www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West ? Sunday Mass Obligation

As educated and raised an RC, pre Vatican II, there was a requirement to attend Mass on every Sunday, one of the six "Precepts of the Church".

Is there any such requirement under pain of serious sin in the Orthodox Churches? Does RC'dom still have this requlation?

My guess is that there is not such an Orthodox obligation.

Anyway, I am going to Vermont for the weekend for a family get-to-gether. I found on the web a few Orthodox Churches but they are a long way from Rutland, VT, no ER in the state.

Now, I want to attend the Liturgy on Sunday, regulations or not. I feel the RC is over regulated.

But I just want to know this question posed.

The main point is that I want to attend a valid Mass or Liturgy. Valid is the operative word.

Pls. help if you can.

Jim

Dear Jim,

In answer to your many questions , I can only give an Orthodox view. Non-attendance of litugical services is a sin, but in the Orthodox Church, we do not have a classification system. Sin is sin, and all sin can lead to one's downfall. That is why frequent confession is encouraged.

I can not speak from the Roman or even the EC side of things as far as whether an Orthodox Liturgy is valid or illicit. From my side (that is the Orthodox) I would say it is valid, but some posters that are in the know, could probably clarify this.

I would also encourage you to have the moderator of this forum move this thread to Forum 4 so it might get more and accurate responses. I suggest you PM him for that.

I hope this of some help.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Jim,

It is still a requirement of Roman Catholics to attend Mass on Sunday or risk grave/mortal sin.

From a Catholic point of view, and in Roman terminology, an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy is valid. It does not, however, fulfill a Roman Catholic's Sunday obligation unless there are no Catholic churches within reasonable distance (which I've heard could be anywhere from forty to one-hundred miles; I guess it depends).

Now, I don't know of many places in American where it's impossible to attend a Catholic church yet possible to attend an Orthodox one. I'm sure there are exceptions, but they're few and far between. Alaska'd be about it, and apparently there are more Catholics than Orthodox in AK anyway.

I know we've looked at these canons about ten thousand times on this Forum, but I can't remember for sure if Eastern Catholics also must attend a Catholic Mass (as opposed to an EO Divine Liturgy) to fulfill the Sunday obligation rule. I'm pretty sure it's the case, and because it is I would abide by the rules and regulations of the Church of which I choose to be a member - but there are some here who would take issue with this and disregard our Church's instructions.

Whatever; it's your decision, really. I can only recommend a course of action which doesn't stray from the regulations - - - I'm a goody two-shoes like that.

Logos Teen

Check this out from the:
Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Issued January 6, 1996

Can. 881 � 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches declares that "the Christian faithful are bound by the obligation to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church <sui iuris>, in the celebration of the divine praises," and � 2 completes it, adding that "in order for the Christian faithful to fulfill this obligation more easily, the available time runs from the evening of the vigil until the end of the Sunday or feast day." The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches thus provides for the possibility, inspired by n. 15 of the <Orientalium Ecclesiarum>, to satisfy the precept of Sunday either by participating in the Divine Liturgy, or by taking part in the Divine Office. Such a possibility emphasizes the importance of the Divine Office, and in a certain way renders concretely possible its correct celebration, at the proper hours, and in such a way that the texts correspond fully to the time in which they are celebrated. In fact, the daily cycle begins with Vespers and is extended into the night to culminate in the morning with the Divine Liturgy or Oblation.

Peacock 24, the closest one I know of is in Springfield (OCA) which would probably be an hours drive. There's also an Antiochian church in Glens Falls, NY.

I'm trying to remember where it is we usually get subs in Rutland. I think it's Gill's.

Andrew

has anyone ever considered that God looks upon the heart, and He knows your motives? what I am saying is this: if there is no EC church in a "reasonable distance", then by all means, go to the Latin church, as I do.the converse is also true. if no Catholic church exists in this range, go to the Orthodox, and if neither, go Anglican or Protestant. the whole issue is worshipping the Lord on the day common to most Christians: Sunday. that is the whole point. Just go.
Much Love,
Jonn

As I read this thread I was glad to see Lazareno's response. Basically, Eastern Catholics need to follow their own canons rather than those of their Latin brethren, when it comes to praxis. They are often different. I doubt that the Divine Office would be considered an acceptable alternative for Latin followers, unless you were isolated like Robinson Ctusoe. After all, Latin churches are pretty much everywhere except remote islands nowadays.

