Anne Van Tilburg
wrote:
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Dear Mike,
I live in Australia and am a mother with three
children and 11 grandchildren.
I am a Catholic Catechist teacher who has always been Catholic.
Our
parish priest insists that after the age of 65 we are not obliged
to go to Mass on Sunday.
I have searched through Canon Law but cannot find if this
is so.
- If this is correct, which I doubt, could you please
tell me where I can find it?
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Anne Van Tilburg
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{
Are parishioners over the age of 65 obligated to go to Sunday
Mass and where is it in Canon Law? }
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Eric
replied:
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Hi Anne,
You haven't found it, because it isn't there.
Now, if you are infirm and getting out of the house is prohibitively difficult,
you have an excuse for not going to Mass, but a healthy 65-year-old is
still obliged to go to Mass.
As him, what the source of his information is.
Eric |
Bob replied:
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Dear Anne,
Your priest, to put it mildly, is wrong. No where in the commandment,
"Thou
shalt keep holy the Sabbath."
does it say . . . until you reach 65. This is a gross
fabrication.
That being said, often elderly people, who become infirm and unable to make the
trip to church, are able to obtain a dispensation based on their health and ability.
In that case, Eucharistic ministers will bring our Precious Lord to them at their
residences. In those cases, and often on certain occasions, a priest will say a Mass
at the nursing home, etc.
I hope this is helpful.
Peace,
Bob Kirby |
Bob followed-up later:
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HI Anne,
Here is an excerpt from Dies Domini, [Vatican] the Apostolic Letter from Pope John Paul II on the Sunday Obligation. As far as I know, the United States Bishops conform
to this standard.
While it is lengthy, the bit on Radio and T.V.,
which is relevant to dispensations, follows below.
Hope this helps,
Bob |
APOSTOLIC LETTER DIES
DOMINI
Pope John Paul II
To The Bishops, Clergy And
Faithful
Of The Catholic Church
On Keeping The Lord's Day Holy
Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Vatican City
54. Finally, the faithful who, because
of sickness, disability or some other serious cause, are prevented from taking part, should, as best they
can, unite themselves with the celebration of Sunday
Mass from afar, preferably by means of the readings and
prayers for that day from the Missal, as well as through
their desire for the Eucharist. (97)
In many countries,
radio and television make it possible to join in the
Eucharistic celebration broadcast from some sacred place. (98)
Clearly, this kind of broadcast does not in itself fulfil
the Sunday obligation, which requires participation in
the fraternal assembly gathered in one place, where Eucharistic
communion can be received. But for those who cannot take
part in the Eucharist and who are therefore excused from
the obligation, radio and television are a precious help,
especially if accompanied by the generous service of
extraordinary ministers who bring the Eucharist to the
sick, also bringing them the greeting and solidarity
of the whole community. Sunday Mass thus produces rich
fruits for these Christians too, and they are truly enabled
to experience Sunday as "the Lord's Day" and "the
Church's day". |
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Ann replied:
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Hi Everyone.
I would like to thank you all for answering my
last question regarding an age limit for attending Mass.
Kind Regards
Mrs. Anne Van Tilburg
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