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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Grandmother claiming to be too old to go to Sunday Mass	Jonathan	Saturday, October 29, 2011
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius Mary, Thankfully, God has placed people and circumstances in my life in such a way that I have come to revere the Faith in a very orthodox and strict way. Some times I wonder if I'm being too militant. My grandmother for example is in her 70's and claims to be unable to attend Church on Sundays if no one takes her. However, she is one of those seniors who is in incredible shape for her age; for instance she does not slouch, walk slowly, speak slowly etc. It seems as if she would be perfectly able to take the bus at the very least once a week, especially since it is mandated by the Church. Furthermore her parish is extremely close to where we live. I am aware that I could take her myself, however I have been attending an Eastern Rite liturgy for some time now which conflicts with her intended Church Schedule. Am I right or wrong in thinking she is still obligated to go to mass even if she has no ride but the bus? What should I say to her?
Question Answered by Dear Jonathan: It is not up to you to decide what your grandmother can or cannot do. You are very young and cannot understand how difficult to go somewhere without help. There will come a time, when you are in your 70s that you will understand. Your first responsibility is to your grandmother, not to attend an Eastern Rite Mass. You may have to sacrifice the beauty and reverence in the Eastern Rite Mass for sake of your grandmother. It is far more important for your grandmother to go to Mass than it is for you to go to an Eastern Rite Mass, something that you are doing out of preference not Church requirement. If she has no ride to Mass, then she is excused from the obligation. She ought to say a Spiritual Communion prayer, maybe watch a Mass on TV, and ask the parish to send a priest to her house to bring her the Eucharist on a weekly basis. But, that sort of arrangement should be a last resort as it is not quite the same thing as attending the Mass itself. Especially with her parish nearby where you live, I cannot see, in my opinion, any justification for you to deny her the Mass in favor of going to a Eastern Rite parish that you not required to attend. You need to attend to her needs, not your own. Since you wish to be traditional, one of he biggest traditions is taking care of family first. St. Timothy reminds us: But if any man have not care of his own and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel (1Tim 5:8). Thus, I think you need to find transportation for your grandmother, or take her yourself. I would advise talking to the priest from her parish about this and see if there is anyone in the parish who could tranport her. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Grandmother claiming to be too old to go to Sunday Mass

Jonathan

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius Mary,

Thankfully, God has placed people and circumstances in my life in such a way that I have come to revere the Faith in a very orthodox and strict way. Some times I wonder if I'm being too militant.

My grandmother for example is in her 70's and claims to be unable to attend Church on Sundays if no one takes her. However, she is one of those seniors who is in incredible shape for her age; for instance she does not slouch, walk slowly, speak slowly etc. It seems as if she would be perfectly able to take the bus at the very least once a week, especially since it is mandated by the Church.

Furthermore her parish is extremely close to where we live. I am aware that I could take her myself, however I have been attending an Eastern Rite liturgy for some time now which conflicts with her intended Church Schedule.

Am I right or wrong in thinking she is still obligated to go to mass even if she has no ride but the bus? What should I say to her?

Question Answered by

Dear Jonathan:

It is not up to you to decide what your grandmother can or cannot do. You are very young and cannot understand how difficult to go somewhere without help. There will come a time, when you are in your 70s that you will understand.

Your first responsibility is to your grandmother, not to attend an Eastern Rite Mass. You may have to sacrifice the beauty and reverence in the Eastern Rite Mass for sake of your grandmother. It is far more important for your grandmother to go to Mass than it is for you to go to an Eastern Rite Mass, something that you are doing out of preference not Church requirement.

If she has no ride to Mass, then she is excused from the obligation. She ought to say a Spiritual Communion prayer, maybe watch a Mass on TV, and ask the parish to send a priest to her house to bring her the Eucharist on a weekly basis.

But, that sort of arrangement should be a last resort as it is not quite the same thing as attending the Mass itself. Especially with her parish nearby where you live, I cannot see, in my opinion, any justification for you to deny her the Mass in favor of going to a Eastern Rite parish that you not required to attend. You need to attend to her needs, not your own.

Since you wish to be traditional, one of he biggest traditions is taking care of family first. St. Timothy reminds us:

But if any man have not care of his own and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel (1Tim 5:8).

Thus, I think you need to find transportation for your grandmother, or take her yourself. I would advise talking to the priest from her parish about this and see if there is anyone in the parish who could tranport her.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.