For the question has been posed via PM. Many do not feel comfortable with the Latin Novus Ordo mass. It may be just there, but not a place of spiritual nourishment. In essence, when they must travel, some are encouraged to find a EC parish first, An Orthodox parish if there are no EC churches, and the RCC parishes last. The original question the validity of the Orthodox DL. Well, I can only speak from observation historically, during the communist yoke, catholics were encourage to take Orthodox sacraments, and then have their siuation regularized after the downfall of communism. That is what happened, they were regularized. The RCC would never have sent its faithful to anyone that could not provide valid sacraments for its flock. All of this done out of oeconomy and Christian love.

I am sure that documents can be brought the pro and con of the situation, but in reality we are not talking documents, we talking persons with souls. There salvation is the most important thing. In John 10:10, Our Lord stated the He came not only for all to have life, but that all live in all its fullness, Partaking in that fullness is the Holy Eucharist. If is directed to partake, then he should out of spiritual obedience. We seem to be very close, and then we run away to a far place.

The day may come soon, where there a clear directive, in love, that would not have to have people scrambling how to meet their spiritual obligations.

From the PMs and other sources, I would have to say that an Orthodox Divine Liturgy would be a valid service that would satisfy your Sunday Obligation. I think also that the Bishops of the ECC need to look at this and find a way of addressing it. Who knows, the idea that the EC churches could be that link to reunification may not be that far down the road. Are the clergy and Faithful up to the challenge???

Remember the time is short and the harvet is at hand. Don;t let the sweet fruits of spiritual life sour and rot. Get ready to cultivate and nuture with the fullnees of Jesus Christ,

Forgive my ramblings, but maybe this give this thread the spark it needs to take off.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I think Fr. Anthony's usage of the term "valid" might be confusing to some of of RC's (and ex-RC's) on the Forum.

Father, please correct me if I'm mistaken, but it seems you are using the term "valid" to describe the fulfillment of Sunday obligation.

For most of us Latin Catholics, "valid" means simply that a sacrament/mystery actually occurs. The Catholic Church accepts all of the EO Churches' Mysteries as valid, in our usage of the term. This is different from the Protestants, whose only sacrament we see to be valid (actually occuring) is baptism.

So, we see EO Divine Liturgies as "valid" because the bread and wine do indeed become the Body and Blood of OLGS Jesus Christ. But, as far as I know, the rules still hold that one cannot fulfill his Sunday obligation unless there is no Catholic Mass available whatsoever. In this way, and in using what seems to be your usage, an EO DL is not a "valid" alternative to a RC Holy Mass or EC Divine Liturgy.

Of course, people have varying opinions on this matter, just as many do about some other Church rules and regulations.

I would much more enjoy and identify with an Orthodox DL than a poorly-done Novus Ordo Mass, but I would always opt for the Novus Ordo Mass because I try to follow the rules of my Church to the best of my ability and I believe that this is a good way to practice obedience.

If one is truly spiritually harmed by a Novus Ordo Mass, perhaps they need to take this issue to their confessor or priest and see what needs to be done - maybe some exception can be had. Our Church is all about conscience, these days, after all. :p

I would even venture to say that it's spiritually harmful for me to attend a regular NO Mass, much less a poorly celebrated one. But I force myself to focus on the good and to emply Christian obedience.

Logos Teen

I lean towards attending a Divine Liturgy be it Orthodox or Eastern Catholic, I have many unresolved issues with the current Mass etc and sadly at times it leads to distraction and a spiritual depression, that is not the way to leave Church on a Sunday or Holy Day.


james

Yes, Jakub, that is very true. The Novus Ordo Mass is pretty spiritually depressing to me; no matter how it's done. I've seen Papal Masses that make me want to jump off a cliff, honestly.

Logos Teen

Peacock,

Funny, but I had a very similar problem this weekend. I was in Killington and wanted to get to a church for the Transfiguration, as I don't think the latins were celebrating it. Howver, I couldn't find an Orthodox church in reasonable distance and therefore missed out on celebrating the Holy Day. I DID get to Mass in Rutland that day at 5ish, but no mention of the Transfiguration at all.

However, I'm getting resigned to it all because I travel with a band constantly so it's hit or miss on fulfilling my "Sunday obligation". This is still a grave sin in the Latin Church, yes.

Archbishop Raya always said we are there at Divine Liturgy not because the law says we have to be there, but because God loves us and we love God.

When we come to God in the Liturgy all of our sences let us see we are invited through the Blood of the Lamb shed for our salvation. Then we enter his courts with thanksgiving and praise through the sacrifice Christ made for us, because we are loved by God.

My thoughts anyway
Pani Rose

Domilsean,
That's because as far as I know, the Transfiguration was celebrated on Sunday in the Latin church.

Pyrohy,

There was no mention of it at my RC church....but they somtimes do seem to be more Progressive, whatever that means. Hey at least the African priest that is visiting us chants instead of just speaks through most of the mass.

In His Name,
Stephen