Expert: Fr. Michael - 1/19/2011

Question
Dear Fr Michael, As a child, I was taught that you effectively missed Mass on Sunday if you were not there in time to hear the Gospel (and indeed, therefore, the sermon). We were taught that failure in this regard amounted to a mortal sin, and confession was therefore essential before partaking in Holy Communion. On our newsletter this week, our Parish Priest put that you need to be at Mass on Sunday by the start of the offertory.  In the current edition of the Simple Prayerbook, it says that being late for Mass on a Sunday (ie any part of it)is a venial sin. When I asked our priest about this, he said that what he had put was correct as he had looked it up , having previously thought himself that what I had been taught was correct, but having been told by another priest that it was only required to be at Mass by the offertory.  I personally feel that he may have inadvertently ended with exactly what he didn't want, in that those of the congregation already lax, will now think they can be even later arriving for Mass than before!  Also, it seems rather odd that those people who only attend Mass on a Sunday and therefore only take one opportunity to hear any of the Gospels, (and a sermon)are effectively allowed by the Church to continue in a level of ignorance, at least. Please can you clarify the rules for Sunday observance for me?  (I have been surprised how many books do not give the answer; even the Catechism seems very vague).  Thank you Father

Answer
Frankly, we don't like all this legalistic pettyfogging.  Any Catholic who is serious about worshipping his Creator gets to Holy Mass on time -- period!  How many of these tardy individuals would be late to an invitation to the White House?  They'd make darn sure that they'd get there in time!  How would these tardy individual react when in the Judgment Our Lord said to them, I'm running late Myself today.  Why don't you spend an eternity in Hell while I get Myself together?

Any tardiness at Holy Mass that is knowing and deliberate is serious.  Sure, the bus may late beyond your control, or the traffic unpredictably slow you down.  But if that becomes a regular condition, leave earlier.  If you are not present for the Offertory, the Consecration, and the Communion (of the priest), you are not present for the Mass.  And what about preparation for Holy Mass?  Do these lax Catholics rush in at the last moment without any preparation?  Such people really need to think about whether they are really Catholic at all.