Obligation or privilege?

Question: is it a mortal sin to miss Mass on a Sunday?

Answer: This, I suggest, is the wrong starting point.  The first question should be: How could a Christian possibly miss the celebration of the Lord’s death and resurrection on the Lord’s own day?  And, how could anyone, knowingly and intentionally, miss such a wonderful opportunity to unite one’s sufferings and joys with those of Christ and to do so in communion with other believers in a parish or specific geographical community?  Legally speaking, attendance at Mass is a strict requirement for Roman Catholics on Sundays and Holy Days (the latter as appointed by the local Church authorities).  It is written into Canon Law and is seen as part of the fulfilment of the Third Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. There is no disputing that.

I recall being taught that there was a gradation of seriousness in missing parts of Mass, and that arriving after a certain point in the liturgy could mean that one had not fulfilled the Sunday obligation. My recollection was that the Gospel marked an important dividing line, though the actual moral theology was probably more nuanced than a simple venial-versus-mortal distinction. There were, also, the question of knowledge and consent. So, for example, a farm worker might have been delayed due to the lambing season or a family member suddenly got sick and had to be attended.

Just by way of reality check and based on my own personal calculations, a parish in Ireland today would count its good fortunes to get a turnout of more than 20% among nominally Catholic parishioners or 5% among those between the ages of 12 and 40. And, frankly, I would not vouch for the *orthopraxis* (as distinct from orthodoxy) of many of those who do attend.

As Catholics we need to grow up more and take responsibility for the wonderful faith in, and gift of, this sacrament. And, if the homily is less than inspiring and if the presence of others whose lives might appear to be less than exemplary we have yet another occasion to make our daily offering of suffering [thankfully the homilies are inspiring in my parish!].  After all the Church could be seen as a Refugium Peccatorum – a refuge of sinners (applied often to Our Lady who was of course without sin) - and there is always room for one more – me!

*orthopraxis* - denotes right practice (living according to those beliefs)