The other week, I re-posted an article on Facebook that I had read that basically stated a simple thing: that missing Mass on Sunday is a grave matter. When the Church calls something “grave matter” it is very serious, for that is one of the three conditions for something being a mortal sin (the other two being acting with full knowledge, and with free will). I really did not think it was a big deal, after all, “keep Holy the Lord’s Day” is one of the Ten Commandments, and the Church has always taught that that means going to Mass on Sunday. Only the most serious reasons (like it being a blizzard or hurricane, or you are very seriously sick, or you have done everything you can but you cannot get there on your own) are excuses for missing Mass.
Sadly, too many people today are breaking this Commandment. Less that 20% of Catholics go to Mass every Sunday. Some can’t get to Mass for a serious reason, but surely it is not 80%. Some may truly be ignorant of the fact, but most Catholics when asked say that they know that you should go to Mass every Sunday. They simple fact is that they give greater priority to other things in their lives.
This has a troubling effect on children, for in religious education they are being taught God’s truth, that they need to go to Mass on Sunday, but then their parents don’t take them. Of course we tell them that if they can’t get to Mass on their own, then it is not their fault, but they are still troubled by it. So I tell them to pester their parents to take them to Mass, just like they might pester their parents to do other things.
However, parents, you need to consider what you are teaching your children by not taking them to Mass on Sunday. Blogger Becky Roach, who is a mother herself, shared this good list of “6 Things Kids Learn When You Skip Mass On Sundays.”
God is important, but not that important. If I can fit God in, great, but only if it is convenient for me. Football games, sleeping in, and _____ (insert activity of choice) are more important than making an effort to be with God one hour a week.
God doesn’t really mean what He says. Yes, it is a commandment to keep the Lord’s Day Holy, but God doesn’t understand how busy I am or how many kids I have or how tired I’ve been so I can just decide based on my life’s circumstances what He really means by this commandment and all of His other commandments. It’s up to us to pick and choose which of God’s laws we want to follow.
The Church doesn’t really expect us to adhere to Her teachings. Yes, it is a precept of the Church to attend Mass on Sundays, but the Church doesn’t understand how busy I am or how many kids I have or how tired I’ve been so I can just decide based on my life’s circumstances what the Church really means by this precept.
Mass is all about me and what I get out of it. When we come and go to Mass as we please, we seem to forget that going to Mass builds the Church community. Your parish may need you to be a lector, sing in the choir, or take up the gifts. Seeing your family in Church might be just the thing an elderly person needs to bring joy to a lonely Sunday. There are many reasons that we are a community of faith and that we come together in Worship.
When things are difficult/boring, I don’t have to do them. If we don’t go to Mass and we tell our kids it’s because Mass is “boring” or we “don’t get anything out of it,” our children learn that we only have to do things that are fun and exciting. This is simply not true regarding both our faith and everyday life. Most people don’t find doing their taxes fun and exciting, but we still have to do them.
To doubt the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Graces that come from receiving Him. If you truly believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist and that He comes to us each Sunday at Mass, what would keep you from Him? Why would you not want to receive the graces He bestows through this incredible gift? Our Catechism teaches us “The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church’s life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church.”
So, what do we want to teach our children about God’s place in our lives? I want to teach them what St. John Vianney said about the Mass, “If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”