Is Missing Sunday Mass a Mortal Sin?

How can missing church on Sunday be a mortal sin? It isn't even the Sabbath, so why would Catholics refer to attending mass on Sundays as a grave matter? Jimmy Akin answers this question in an excerpt from Catholic Answers Live.

[southernlady]

The third Commandment is Keep holy the Sabbath. Attending a Catholic Mass is like being invited to The Last Supper with Jesus and His apostles. During The Consecration, God opens Heaven and gives Himself to us. The Catholic Mass is the only place on earth The Transubstantiation occurs. Receiving Holy Communion is the most intimate, powerful union we can have with God on earth. We should never take this gift from God for granted.

[bigdogboos]

my confusion comes from Paul telling us that we should not judge others who want to hold one day separate, and also not to judge those who treat all days alike. Seems like the requirement to "keep a sabbath type day" from NT writings is not required. I don't understand how it could possibly be a mortal sin

[rayboi]

To deliberately miss Mass on a Sunday, knowing that it’s a mortal sin, then yes, you would commit a mortal sin.

[bluebonnetsoftexas]

😥 I didn't know it was a mortal sin.

[Chelsey-Cello]

This has caused me a lot of stress lately. My nearest church is about a 20-25 minute drive down the highway. I live way out in the bush on a reservation and I'm the only one who goes to church here. The last two weeks I've had to miss because I couldn't afford the fuel or because I had to conserve what I had (my husband is not working and it's been really hard to keep up with our finances). One time I had to miss it because we were having a really bad argument and I wasn't able to go anywhere (he has paranoid personality disorder and bipolar disorder so he always thinks I'm cheating on him or I'm doing something other than what I say I'm going to do). I understand that missing it because you just don't want to go is sinful...but what about when "life" just gets in the way?

[tbojai]

What about those of us who work in professions where we have to work on Sat/Sun?

[brianw.]

Yes although most Catholics don't know.

[benedictchinweuba]

Yes, unless you are physically unable to go or are hindered by an emergency.

I mean the question of Sunday obligation is Catholicism 101. It should be basic knowledge.

[darrelllee]

When we observe corporate worship has nothing to do with the Sabbath. Christ rose on a Sunday and that is why we gather on Sundays.

[paulnguyen]

What if the pope is the anti-pope and the mass is said in union with the anti-pope, is it a good idea to go to the mass ?

[GospodinPongracic]

are mass like chruch? and do we must rest saturday and sunday?

[oldman]

Other religions have the same commandments and it is not a mortal sin for them to miss worship on the Sabbath and they believe, rightfully so, that they can go to heaven. Yet a Catholic is taught that having mortals sins on your soul will keep one from going to heaven. If all this is true, and I won't say it isn't, why is it harder for Catholics to get to heaven then other religions?

[revelo.]

What if someone goes Mass every Saturday (or most Saturdays. Its impossible to attend every Saturday or Sunday)

As a Protestant coming to Catholicism, this one has been difficult. From what I understand, if someone commits a mortal sin and dies without repenting, they go to hell. So let's say, for example, someone stays up too late on a Saturday night and when the alarm goes off Sunday morning, they just turn it off and go back to sleep. They're hit by a bus the next day and find themself in hell for missing mass. That may be the reality, but it's a tough one to grasp.

It does make perfect sense from a slightly different perspective. The Bible says a mortal sin is a sin that *leads* to death. Immediately or eventually? I completely understand the idea that if someone does not make mass attendance a priority, then they may fall away from the faith. In that way, it is a mortal sin that does lead to death. But I don't know if that is an acceptable Catholic understanding.

[jdotoz]

Pet peeve here. Nothing is mortal sin by itself. You need the other two conditions to make mortal sin. Ask rather "Is it grave matter?"

[chadkeil]

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession —to the praise of his glory.

Can't be separated from the love of God once you are a believer. Sealed with the Holy Spirit by God's power.
Listen to God's word, not man's word.

[sunnyjohnson]

The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits that “the Mass of today differs greatly from the very simple ceremony followed by Christ and his apostles.” And by observing the Mass frequently, even daily, Christendom has veered from what Jesus intended and has made it a common event!

[JayRedding_]

And the Ten Commandments were set in stone. 🪨 Literally.