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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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This year we came very close to having to stay home from mass on Christmas.
We had a nasty respiratory bug sweep through the house, and on Christmas Eve we had a brief window where the sick ones were recovered enough to go, and the healthy ones weren't sick yet. We attended a 6:30 pm mass, which was very uncrowded. No one sat in our pew or the one behind us, and we didn't shake hands or receive the Precious Blood.
Still, if it had not been Christmas, I might have stayed home. And that got me thinking... have you ever missed mass on a major feast day, and, if so, how did you handle it? Did you do anything special at home- or, being sick, just try to get well?
The thought of missing mass, especially on Christmas or Easter, makes me feel  . But, if you are sick, you just can't go.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 11:05am | IP Logged
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We weren't sure we would make it to Mass on Christmas due to weather, which happens to us frequently during the winter season here. Between weather and sickness it can get depressing how much we end up having to stay home from Mass during the winter months. We have found Masses online that we always "participate" in as a family, or individually if only one of us is home. It's not the same of course, but it's better than nothing, and comforting to at least have that option when stuck at home. We even have Spiritual Communion prayers ready, etc. for such occasions.
For those interested, there's a FSSP church which offers daily, Sunday, and Holy Day Tridentine Masses LIVE, which we are so happy to have available when we can't make it out to Mass. Christ the King Church, Sarasota, FL Just click on Live Mass up at the top left. For the Mass actually LIVE at that time(if it's time for a Mass right then) you then have to click on the LIVE tab down on the bottom right on this page.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 11:21am | IP Logged
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That is a tremendous resource, Pilgrim, thanks for sharing it!
I guess I really need to sit down and get my ducks in a row on this topic. We've been lucky not to have missed mass often the past few years, but maybe I will start a small notebook of prayers and resources to have handy.
I was in such a panic- I kept thinking that if we had to miss mass, it would seem like Christmas would be just one big present-fest.  .
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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I think it just depends on how you are doing.. I mean, if you're laying down sick and dozing on and off, watching Mass on the tv or such will only put you to sleep.. because that's what your body needs to be doing.
When I was on bedrest in the hospital, I found it awkward to watch Mass on tv. I have a hard enough time focusing attention when I'm there in person.. but I could easily read the readings, and I would play my Catholic music, and I was recieving communion almost every day.
I don't think we've missed Mass on a major holy day (amazing).. but I think it would be easy enough to read the Christmas Story from the Bible, say a prayer and Happy Birthday to Jesus as the start of the day. Same for Easter. Or if not the reading from the Bible, a picture book for those with younger kids. Keeeping it somewhat short so that those who are needing sleep might be able to stay awake for it especially if you plan when to do it around times that tend to be good.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
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I missed Mass at Christmas 3 years ago when I came down with shingles after the birth of my 4th. I was somewhat disappointed at the time but honestly my body was wracked with fever, I had sores on my face (just like chicken pox and even with the scars to this day  ). I could.not.bear.the.excruciating.pain even with rx pain meds. I did nothing for days but lay in bed...it's not like the flu where at least I can lay on couch and watch tv or maybe read a little. This was lay in bed, head under pillow and pray. The pain meds allowed me to sleep about 1 hr every 4-6 hrs round the clock so I was also literally, deliriously sleep deprived to the point of tears. And yes, still nursing the infant and praying she didn't get chicken pox.
So, yes I suppose someone can be sick enough to miss Mass...even a major feast day.   And when I'm old enough for that shingles shot, I am sooo getting it!  And if I've scared enough of you, sorry but it was THAT bad! Didn't help that I didn't get a dx until a week later b/c I was mis-diagnosed the 1st time so that's prob. why mine was so bad and severe and long-lasting.
Ok...that was a long-winded answer, huh?
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Martha
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This has just been an awful sick previous year and I'm really ready to be done with that in 2014.
So when someone says we weren't "that" sick to miss _____, I sorta want to scream in a pillow. If you're sick, stay home. Please. Pretty please with a cherry and sprinkles and an Our Lady of Perpetual Help pleas for deliverance from sick kids on top. I promise I won't think badly of you for it.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 02 2014 at 8:27pm | IP Logged
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I haven't been to Mass since December 8 because of my heart surgery. I'm like Jodie, watching Mass on TV makes me fall asleep.
I play the readings on podcast from USCCB and read the Collect. I read the prayers in the Magnificat, and as I'm getting better I'm trying to get back to my spiritual routine, but it's hard. At times I just offer up the pain as my prayer.
I have received Communion almost every day. It's nice to have a BIL to bring me Communion since I have been home, and it was wonderful at the hospital.
We have prayers and blessings we do on Christmas, so the day is broken up with some spiritual activity.
If we are sick we stay home, but often if it's the kids (like a kid virus), we take turns so the parents go to Mass.
But I also wanted to second Martha's comment. If I know we are sick, and one family member is already down with something serious, I try to keep them all home. I don't think it's fair to share the germs.
I'm taking longer going out in public (and private) because I cannot handle getting sick right now. Coughing or throwing up would be awful!!!! And I sure appreciate when people warn me or stay away so I can stay healthy.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Jan 03 2014 at 10:31am | IP Logged
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At Christmas Eve Mass last week, during the "peace be with you" time & handshake, my DH had turned around to a man behind him and the man said "no, sorry, I'm really sick (cough, cough). Then after that, during communion, my DH said he could hear him coughing and hacking while on the kneeler behind him. I was too far down on the other end of the pew with the kids between us so I didn't see or hear him. When we got home he told all the kids "WASH YOUR HANDS". Which really they do anyway but this was more a loud, direct order this time.
Oh, and glad to know I'm not a "bad" Catholic b/c TV Mass is a snoozer for me too.
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mariB
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| Posted: Jan 04 2014 at 5:53am | IP Logged
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If anyone in our family is sick..epecially with a cough, I make them stay home from mass. We listen to mass readings online and pray the rosary. I just don't like it when people are coughing all over my family at church. It's a pet peeve of mine.
It is sad to stay home on a feast day..especially Christmas or Easter...but it is also a sacrifice...and considerate of others.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 04 2014 at 8:04am | IP Logged
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I find the cough part tricky. No, I don't like to have someone coughing a lot during mass, but I also realize that someone can be coughing and not be contagious. Some people can get sick and then have a cough for weeks or months before finally shaking it.
Some people have sinus drainage/allergies and cough all the time. So I have decided to offer up a prayer for anyone who is coughing at mass and not get all wound up about it like I used to. And wash hands often
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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JennGM
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I'm one that has allergies and sneeze and blow and cough all year round. So does my son. I know I'm not contagious but I try not to shake because I know it bothers other people.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 04 2014 at 12:14pm | IP Logged
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We tend to follow the general signs of being contagious just like schools ask that you follow and such. If we all stayed home because one person was sick we'd just have to lock ourselves in. So, if one person is sick that person will stay home(along with a caregiver depending on age) but since it could be weeks until someone else comes down with it, we don't make those that are showing no signs of illness stay home. I will check temps for slight fevers to be sure.. but at that point we're no more contagious than anyone else who doesn't know if they're going to be sick or well the next day.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Missing mass dt illness on Christmas, etc
