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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Missing Mass After Child Birth... Joe Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Question:

Dear Brother - We were recently blessed with a baby boy (our second child) and both mother and child are doing fine. For some reason, our culture here in India seems to think it is alright if the mother does not attend mass for a while (usually 1-2 months or till the baby is baptised). I presume this practice evolved in the early days when child birth was difficult and mothers required a lot of time to heal and get their strenght back. And I can understand why this practice might have evolved during that time.

I wanted to ask if the Church had any guideliness regarding this. My own opinion is that the mother should be able to attend mass especially if she is able to move around the house (after child birth). I know missing mass intentionally is a sin and want to make sure that we are not doing so due to traditional practice that may not be in line with Church teaching.

Joe

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Joe,

I think that your opinion is a pretty good one and in line with church teaching.  Any catholic who is able to attend must should.  That being said though, I am not from India and I don't know anyone from India so I can't comment on the force of that tradition in modern times. Anyone who desires to skip Mass for a traditional reason should get a dispensation from at least their pastor and maybe from the local bishop.  Like I said I can't appreciate that particular tradition, but from what little you told me I don't see any possible good that could come from it.  Of course if the baby were sick then the mother would have a moral obligation to stay at home with him and care for him.  When they are both healthy they should both be at Mass or at least the parents at Mass and the baby in the nursery if there is one.  Personally I don't have a problem with babies crying at Mass as long as it's not too excessive.  That's just what they do, and as Catholics we are supposed to love life as much as possible so that means babies crying at Mass.

Right off the top of my head I can think of another ethnic tradition that may seem to go against church discipline right from my own home parish in Wisconsin.  My home parish is St. Patrick's, and every March 17 we have a traditional Irish dinner after Mass which of course includes meat.  This always falls during Lent and every once in awhile it also falls on Friday.  Every time this happens we ask for a dispensation from the bishop to have corned beef on Friday and it is always granted, so it is then okay to serve and eat meat just during that meal on Friday.  The good that comes from following this tradition is the celebration of the history of our local parish and Irish heritage that can only occur on that day, the liturgical day of the Feast of St. Patrick.  (commemoration as listed in the Roman Calendar)  I can't think of any good that could come from skipping Mass when a mother is otherwise able, despite it being a tradition.

Once again though I am not from India myself so if you need further help I would encourage you and your wife to speak with your pastor.

Thanks for writing,

Mr. Slavek
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