Dear Jonathan:

I understand your plight, I, too, am disabled in such a way that my sleep patterns can become debilitating in addition to the physical debilitations I have. As a result, I, too, have difficulties attending Sunday Mass.

Watching the Mass on EWTN or elsewhere, and offering a Spiritual Communion, does give you a grace, but not the same salvific grace provided by personal attendance at the Mass and reception of the Eucharist. Thus, a spiritual communion upon a televised Mass does not fulfill the Sunday Obligation. I will explain what you can do after taking the opportunity to remind all our readers about the teaching of the Church concerning Sunday Obligation and the Lord's Day.

We must remember the teaching of the Church concerning Sunday Obligation. Canon Law 1247-1248 gives us that teaching:

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holydays of obligation, the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body.

Can. 1248 ß1 The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass is celebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.

ß2 If it is impossible to assist at a eucharistic celebration, either because no sacred minister is available or for some other grave reason, the faithful are strongly recommended to take part in a liturgy of the Word, if there be such in the parish church or some other sacred place, which is celebrated in accordance with the provisions laid down by the diocesan Bishop; or to spend an appropriate time in prayer, whether personally or as a family or, as occasion presents, in a group of families.

Our obligation is to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, or to attend the vigil of that Mass on the previous evening.

Attending the Vigil Mass on Saturday is permissible for everyone, but its original intent was to provide for those to which Sunday attendance is impossible (i.e., work). Problems due to disability that makes it very difficult to arise in the morning to attend Sunday morning Mass is also a legitimate reason to attend Saturday evening Vigil Mass.

Unfortunately, many Catholics attend the Saturday evening Vigil not because they cannot attend on Sunday morning, but because they wish to keep Sunday to themselves. If this is the reason to attend Mass on Saturday evening, then such persons are violating Church teaching. The official name of Sunday is The Lord's Day, not mental health day, mow the lawn day, fix the roof day, or go to the beach instead of Mass day, or prepare a meal for a family reunion day, leave for vacation day, etc. It is the Lord's Day. Respect it and consider it holy.

Canon Law says, "They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body." That means more than just attending Mass on Sunday morning. The WHOLE day is to be given to God for worship and the joy of God, and relaxation. Pope John Paul II wrote about this in his Apostolic Letter, ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY (DIES DOMINI).

Thus, those who regularly attend the Vigil Mass Saturday evening for no good reason other than personal preference, check your motives.

If one wishes to attend the Vigil Mass then their "Sunday" is from the time of the Saturday Mass until the same time the next day (Sunday). Do you do that? those who attend the Vigil out of mere preference?

The whole reason the Saturday Vigil Mass is possible is based on the ancient Jewish custom that the day began at sunset the previous day. Thus, for the Jews Sunday began at sunset on Saturday. This is the reason that the Mass on Saturday must be said after 4pm to quality for Sunday Obligation.

Unfortunately, most Catholics in the United States and Europe are flippant about the Lord's Day. They may attend Mass, but then they think the rest of the day belongs to them to do as they please. WRONG.

Anyway, back to your question. One's obligation to attend Sunday Mass obligation is suspended due to illness, infirmity, disability, or required work.

In your case, if you are not able to attend the Vigil Mass on Saturday or on Sunday morning because of your disability, you are excused. As stated in Canon Law, when this happens we should be in prayer for the equivalent time. Watching the Mass on T.V. and making a spiritual communion fulfills that canonical permission.

You need the Eucharist, however. Anyone who is a "shut-in" or otherwise not able to regularly attend Mass for whatever reasons should make arrangements with their pastor to either:

1) receive a dispensation to attend a daily Mass as a substitute Sunday obligation (this is good for those who work every Saturday and Sunday), or

2) to arrange for the priest to bring the Sacraments to one's house, hopefully each week, but no less than once-per-month.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary