SUNDAY MASS OBLIGATION

Sunday Mass Obligation

Another question hot off the presses

Why do Catholic's have to go to mass on Sunday?

Good question. Many of you may or may not know that the Catholic Church teaches we have an obligation to attend mass on Sunday or a vigil mass on Saturday evening. In fact, the Church teaches that to purposefully miss mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of obligation is a mortal sin. A mortal sin is a sin that seperates us from the grace of God. If we die in a state of mortal sin, we go to Hell.
Instead of quoting a bunch of paragraphs from the Catechism to answer this question, I would like you to think about a couple things and maybe you can answer it for yourself.

1. Why do we go to Church? Is it for us or for God? If you are a Catholic you know that when we celebrate mass it is not just a celebration for those physically present. It is a celebration with all the saints and angels in Heaven (the Church Triumphant) a sacrifice for those in purgatory (the church suffering) and a way of worshipping God for those on Earth (the Church Militant). Church is all about God, it is not all about us. We give worship to Christ and He responds by giving us His flesh and blood in the Eucharist. When we receive the Eucharist we receive graces from God. Church is not all about us.

2. There are 8,760 hours in a year. The Catholic Church asks that we give 57 of those back to God. If you can't do this then your problem is not with the Catholic Church, it is with the way you manage your time. Buy a planner and prioritize.

3. Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Remember He did this after enduring a horrible and painful death for whom? Oh yeah, me and you. The least we could do is save an hour from that day each week for Him.

4. Luke 17:11-19 "As He continued His journey to Jerusalem, He traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As He was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice saying, 'Jesus, Master! Have pity on us.' And when He saw them He said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, 'Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?"

So, my question for you is, "Are you one of the other nine who has no time to give thanks to God for all He has given you (life, freedom from sin, forgiveness, health, eternal life, etc). Or are you like the one foriegner who realized what he had received, gave thanks and praise to God and returned to fall at the feet of Jesus.

Go to mass.