What If I Can't Get to Sunday Mass?

Importance of Sunday Mass Equally, ever since the earliest times, the Can I never miss Sunday Mass? Carers: Likewise, those caring for the et’s begin by reminding ourselves of why celebration of the Eucharist has formed part ertainly to miss Mass on Sunday (or 2 sick have a good reason to be absent from LSunday Mass is so important. Firstly, of Christian Sunday worship. How could Cindeed, on a Holy Day of Obligation) Mass. TheCatechism mentions the care of setting aside one day of the week for worship it be otherwise? After all, the command to is a serious matter. TheCatechism infants and small children – those looking is a command of Almighty God himself, both celebrate the Eucharist, or Mass, was given teaches us: ‘On Sundays and Holy after the frail and elderly would be in a in the Old and the New Testament. by Jesus himself at the Last Supper: ‘Do Days of Obligation the faithful similar position. People in any of these this in memory of me’. There can be no are bound to participate in categories would not commit a sin by In the Book of Exodus God gave more fitting occasion to fulfil this the Mass’, and again ‘Those missing Sunday Mass. Moses the Ten Commandments, command than on Sunday, the day who deliberately fail in this which all those who wish to be of Resurrection and new life. After obligation commit a grave Other Serious Reasons: Moreover, blessed by him must follow. all, at every Mass, Christ’s saving sin’ (CCC 2180, 2181). The 3 there can be times when attending The Third Commandment is sacrifice is made present – we key word here, obviously, Mass on Sunday is simply a physical ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to call to mind his Resurrection is ‘deliberately’. The Church impossibility. In some countries keep it holy’ (Ex 20:8). In the and glorious Ascension. Thus, does recognise that sometimes (including much of the Middle East) Old Testament the Jewish people when we share in the Sunday Catholics may be unable to attend Catholic churches are forbidden. Even understood the Sabbath to be the Mass, we also participate Mass through no fault of their own. travelling nearer to home, or in our own seventh day of the week, Saturday, sacramentally in the very events we country, we may experience rare cases where the day on which, according to the are commemorating. Exceptions we find ourselves very far from a Catholic Book of Genesis, God rested after having hat circumstances, then, might justify church, and in this situation we would be created the world. To sum up, our participation in Sunday Mass Wmissing a Sunday Mass? TheCatechism excused our Sunday obligation. But the is a non-negotiable part of being a Catholic. speaks of the faithful being ‘excused for a reason for our absence always needs to TheCatechism of the Catholic Church makes serious reason (for example, illness, the care of be serious. this clear: ‘The Sunday Eucharist is the Day of the Resurrection infants)’ (CCC 2181). foundation and confirmation of all Missing Sunday Mass because we fancy a or Christians, however, the holiest day of Christian practice’ (CCC 2181). Illness: This is perhaps the day at the beach or to go to a barbecue – Fthe week is Sunday, the first day, the day To treat Sunday like any other day, 1most obvious and certainly preferring to spend the time playing sports on which Jesus Christ rose from the dead. or to deliberately absent ourselves understandable reason for missing (or worse, encouraging our children to miss Since the very earliest days of the Church, from Mass, is simply never Sunday Mass. Someone in hospital, Mass on Sundays in order to play sports) Christians have come together every Sunday acceptable. or housebound, clearly has no – deciding to skip our obligation simply to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. In doing obligation to go to church (and if because we are on holiday, despite having a so, they know that Christ the Lord is present they would worsen their condition Catholic church within easy reach – all these among them, according to his own words: by trying to do so, they should not excuses are unworthy and would suggest we ‘For where two or three are gathered in make the attempt). Someone with a have not fully understood what it means to be my name, there am I in the midst of them’ contagious disease would similarly be Catholic, nor the great treasure which is (Matthew 18:20). better off at home or in hospital. the Eucharist.

What if I can't get to mass.indd 1 10/09/2010 10:31 For more information When unable to attend for What if a serious reason. How to become a Catholic, (LF1) he Catechism suggests that in cases Tsuch as this we ‘engage in prayer for an How to Pray, (LF11) I can’t get to appropriate amount of time personally or in a family’ (CCC 2183). Th e ‘appropriate amount How to Pray the Rosary, (LF31) of time’ will vary according to circumstances, Sunday Mass? but it should be signifi cant. It would certainly What Happens at Mass? (LF3) be fi tting, if possible, to read the Scriptures which would be used at the Mass we are What is Eucharistic Adoration? (LF15) missing, and perhaps the other prayers of the Mass as well. We could also pray the Glorious Who can recieve Communion? (LF7) Mysteries of the Rosary, or use any other Prayer for Spiritual Communion devotion which will call to mind My Jesus, I believe that you are truly Why is Sunday Special? (LF37) Christ’s Resurrection. present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive Why Should I go to Mass on Sunday? (LF5) you into my soul. Since at this moment I Spiritual Communion cannot receive you sacramentally, come at inally, it is also a good practice, much least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Fencouraged by the Church, to make a you as being already there and unite myself “Spiritual Communion” when we are unable wholly to you. Never permit me to be to receive Holy Communion sacramentally. separated from you. Amen. A Spiritual Communion is simply the heartfelt desire to be united with Christ, even though we are unable to receive him in the Blessed Sacrament. Th is desire for Christ Such an act of Spiritual Communion can also draws us closer to him, for as St Th omas be used at Mass by those unable to receive Aquinas teaches: ‘Th e eff ects of a sacrament Communion sacramentally – for example, can be received by desire’. We do not need non-Catholic visitors, or Catholics who are any particular words in making a Spiritual for whatever reason, unable to A wide range of inexpensive publications is available from CTS to help nurture your faith and keep Communion, but the saints have left us many receive Communion. you informed about a wide range of issues. If you would like to receive further information please contact us: CTS, 40-46 Harleyford Road, London SE11 5AY Or visit www.cts-online.org.uk Tel: examples which we can make our own. Here 020 7640 0042 Fax: 020 7640 0046 is a widely used version composed by Making a Spiritual Communion St Alphonsus Liguori: ISBN 978 1 86082 702 0 LF 57

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