Posted on 02/05/2015 2:50:39 PM PST by NYer
Most Catholics know we are supposed to attend Sunday Mass every week and observe various holy days of obligation throughout the year. It’s an obligation, however, that many do not observe. As my parish priest joked years ago when the pews of our sleepy rural parish were unexpectedly full, “There must be nothing going on in Tweed [Onterio] today.”
I suspect part of the reason so many Catholics ignore the Sunday obligation is, counter intuitively, the very word “obligation.” Our culture is not one that deals well with concepts like duty and obedience. The words “I was just following orders” is synonymous with mindless compliance, while the character of the “dutiful wife” or “obedient child” tends to be the subject of ridicule or pity.
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As a result, we end up with a divide within the Church. On the one hand, there are those who attend Mass only when there is an important event, when it happens to be convenient or when they are especially in need of divine help. On the other, you have Catholics who dutifully obey the precepts of the Church — but who too often look down on those who don’t.
For a long time, I was a member of the latter camp. When I was first received into the Church, I was an enthusiastic, often daily recipient of the sacrament. I went to Mass because I loved the liturgy and found great consolation in receiving Christ in the Eucharist.
Over time, however, I become scrupulous about ever missing Mass even for the best of reasons, and my perfect attendance record increasingly became an opportunity for self-congratulation. Worse, it became an opportunity to judge others who attended only on occasion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church acknowledges that there are conditions that validly excuse a person from their Sunday obligation. Illness, isolation, lack of access to transportation, the obligation to care for ailing relatives, and the care of infants are among the reasons why a person might be unable to attend (cf. No. 2181).
If we think of Mass attendance as a kind of spiritual badge of honor, these excuses can seem to be just that: excuses. Loopholes for the lax. After all, any really dutiful and faithful Catholic would find a way to get to church unless they were taken hostage on a Saturday night or found themselves unconscious in the back of an ambulance Sunday morning.
Only when I found myself in a situation where attendance at Mass every Sunday become a practical impossibility did I realize how absurdly presumptuous my judgment had been. In a subtle way, I had come to see my reception of Christ’s gift as a personal accomplishment, almost as a favor I was doing God.
The Sunday obligation is not a chore the Church exacts from her faithful children but a manifestation of her maternal concern. We are called to Mass every Sunday in much the same way children are called to the dinner table every evening.
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| * The shift in attendance between 1995 and 2000 reflects a change in the method used to collect the data. |
When the Church tells us that we are obliged to attend, she is telling us how often we need to receive sacramental nourishment in order to remain spiritually healthy. Choosing to skip Mass for trivial reasons is a mortal sin because it is a kind of willful self-neglect. It’s like a businessman who chooses to deprive his body of adequate food because meals cut into the time he has to maximize his profits. Being unable to attend for good reasons is not sinful, but it is a privation, like a mother who skips meals because she only has enough to feed her children.
Christ’s body is true bread, and the sustenance which we receive in the Eucharist is even more important to our well-being than physical food. Indeed, physical hunger is ultimately a sign that helps to illustrate our spiritual needs.
After Christ feeds the multitudes in John 6, the people he has fed go looking for him the next day. When they finally track him down, Christ reveals their motives: “You are not looking for me because you have seen the signs, but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat” (Jn 6:26).
The experience of being satisfied with food after a long day clearly made a deep impression. No doubt some of these people were poor and rarely had enough to eat. Others were dreaming of a world in which the Jewish people would once more be fed directly by the hand of God, as they were in the wilderness under Moses (cf., Jn 6:31). For them, the multiplication of the loaves did not merely point toward the relief of physical hunger but also toward political liberation from the power of Rome. The manna of Exodus had freed the Jewish people to escape the flesh-pots of Egypt. Thus, bread represented both nourishment and freedom.
When Christ answers them, he tries to guide their thinking away from short-term physical and political hopes. “Do not work for food that perishes,” he tells them, “but for the food that endures for eternal life” (Jn 6:27). Later, he clarifies: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51).
Everyone knows it is necessary to eat in order to stay alive, and if we don’t have enough food, it causes health problems. It is the same with the Mass. This is where we come in order to receive the life-blood that nourishes our souls and prepares them to be born to eternal life.
When a person misses Mass for serious reasons, Catholic Tradition offers ways of observing the Sabbath until it is possible to return to the sacraments — emergency rations for the soul, if you will. Individuals and families are encouraged to participate in the Liturgy of the Word and to set aside time for Sunday prayer. An act of spiritual communion can also be made anywhere and at any time by turning one’s heart toward the tabernacle and inviting Jesus’ real presence in the sacrament to spiritually nourish and sustain the soul.
Parish communities should also help absent parishioners return to the Mass. One of the risks of seeing attendance as a personal accomplishment is that it can blind us to the fact that access to the Eucharist is achieved through community.
Consider, for example, the story of the Wedding at Cana — a Gospel passage redolent with Eucharistic symbolism. Here we find that there isn’t enough wine to go around. Some of the guests are going to be excluded from full participation in the joy of the wedding celebration.
Mary’s solicitude at Cana shows us that we can enable others to participate by being aware of their needs and offering assistance. The hosts of the wedding know they are running out of wine, but they don’t know who to ask for help. They have no idea Christ is on hand, able to work a miracle.
