Question About Sunday Mass Obligation

[Marie-Therese]

I have recently been laid off from my job as a hospice RN and am seeking a new job, but the market is proving to be much less open that I had hoped. I may be forced to take a weekend position doing 12 hour shifts that would cover both Saturday night vigil as well as Sunday masses. This scares me, because I am unaware of how that might impact me in terms of my obligations. Is there a special dispensation for this kind of situation? I would still attend masses during the week (as many as I was physically able to attend).

I want to maintain fidelity to my Church, and I hope that a position becomes available which does not present this problem; however, in the nursing field, right now I may have to take what I can get.

I thank you for any info (and prayers)!

[cappie]

Firstly, A Catholic who (a) is able to attend Sunday Mass (i.e., who is not impeded by illness, lack of transportation, job requirements etc.), (b) knows the seriousness of this requirement, and © nonetheless [b]freely chooses[/b] to miss Mass, thereby commits a mortal sin (cf. Catechism, no. 2181).

Canon 1247
On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass; they are also to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body.

Canon 1248
1. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.
2. If because of lack of a sacred minister[b] or for other grave cause[/b] participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the liturgy of the word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.

Since a "grave cause" is needed to excuse one from this obligation it would be a serious or mortal sin to willfully skip Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation, as the Church has always taught. 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. [b]Those who have continuing reason to be excused should consult their pastor.[/b]

Finally, we need to realize that this is a sin of omission, not commission. In other words, this commandment requires us to do something (i.e., go to Mass) rather than refrain from some evil act (e.g., murder, adultery, theft, etc.). Accordingly, circumstances do play an important role in determining whether a person is able to “do” what this commandment requires. Church law surely recognizes that there may be instances where a person may not be able to attend Mass (cf. canons 1247-48 above). If such is the case, the failure to attend Mass, while most regrettable, is not sinful.