December 2022

Someone asked a question about ‘how late is too late to arrive at Mass and still receive communion’.

There is no law governing this, but there are theologians who have given direction on this and related questions. Father Herbert Jone is one. He was also a canonist. In “Moral Theology” he wrote:

“In order that the grave obligation of hearing Mass on Sundays

and Holydays be fulfilled certain conditions are required on the

part of the Mass and on the part of the attendants. – One may be

excused from assisting at Mass for a proportionately good reason.

I. On the part of the Mass of obligation the following

is required:

1. It must be a complete Mass, i.e., assistance at it

must extend from the beginning of the Mass to the

last blessing.

A venial sin is committed by voluntarily omitting an unimportant

part of the Mass, e.g., from the beginning of the Mass to the

Offertory exclusive, or the part that follows the Communion, or

even the part which precedes the Epistle together with that which

follows the Comm union.

A mortal sin is committed by missing an important part voluntarily,

e.g., that which precedes the Gospel together with what

follows Holy Communion, the part extending from the beginning

of the Mass to the Offertory inclusive, the part of the Canon that

precedes the Consecration, or the part between the Consecration

and the “Pater Noster,” or the Consecration alone; but probably

not the Communion alone. It is held

… Read the rest

Month: December 2022

How Late Is “Too Late” When You’re Late for Mass?