OBLIGATION OF MASS ATTENDANCE

Have you ever said to yourself: ‘I need to loose weight?’ Or, say to someone you love, ‘you need to loose weight?’ Or, ‘we need to loose weight?’

NOW, have you ever said to yourself: ‘I NEED TO GO TO CHURCH?’ Or, to someone you love, ‘YOU NEED TO GO TO CHURCH?’ Or, ‘WE NEED TO GO TO CHURCH?’

Well this may be taken as ‘browbeating,’ and it may well be; but, what I wish to talk about is true. As Catholics we are expected—even OBLIGATED to attend Mass every Sunday. And, one of my duties is to remind us that entire obligation.

First, let me say—thank you and good job to those who come to Mass every week, and during the week when possible.

Secondly, to those who find it easy to put off going to Mass—GET TO CHURCH! And, I do mean this in a very loving and concerned manner.

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to try and spread the message about our Catholic Identity and the importance of practicing our faith. And, the one thing that sets us apart from other faiths is the Mass.

In a world that challenges us in many misleading ways; do we recognize our need for God and the Eucharist as a community on Sunday? The secular world continues to promote what is pleasurable or entertaining, such that some people expect to be ‘entertained’ even when attending Mass. But the Mass challenges us with the Gospel message Mass is not a place for entertainment, nor is it a mere act of piety. It is where we are blessed, broken, and sent out to be the body of Christ in the world, to serve those in need and to work for a just society.

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II states that “the liturgy is the source and summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fountain from which all her power flows” (SC 10). Looking at current realities, trends show a growing population who suppose they can be ‘good Catholics’ without attending Mass weekly. This is especially true in the generation of Catholics born after 1960. For a number of people in this generation, there is an emphasis upon ‘being a good person’ without recognizing the importance of participation in the Mass and sacraments. Some comments are made that “the Mass is boring,” “I don’t like the music,” “the homilies aren’t relevant” or “the congregation is not welcoming.” Not finding meaning and inspiration in the Mass, people turn to books and other sources for spirituality and worship.

The decline in Catholic Mass attendance over the last 45 years has been well documented. Recent attention has focused on looking at generational difference to describe this long-term decline. The decline reflects the death of older Catholics who attend Mass more often and the coming of age of new adults who attend Mass much less.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, (CARA), measured attendance for three generations based on life experiences relevant to Catholics.

The Pre-Vatican II Generation: those Catholics born before 1943 who came of age in a period prior to the changes of the Second Vatican Council. They tend to exhibit high levels of institutional loyalty.

The Vatican II Generation: those born between 1943 and 1960 who came of age during a time of profound change in the Catholic Church and of questioning of civic and cultural institutions.

The Post-Vatican II Generation: those born after 1960, includes the largest number of adult Catholics (about half). They are described as ‘consumers’ or ‘church-shoppers’ who choose a parish by the school or the theological perspective or the music that matches them. They are less likely than other generations to approve the quality of preaching and they want their religious needs to be addressed.

Pre-Vatican II Generation Catholics grew up in an era which emphasized the serious obligation to attend Sunday Mass. They were taught that deliberately failing to attend Sunday Mass without good reason was a mortal sin. For the Vatican II and Post Vatican II generations, the obligation has not been emphasized to the same degree. Religious education has moved away from the emphasis on ‘obligation’ to emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus and the communal dimension of faith. Some Catholics erroneously believe that one of the changes of Vatican II was to remove the Sunday obligation entirely; in their understanding, Sunday Mass attendance has become ‘recommended, but not required.’ Others believe that there is an obligation, but not a serious one (i.e. a matter of grave/mortal sin).

Going Deeper: Reflect on the learning that has surfaced as you read this. Identify opportunities and possible ways to encourage faithful Mass attendance.

1. Do I realize the power in liturgy to transform my life in how I practice my faith and in all I do?
2. How do I experience Mass? Do I bring all of my attention and reverence to it?
3. How can we listen, respect, and respond better to each generation’s spiritual needs?
4. Is the decline in Mass attendance a damaging change to Catholic life? Or is having fewer but more spiritually “alive” people present in celebrating the Eucharist a positive outcome of renewal?