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amyable
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 8:35am | IP Logged
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I searched but could not find an answer - I took the kids by myself to Mass this morning for the holy day of obligation. The church was packed with school children, we had to stand in the back. I think this threw off my kids as they were more rambunctious than usual. We made it all the way through half of the consecration when the 1yo started tantrumming just too much/too loud and I felt we had to leave (this was just the culmination of 1/2 hour of bad behavior on the part of the 1 and 3yo). I stayed in the cold vestibule until I thought the consecration was fully over, but it's 20 degrees out and we're all feeling run down/tired. Then we got in the car and went home.
Did I actually attend enough of the mass for it to count? Due to nap times, sickness of dh I don't think I can get to the other two masses. Does it make a difference that I myself am quite rundown and getting out again would be a hardship?
Thanks for reading this long, whiny tale! LOL I just thought I needed to explain exactly WHY we didn't make it through the whole thing.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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Amy, I don't have an 'official' answer, but I wanted to tell you that I have been where you were/are. Last year, from Thanksgiving Day until after Christmas octave our family was constantly sick. We never made it to mass together as a family, and I missed mass every Holy Day - including any Christmas mass.
I hope your day looks up.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Bridget
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 10:46am | IP Logged
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Poor Amy. I don't have an official answer either, but I think your INTENT to fulfill your holy day obligation is what you would look at here. You didn't leave early because you wanted to get to a Wal Mart sale or watch your favorite show, you left because of child care and family health problems. Those are non-sinful reasons for missing Mass.
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Matilda
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 11:58am | IP Logged
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I once had a good and holy priest tell me that we place more obligation to attend Mass on ourselves than the Church does. The Church is very caring, reasonable and charitable in her expectations of us and your intention sufficed. You were caring for small children and that is one of the "excuses" for missing Mass.
My SIL wrote about her struggles with this issue recently. Here is an excerpt:
One mother may stay home with a colicky teething nursing infant; another may go to Mass, expecting to stand in the back for much of it, but needing to be present as best she can be. One person battling a winter cold may stay home either for his own sake or for the sake of those fragile parishioners whom he may endanger with his virus; another may feel well enough to go to Mass, but will prudently bow towards those near him instead of shaking their hands at the Sign of Peace. One person with a four-wheel drive vehicle may venture out on uncleared roads in a snowstorm; another may pray at home, aware that the family's old car in need of new tires isn't safe under these circumstances. And so long as none of them takes the obligation to attend Mass lightly, or is, as the Catechism says, "deliberately fail(ing)" in the obligation to attend Mass, they needn't worry about the specifics of their prudential decision.
Hope this helps!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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KC in TX
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 12:06pm | IP Logged
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I was going to send Amy to that blog post as well. I didn't know she was your SIL though.
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
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Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 12:36pm | IP Logged
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I didn't either, Charlotte! I read her blog all the time! (She does occasionally post here...)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Matilda
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| Posted: Dec 08 2008 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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Yep! I am proud to call her sister and friend!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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Bookswithtea
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I have asked more than one priest about times like this (boy, do I know how it is!  ) and mercy is always what I have received. Your heart and intentions were good. And the catechism clearly states that care of small children is a valid reason for missing mass.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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amyable
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Thank you everyone!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Leaving Mass early - does it count?
