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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Missing Mass	Mary	Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Question: Hello-My husband has been mentally ill for the last 7 years due to delayed PTSD from military service in Viet Nam. He has been on a mental and physical downhill course and now he is very unsteady on his feet, falls down a lot, and needs direction and assistance for all activities, including hygiene, eating and drinking, getting into bed, etc. Getting ready and going out takes an act of congress, and at least 2 hours. I work nights (nurse) to support the family, and often after I have worked several shifts I have a great deal of difficulty mustering the energy to get him ready, get to Mass and then stay awake long enough to drive home, often on snowy and icy roads. I have decreased my work as much as possible, because my husband relies on me for everything. He has fallen at Church before. Is missing Mass under these conditions a sin? Thanks in advance-Mary
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Mary: I am sorry to hear about your husband. I understand the situation well. I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran. I, too, am starting to be rather unstable on my feet. I use motorized carts are the grocery store. I will pray for him and you. Given the circumstances you list, there is no sin. You are not refusing to go to Mass, but are having difficulties due to circumstances. What I suggest you do is the same that I have done and that is to talk to your parish priest, explain your circumstances, and ask him to bring the Eucharist to you and your husband at home each week, if possible, since this is not just a one-time issue, but an ongoing problem. He might send an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, which is fine, but whenever you or your husband needs Confession you can ask him to come over himself if you are not able to get to the Church. When your priest comes over may not be on a Sunday, but that does not matter. Whatever schedule is possible for you and the priest is fine. In this way you and your husband can receive our Lord weekly or whatever the schedule will be even though you cannot make it to Mass. In this event, you can still partake of a kind of liturgical experience by watching Mass on T.V., and receiving the Eucharist whenever it can be arranged with your priest. 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

Missing Mass

Mary

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Question:

Hello-My husband has been mentally ill for the last 7 years due to delayed PTSD from military service in Viet Nam. He has been on a mental and physical downhill course and now he is very unsteady on his feet, falls down a lot, and needs direction and assistance for all activities, including hygiene, eating and drinking, getting into bed, etc. Getting ready and going out takes an act of congress, and at least 2 hours. I work nights (nurse) to support the family, and often after I have worked several shifts I have a great deal of difficulty mustering the energy to get him ready, get to Mass and then stay awake long enough to drive home, often on snowy and icy roads. I have decreased my work as much as possible, because my husband relies on me for everything. He has fallen at Church before.

Is missing Mass under these conditions a sin?

Thanks in advance-Mary

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Mary:

I am sorry to hear about your husband. I understand the situation well. I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran. I, too, am starting to be rather unstable on my feet. I use motorized carts are the grocery store. I will pray for him and you.

Given the circumstances you list, there is no sin. You are not refusing to go to Mass, but are having difficulties due to circumstances.

What I suggest you do is the same that I have done and that is to talk to your parish priest, explain your circumstances, and ask him to bring the Eucharist to you and your husband at home each week, if possible, since this is not just a one-time issue, but an ongoing problem. He might send an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, which is fine, but whenever you or your husband needs Confession you can ask him to come over himself if you are not able to get to the Church.

When your priest comes over may not be on a Sunday, but that does not matter. Whatever schedule is possible for you and the priest is fine. In this way you and your husband can receive our Lord weekly or whatever the schedule will be even though you cannot make it to Mass.

In this event, you can still partake of a kind of liturgical experience by watching Mass on T.V., and receiving the Eucharist whenever it can be arranged with your priest.

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