Missing Mass?

Question

What Biblical basis does the Catholic Church have in its belief and teaching that, “Missing Mass on Holydays without a grave reason is a mortal sin”, and thus results in that person being “condemned forever to Hell, a state of perpetual alienation from God”? Where can this be found in Scripture?

Mind you, I quoted responses from Priests responding to questions on the EWTN (Catholic TV Network) Q&A message board. This is not speculation. I've actually read this in a response from a Catholic Priest.

Thank you, and Be Blessed
-- Bryan

Answer 1

You can not find that strong condemnation in the Bible. However, some religious organizations believe they have the right to impose....

Answer 2

Bryan,

I am a Catholic but frankly this teaching is ridiculous. First of all, I don't think people "miss Mass" without a good reason. They may be sick, have work obligations, or maybe they are struggling with their faith in some way. This teaching reflects a very old style of thinking that is completely out of touch with the reforms the Church made at Vatican II in the 1960's.

I once noticed one of the new Catholics in my parish had gone to get a blessing instead of receiving communion. I asked him why. He told me he had missed Mass. I asked him if he intended too. No. He told me. Well I told him that it wasn't a sin and he shouldn't worry about it.

Many teachings of the Church are not based upon the Bible. Some are based upon Sacred Tradition and others have evolved over time. Catholics believe that the Church has authority to teach given to it by Christ. Does that mean they are always right? No it doesn't.

For example, the Church once thought cremation was sacrilege and that castrating young boys was a good way to ensure they had beautiful tenors for the Papal Choir.

I'm sorry you were given such a negative view of the Church. Unfortunately, EWTN is a VERY conservative organization and frankly more liberal Catholics like myself have some difficulty with some of the things they broadcast.

VB8

Answer 3

Ten commandments: we're supposed to remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.

In the Catholic Church, willfully breaking any of the Ten Commandments and knowing it to be wrong while doing so is a mortal sin. This does not mean a person can never be forgiven -- we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation for that, and any Catholic who commits a mortal sin must best hurry off to Church before tragedy befalls them and they die with the sin un-repented and un-absolved.

A person who misses Mass due to illness, un-avoidable work, a car accident on the way to Mass, or stopping to rescue a family from a burning house, etc., etc., etc. has NOT committed a mortal sin, as the poorly-educated Catholic above seems to suggest. If one must miss Mass for any of these reasons, one receives dispensation and returns to Mass as soon as possible.

Answer 4

There is nowhere in scripture that condemns anyone for missing mass or any other services I am a Christian part of the East Midlands Christian Fellowship based in Derbyshire and our senior elders do not condemn us at all for doing this to do so is wrong. The Catholic priest who told you this ought to be ashamed of himself
I will be praying for you Bryan.
God Bless.

Answer 5

It breaks the commandment to keep holy the sabbath day, which for Christians is now Sunday. Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. He also said if you break the least of these commandments you are as guilty as if you broke them all. We are here on earth to serve our God, going to mass is one way, and also the least we give to him out of 7 days can we not give God 1 hour in the week? If we lay in bed coz we are too tired, we are serving our flesh, thats not our purpose here. I am really tired sunday mornings but for the last 35 yrs I've gotten up and went to mass at least on Sundays. It is mortal sin, (bible calls it sin unto death) for which you cannot pray that sin away, it must be confessed and you must resolve not to commit it again. that is to repent. If there is no repentance for sin, if you die in that state, you go to hell. Now you know the truth, you have a choice, you can accept it, or reject him, (truth).

Answer 6

pass to reconciliation and talk with the priest approximately this. as far as i be responsive to, no longer understanding the gravity of the sin makes the sin lessened. I used to miss mass generally as a results of fact of my ailment. I felt destructive approximately it till I talked with my pastor approximately this in reconciliation. pass talk with the priest in reconciliation. Confession isn't painful and we do would desire to admit venial sins to boot as grave ones. My adventure has been that monks are very be responsive to-how approximately those and different graver issues.

Answer 7

CJ,
The Catholic Church does not teach that Christ is crucified again but emphasizes the Jesus died only once and condemns teaching that jesus is 'recrucified'. Please check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Answer 8

Dogmatic Law, Popes law is Gods law. It doesn't need to be in the Bible to be considered practice.

Answer 9

Let me respond



Thank you, and Be Blessed

Answer 10

Its not in my Bible, nor in my Catholic bible.

Guess its that "make your own rules outside the bible part"

There are a lot of those, mostly found in Missles, which more catholics read than their very own bibles, if they have one.