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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Mass attendance	Claire	Friday, November 2, 2012
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, I am wondering whether you can tell me whether I made the wrong decision yesterday. I spent most of the day (All Saints Day, holy day of obligation) in the emergency room with my son, who was admitted to the hospital because he had a psychotic break and was hearing voices. I had my two younger daughters (ages 7 and 5) with me in the ER until my husband was able to come pick them up. My husband took them out for the day so that we could shelter them somewhat from what was going on. I was able to leave the hospital and go to a late afternoon Mass. I told my husband not to try to bring the girls back to go with me because the older girl is autistic and can be hard to handle in church (and I didn't know if I could manage her appropriately, given how upset I already was) and because I was going straight back to the hospital after Mass for visiting hours. Once I got to church, I started to second-guess my decision to leave the girls with my husband. Did I commit a mortal sin by not taking them to Mass? Sincerely, Claire
Question Answered by Dear Claire: I am very sorry to hear about your son. We will pray for him and for your whole family. I think your decision is a good one under the circumstances. This was an emergency situation, not a situation of neglect or rebellion. You committed no sin. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Mass attendance

Claire

Friday, November 2, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius,

I am wondering whether you can tell me whether I made the wrong decision yesterday.

I spent most of the day (All Saints Day, holy day of obligation) in the emergency room with my son, who was admitted to the hospital because he had a psychotic break and was hearing voices. I had my two younger daughters (ages 7 and 5) with me in the ER until my husband was able to come pick them up. My husband took them out for the day so that we could shelter them somewhat from what was going on.

I was able to leave the hospital and go to a late afternoon Mass. I told my husband not to try to bring the girls back to go with me because the older girl is autistic and can be hard to handle in church (and I didn't know if I could manage her appropriately, given how upset I already was) and because I was going straight back to the hospital after Mass for visiting hours.

Once I got to church, I started to second-guess my decision to leave the girls with my husband. Did I commit a mortal sin by not taking them to Mass?

Sincerely,

Claire

Question Answered by

Dear Claire:

I am very sorry to hear about your son. We will pray for him and for your whole family.

I think your decision is a good one under the circumstances. This was an emergency situation, not a situation of neglect or rebellion. You committed no sin.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum