Posted on 01/07/2017 10:00:31 AM PST by Salvation
Msgr. Charles Pope 1/4/2017
Question: I am 87 years old, live in a retirement community and can no longer drive. I attend the Mass that is offered here once a month and receive holy Communion when it is distributed each week by extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. I watch Mass on TV. But someone told me that I am not meeting my obligation to go to Mass by watching it on TV. They say it doesn’t count. Is this true?— Louise Rutherford, Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Answer: Given your age and mobility issues, the general norms and rules do not apply. However, let’s review the general norms and then look to your situation.
To say that a Mass “counts” implies that one meets an obligation by attending it. As a general rule, Catholics are obliged to attend Mass each Sunday. This is in fulfillment of the Second Commandment. Simply watching Mass on TV does not fulfill the obligation. A Catholic who can reasonably do so must attend Mass at a parish church or oratory.
However, these general norms do not always apply. For example, severe weather may lessen or cancel the obligation to attend Mass at church. Likewise, poor health or the care of the sick, or some other acute and serious obligation can excuse one from the requirement to attend Mass.
In your case, given the difficulties that age has brought, it is hard to argue that you have any obligation to attend Mass. Rather, the Church has obligations to you to ensure you receive the sacraments regularly.
As for watching Mass on TV, you are encouraged to do so. You hear the prayers and the readings and likely a short sermon. All this is good even if it is not the same as actually attending a Mass. It doesn’t have to “count” since you don’t have an obligation to meet in the first place.
So be encouraged. Thank you for staying united in prayer with the Church through the TV Mass and receiving Holy Communion when it is offered in your community.
Thank you for staying united in prayer with the Church through the TV Mass and receiving Holy Communion when it is offered in your community.
Applicable for many elders.
Holy Communion Ping from Monsignor Pope’s OSV column.
Oops — Applicable for many elderly people.
I now, let’s ask God.
This is all that can be expected of elderly people living in retirement communities. It’s what my mom did in the last year of her life. I remember all the ladies crowded around the tv set on Sunday!
One could always contact their local parish and see if any of the members would give them a ride.
I don’t even know what your statement means.
unless it is going to cause someone so much pain to get out and come back. Let’s not judge here. Which some are doing. Its sad. be concerned with your own souls.
Makes me wonder what The Blessed Archbishop Martin Sheen would say about the matter.
And I would expect/hope for anyone with an extended illness or incapacitation that kept them home bound & bedridden.
Absolutely Beautiful...for those that have not see this, it is amazing...
“give a ride”: I’ve done that before for members of our congregation and others do likewise.
I’m not surprised.
I think he would have said exactly what Msgr. Charles Pope said.
It seems to me that anyone who truly believes in the Real Presence would long for His nourishment, namely, receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist).
Therefore if they opt to watch Mass on television I have to assume those people have a legitimate reason and have satisfied their Catholic obligations.
I can only speak for myself, but those times I did not receive Communion (sick; other extenuating circumstances) there still is an emptiness inside that is hard to describe. But it is there.
In the 21st Century, one would think that each parish would have a computerized list of all people not able to get to church because of transport problems. In 1980`s we took up a collection, bought a small bus and was able to pick up every parishioner we knew who had no other transport to Mass.
My mother, 93, got regular envelopes and letters asking for collections, bishop`s appeal, school funds, etc., donations to the church, but never once did anyone inquire how she was, if she needed a ride or the sacraments, not even the pastor who appears not to even know how many seniors there are in his parish nor their situations. It`s a sad case of sloth and hypocrisy for many parishes whose lack of priestly leadership is disgraceful because the shepherd doesn`t even know his sheep...
Sentence diagramming or grammar were not your strongest subjects, were they?
Same here.
And with more parishes linking/clustering, or even closing, it is only going to get worse.
+1
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