Expert: Griff Ruby - 12/8/2008

Question
Hello Griff,
Maybe you're the one to ask re; catholic guilt.  Please bear with me, because I need to explain what happened and why everyone has something to say re; guilt of catholics
"it's a catholic thing"... first, I went to parochial school never to public. I live in New England,  Sunday it was very snowy, and appeared to be slippery..I live up higher than the town, and so here it's colder.  I fully intended to go to the 10:30 mass, but by then it looked squally and icy.  So I didn't go. I have had bad experiences traveling down the hills.. Then today it's a Holy day (the Immaculate Conception) On Holy days I always go to a noon mass.  So not familiar with other times..We have only one priest. so perhaps they have changed times.  But the church's website said noon & 5:30, I couldn't make noon, so I took the website as being the right time. NOt going on Sunday I didn't have a bulletin. so I didn't know mass times.   When I got there just at 5:30 no one was going into church which is unusual.  It appeared mass had been going on for sometime and so I didn't go in.  Now I have the catholic guilt "thing"..a part of me says I did nothing wrong. the other part says I did.  I'll probably reluctantly go to confession not sure how to explain this to the priest, but like I said part of me says I don't have to.  this is where friends of mine when having discussion re; religion.  always talk about the "guilt thing".  I have views on mortal sin, but I won't bother you with that, because I've written enough.  thank you.

Answer
My apologies for the delay.
If you did what you could to try to get to Mass and it is not possible or practical (in some one instance, as you describe - ongoing or repeated circumstances would require more inquiry and discussion), then there is no sin for having been unable.  By that same token, if you find yourself stranded in some location where the nearest Mass is more than one hour's travel to get to, the obligation to attend similarly does not apply.
When Mass cannot be attended, it would do to pray the Mass prayers (from the Missal) on your own at home (or wherever you are), uniting your prayers to all the Catholic Masses being said around the world, and (instead of receiving communion which you cannot apart from the Mass, nor can you make the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ as only the priest can do that), what to do is to make the Act of Spiritual Communion" and this is the prayer:  My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.
At your convenience you might discuss this with your priest-confessor at your next confession, but (assuming this was a non-repeated event) there is in this no reason not to recieve communion if you attend any Mass in the meantime.
Hope this helps, God bless!