4Real Forums: Sunday Mass Obligation

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Topic: Sunday Mass Obligation

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JennGM
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Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 7:39am \| IP Logged

My mother-in-law, who is 80, has been quite under the weather the last few months. She has been told that at her age she isn't obligated to attend Sunday Mass especially if it's a hardship.

I believe that is true, but I was hoping to find the Church document stating that, and at what age.

Can anyone help me, please?

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Jennifer G. Miller
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Michaela
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Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 11:08am \| IP Logged

Jenn, I couldn't find anything about age, but while reading Sunday Mass and Holy Day Obligation (EWTN) the bolded sentence stood out as helpful advice:

Reasons such as the necessity to work to support one's family, child care, personal sickness or the care of the sick, necessary travel etc. would excuse a person on a particular occasions. Those who have continuing reason to be excused should consult their pastor.

Sorry, I know it's not *the* answer to your question.

Offering a prayer for your MIL.

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Michaela
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Jen L.
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Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 11:44am \| IP Logged

My friend's mother was told this also and every other priest that we asked said that it wasn't true. If she is not well enough to go to Mass then it is, of course, not a sin regardless of her age.

from Catholic Answers:http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0607qq.asp

Q: My elderly mother was told that when you reach your golden years you are excused from attending Sunday Mass. Does the Catholic Church excuse people from their Sunday Mass obligation based solely on their age?

A: No. The Sunday obligation can be dispensed for just cause, which may include physical illness or an inability to go to Mass, but there is no age limit on the Sunday obligation.

Perhaps there has been a confusion of the Sunday obligation with the fasting obligations during Lent, for which there is an age limit after which the person is automatically dispensed.
—Michelle Arnold

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Jen
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JennGM
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Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 1:50pm \| IP Logged

Thank you, Jen and Michaela. That was the same I pulled up -- and I do think it's the confusion with the fasting ages.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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SimplyMom
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Posted: Dec 18 2008 at 12:07pm \| IP Logged

Our priest volunteered us a dispensation when we were going through the worst with our autistic daughter. For a very breif time when Rach was about 5 we would have to occasionally take her out of mass and in our very, very small parish that would either mean standing outside in the weather with her or going home. He also said that if she was having a really bad day one of us could stay home and it would be the same as if we where attending to a very ill child.

I thought it was very compassionate of him, very Christlike. It gave us the courage to keep trying mass with Rachel and proabably did a lot more to build our faith durring that time than a very stict judgement would have.

Sorry that is a bit rambly and off topic.

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Darcee

SimplyMom from Simply Catholic

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