Q If you are not able to come to church and receive Communion because of weather, illness, or physical impairment of some kind, is that a sin and should you confess that?

A Sometimes people like to mention in confession that they missed Mass and why.  

It is not a sin if you excuse yourself for any of the reasons stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”  (CCC 2181)

Obviously, if you have a communicable illness, it is more responsible to stay home so you don’t subject others to it. If weather is extreme and you would be in danger from going out, of course you are excused, and if you are physically unable to get to a church, whether it is due to age and mobilitiy or lack of transportation, you are also excused.

Under these types of circumstances, missing Mass is not a sin.

We are obliged to assist at Mass on Sundays and feasts of precept if we can and make our best effort to do so. However, physical impossibility and, in certain cases, moral impossibility excuses one and those excuses are not sinful.

Send your topics or questions for Bishop Doran’s Teaching Moment to [email protected]