Mass and mortal sin QUESTION from arthur joynt August 7, 2000 A priest recently told us that missing mass on a Sunday is no longer a mortal sin. It does not matter if you simply do not want to go and would rather pray at home. Is this correct. With kind regards,
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on October 17, 2000 Dear Mr. Joynt:
I just wanna scream when I hear stories like this.
Your priest is WRONG, DEAD WRONG.
Pray for his soul for he may have well indeed committed a mortal sin himself by teaching this falsehood.
We are required to participate in Mass EVERY Sunday upon pain of sin. The only excuse to not be in Sunday Mass is illness, incapacity, unavailability, forced to work that day, or dispensation from your pastor.
To deliberately and knowingly refuse to attend Mass on Sunday, and to do so with a decision of free will to not go to Mass, unless there is a valid reason otherwise, would constitute Mortal Sin.
Back to Index Page