People within a parish community might want to attend Mass regularly, but they might be unsure how to ask for the support they need. An older person who has lost their driver’s license might feel uncomfortable asking for a ride. A single mother caring for a chronically ill child might be embarrassed to admit she can’t afford a babysitter Sunday mornings.
Parishioners can imitate Mary by taking a friendly interest and getting an idea of what obstacles are preventing folks from attending more regularly. People who are afraid of asking for help are often grateful for a simple, gracious offer of assistance.
If we see the sacrament as a gift, and ourselves as conduits through which others are enabled to receive it, we can both avoid the silliness of spiritual pride and also help to build vibrant Eucharistic communities where everyone is able to enjoy the bounteous generosity of God.
I was at the church office yesterday as a woman registered in the parish and the first thing she asked for were envelopes. We had none there but I offered to run to the church and get her some.
As the bookkeeper, I’d just as soon not have envelopes and I don’t use them myself, they just add a lot of useless work. The reason most people use them is for their taxes. So I just really don’t know why that would miff you off.
It isn’t like I’ve ever seen or heard a priest ask us to tell him how much so and so gives and except for the counters and those who record the information it is private.
I’m not being mean or arrogant but I feel sorry for those who don’t receive the nourishment of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Somehow, I doubt that was the first thing the priest said anyway.
It was God’s idea, but thanks for your concern.
All those who trust in Christ alone through faith alone receive the nourishment of Christ. Those who think they get it through some cracker are only kidding themselves. True believers have the Holy Spirit indwelling 24/7/365. We pray that Catholics would leave that false religion and put their trust in Christ alone.
Not the same at all. Eating dinner is not a boring chore done to appease the grumpy and vengeful parents who are demanding said behavior out of their children under the threat of disowning them if they fail to comply.
Kids WANT to eat when called to the dinner table because they're hungry. They're not being threatened with hellfire and damnation for not coming to eat.
Maybe if the church did something to stimulate their appetite, they'd want to come to church.
Gee, anyone can read the Bible, pray, worship, meditate on God’s word, and sing worship songs, and thank God for all the blessings they have every day, without moving a step so as to even get out of bed.
Nobody who has Jesus dwelling in their hearts through faith needs to go anywhere to worship God and do any introspection.
As Saint John Paul II said, “In this little host is the solution to all of the worlds problems.” United to Christ all things are possible!
To add to Salvation’s comments.
The Catholic Church depends on the parish members to support its activities and expenses. It is purely voluntary and even if the collection basket is passed during Mass, no one is required to make a contribution.(Except in Germany and other European countries that collect government taxes for this purpose.)
Any support of the Church is up to you.
By the way, all non profits ask for contributions and do fund raisers. It is generally the way they survive and are able to perform their mission.
Affirmative sir. As you know, some of us HAVE come out of the RCC, to the glorious truth. I always thought going to mass was a chore and I only did it to appease a vengeful God, so He wouldn't zap me. I would have rather watched football. Now we have DVRs😄😇😃😀😊
so did you honestly think that you should go to Mass without making any donation?
maybe it was better that you never went back - as you were obviously not properly disposed, since donations to support your Church is scriptural or maybe not so much in your protestant church?
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
The Body of Christ (the Church) needs all members to join together and help each other learn about Christ to gain Salvation.
We need to follow Jesus 2nd commandment “To love our neighbors as ourself.”
calling the Eucharist a “cracker” is offensive to Catholics everywhere.
what type of Christian are you that does not respect anothers faith?
Bad form in any forum.
For the Greater Glory of God
We do put our faith and trust in Jesus (Trinity) and His Church instead of the personal biased opinions of Cynical Bear and his unchristian comments.
Oh no, the dreaded "S" word. Sorry mom, no can do. I blew up my water wings, after I crossed the Tiber in reverse. There will be no more swimming in my life, except for the beach, which I hear calling me now 😄😇😃. The water is nice this time of year. We don't have to shovel snow to get there 🆒😊
What were some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples?
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,..."
The church isn't supposed to become an ingrown, self-serving social club.
Believers are to go into ALL the worlds spreading the good news of salvation and making disciples.
They learn about Jesus and salvation from the witness of those who know Him and go out telling people.
The priest says, "Well, I must tell you that once in awhile I go down in disguise and I go to the burlesque show. I just find it helps to relieve my celibacy."
The Episcopalian says, "Well, I just can't help myself. I'm a miser. I just hoard money."
The Methodist says, "Well, about once a month I just lock myself in my cellar and get as drunk as a skunk."
And they all turn to the Baptist, and he said, "Well, ya'll, I'm a gossip and I can't wait to get back from this trip."
Your comment: “So it looks like the only one doing any sheep stealing is the RC’s.”
The Catholic Church welcomes the prodigal son returning. Christ wants us to find the lost sheep and return them to Christ.
We may not want your evil thoughts, but welcome your sincere interest in being part of the Body of Christ.
When all else fails, accuse someone of being *unchristian* in an attempt to manipulate the desired behavior out of them.
Do those of y'all who accuse others of being *unchristian* really expect us to cave because someone who is offended calls us *unchristian*? Sit in a corner and meltdown? Change for another mere mortals opinion of them?
Did it ever occur to you that some people don't care what you think about them.
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