Do I Have to Go to Mass While Ill? (2023)

FAQs

Are you excused from Mass if you are sick? ›

The obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and other holy days of obligation is the ordinary expectation for Roman Catholics (Canon 1247). However, extraordinary circumstances such as sickness or severe weather excuse the faithful from this obligation.

The right thing to do is to stay home for your safety and the safety of others. One should not feel guilty for not going to Mass. Catholics are encouraged to offer up their sickness or pastoral care for the sake of those who are seriously ill and for those who have died.

The Catholic Church reflects this obligation in its Code of Canon Law: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass” (1247). The Sunday liturgy is mandatory, like showing up for work—and, just as skipping work can have serious consequences, so can skipping church.

Answer: No. If you are sick, especially with an illness that is contagious, then you may stay home. Illness is a just reason to miss Mass on a Sunday or a holy day of obligation.

Our Sunday Mass obligation is based on the Third Commandment: “Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy” (Ex 20:8). All of the commandments of God are serious matter, so to deliberately miss Mass on Sunday — without a just reason — would objectively be considered a mortal sin.

Most moral theologians, I am certain, would say that you have incurred no sin. If no priest was available, you simply had no opportunity to participate in a Sunday Mass and so the obligation does not apply.

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.

Should I Attend Mass? The Obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and other Holy Days of Obligation is the ordinary expectation for Roman Catholics (Canon 1247). With extraordinary circumstances, such as sickness or severe weather, the faithful are excused from this obligation.

Any parishioner who is too frail or sick to attend Mass is still excused from the obligation, the bishops said in their statement, which also encouraged Catholics to use their “prudential judgment” in determining whether it is unsafe to attend Mass.

Are Catholics still exempt from attending Mass? ›

The Catholic Church teaches that worshippers have an obligation to attend Mass every Sunday as the celebration of the Eucharist, the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, is enshrined within the Ten Commandments.

Watching Mass on TV is not the same as attending Mass and does not fulfill someone's Sunday/holy day obligation. However, if someone is unable to attend Mass, then there is no obligation to attend Mass. Being with the community of faith and in the presence of the eucharistic Lord is not the same as watching it on TV.

There is no simple answer to whether applause is appropriate in the liturgy. It really depends on who the Catholics are and why they might be clapping! Applause is never called for per se in the rubrics that govern our rites.

A Mass of the Roman Rite is invalid when the celebrant of the Mass is not a validly ordained priest, when the priest does not have the proper intention, when wheat bread or grape wine is not used, or when the words “This is my Body” or “This is … my Blood” are not said.

These sins are vices and are defined as contrary to the Christian virtues of holiness. They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth (acedia).

Did you know that when you receive the Eucharist at Mass your venial sins are forgiven? A venial sin is when we break God's law in a less serious matter, or when we violate it in a grave matter but without full knowledge or consent of what we are doing.

For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants). Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”

There are, however, exceptions to this hard-and-fast rule, and your case qualifies. If you're sick or have a morally significant responsibility that keeps you from attending church on Sunday, you're excused from Mass on that day. You should then attend Mass and receive communion on another day.

What is a Dispensation from Mass? A dispensation from the diocesan Bishop releases Catholics from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Attendance at public Masses in the Archdiocese of Washington is severely restricted due to public health directives due to the pandemic.

You have no obligation to come to Mass when it is impossible, either physically or morally, or where charity would require absenting yourself, such as if you have a contagious illness. Examples of legitimate reasons to miss Mass given in the Catechism are illness or the care of infants (CCC 2181).

Why do people not attend Mass? ›

By contrast, the most common reason religiously unaffiliated non-attenders do not attend religious services is a lack of belief (46% say this is a very important reason they do not attend religious services), while one-quarter cite practicing their faith in other ways as a central reason for not going to services.

You're still encouraged to attend Mass in whatever way you can during this time. Depending on what works for your schedule, you can watch a live streaming video of Mass as it happens or watch a recording.

If you have even an inkling of a fever, snot running down your nose, a meaty cough or anything else that might not seem normal… JUST STAY HOME.

If you have a cold, you should follow these tips to help prevent spreading it to other people: Stay at home while you are sick and keep children out of school or daycare while they are sick. Avoid close contact with others, such as hugging, kissing, or shaking hands. Move away from people before coughing or sneezing.

A significant, nagging cough most likely will require us to reschedule most surgical procedures, especially if they're performed using a general anesthetic. General anesthesia can irritate the airway and make a cough worse. Certain procedures, such as a tummy tuck, are especially difficult for a patient with a cough.

In situations determined by the local bishop, Mass can be celebrated in another place, such as a home. As long as the Church's liturgical norms are followed, as well as any prescriptions of the bishop, such a celebration/offering of the Mass is fine.

God knows definitively whether a person who has missed Mass on a Sunday or holy day of obligation has done so with grave culpability. In addition, a person should typically be able to evaluate his actions in such a case. If he has any questions, a good priest can provide discerning counsel.

A lapsed Catholic is a Catholic who is non-practicing. Such a person may still identify as a Catholic, and remains one according to Catholic canon law.

A. 1. When it concerns one's obligation to attend Holy Mass on Sunday, there is no cut-off age. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Canon Law states that the Holy Mass is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice.

People have become more casual when dressing for mass. Jeans and t-shirts replace what had been the Sunday best – dresses, formal outfits, and suits complete with ties and nice shoes.

Can I not go to Mass if I haven't been to confession? ›

Do not be afraid to refrain from Communion if you are aware of serious sin and have not chosen to confess it yet. Refraining, in this case, is far better for your soul than going to Communion. With that said, Canon Law does allow for someone who has committed grave sin to receive Communion under certain conditions.

Masses with a single minister are permitted except in the following cases: when a concelebration is taking place in the same church or oratory, on Holy Thursday, and for the Mass of the Easter Vigil (see GIRM, 199, and Roman Missal, Thursday of Holy Week, 1).

The Catholic Church commanded us

The Catechism of the Catholic Church prescribes that we must attend mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation. This is one of the precepts of the Church and we must keep in mind that the Church speaks with the authority of Jesus Christ.

You can also request an individual Mass or Masses for your personal intention, which will be celebrated by various priests serving worldwide. We do not assign locations for individual Masses in advance. You may also request a Gregorian Mass to be celebrated for one soul.

Should I Attend Mass? The Obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and other Holy Days of Obligation is the ordinary expectation for Roman Catholics (Canon 1247). With extraordinary circumstances, such as sickness or severe weather, the faithful are excused from this obligation.

Answer: If your employer requires you to work during the time that you could fulfill your Sunday obligation, or if you are exhausted and unable to attend Mass as a result, then these are sufficient reasons, just as being sick or having to take care of children are.

2022 (Sunday) is a Sunday and obligatory for the faithful to participate. 2023 (Monday) is a holy day of obligation. The funeral Mass may not be celebrated. 2024 (Wednesday) is a holy day of obligation.

Watching Mass on TV is not the same as attending Mass and does not fulfill someone's Sunday/holy day obligation. However, if someone is unable to attend Mass, then there is no obligation to attend Mass. Being with the community of faith and in the presence of the eucharistic Lord is not the same as watching it on TV.