from the obligation to attend mass on Sunday and alter it to another day or affirm that the obligation does not exist in a situation where attending mass is not possible. Or did you mean that a priest can dispense one of the obligation to keep the sabbath by participating in the mass.
I do not think a priest can actually dispense the obligation to observe the sabbath by attending mass. This is a divine commandment and therefore is not one that I think can be dispensed from so much as alternatives granted or sort of giving counsel confirming the fact that the situation made attending not reasonable for valid reason as an illness does.
In this case the command is not done away with but simply acknowledged that it was not a situation where the obligation could be fulfilled therefore, there was no obligation as God does not ask us to do what is not possible or within our means. For instance, if one were sick or too far from church a priest would not dispense from the need to observe the obligation but maybe confirm to you that you were not guilty, as one is not obligated to go when it is not possible.
This is a subject that is confusing for me at times because when one agrees to take a certain job (if they do not absolutely have to) or go on a trip it can be difficult to not worry that you are sinning since even though attending mass is not possible, you were the one that may have put yourself in that situation. I wish I knew if you were only guilty when deliberately not going when well within your means, or if you are guilty for allowing yourself to be in situations where it was not within your means and it was not of absolute necessity. Like a vacation or travel or a job that you do not absolutely need but could certainly use. So, I would say to talk to a priest. It may depend in the inquiry on how much you need the job to get by. If you really do, then it may very well be the most prudent thing to do, and maybe a priest can dispense from you observing the command on Sunday and move it to another day.
BrianLast edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 07:12 am by brian
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Candlemass
Member
| Joined: | Tue May 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Ohio USA |
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| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, AOG, Baptist, non - denominational, Anglican, CC for life! |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 11:27 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: Yes, Mark, but in your case one hour once a week for Mass (available Saturday evenings as well as much of the day Sunday in most places) won’t kill your livelihood.
David
Did I say it would? I just know many Catholics/Protestants believe you shouldn't work on Sunday at all, unless of course you have a noble profession like a doctor, nurse.....If I don't work on a day when the weather is nice it can put me behind the 8 ball in the rainy season, so I work Sundays when I have to. I used to miss church service quite often when I was a Protestant because of this, most of those services don't start untill 10am, by the time I'd get home, change and get to the first gig I already burned up hours of sunshine! This also holds true in the winter during a snow storm.
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"For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries."--1st Peter 4:3 NKJV
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
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| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 12:49 pm |
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Did I say it would?
I saw it as implied. My reply was to clear up any doubt, in the minds of others if not in your own.
Your description of how it was with the Protestants helps us to understand where you are coming from. Fortunately, Catholic Masses are usually offered at many different times throughout the day, making it easy to find a slot that works for you.
David
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