Question: The Catholic church considers not going to Sunday mass and holy days of obligation a mortal sin. Is this true? If so, why?
God’s answer:
I declared it My holiday. It’s simply a day of repose. It’s My blessing not a curse.
Meaning: The Sabbath day has its roots on the seventh day when God rested. God cleverly used the expression “much ado about nothing”, as one is supposed to do nothing on Sabbath – it’s a holiday.
During the time of Moses, God gave the Ten Commandments. The third commandment is to keep holy the Sabbath day. This then gave rise to all sorts of do’s and don’ts during this particular day. The law set was simply not to do work nor ask anyone else to work on Sabbath. Later, a penalty of death was imposed if one works on the day (supposedly told by God).
God, as Jesus, rectified this misunderstanding. This is one area where Jesus was criticized because He and His apostles did work on Sabbath; He healed and continued His apostolic work. He said two very insightful things: “God created the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath” and “It is lawful to do good on Sabbath.” Hence God’s statement: ”It’s My blessing not a curse.”
Saying that not going to mass on a Sunday is a mortal sin is no different than the “big fuss” that the Jews made about Sabbath during the time of Jesus. God wants us to go to mass and partake of His sacrifice for the right reasons. Doing so under duress is the wrong reason. Worshipping God must not be an imposition.
But the hour is coming -- indeed is already here -- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father seeks. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4: 23-24
God’s quip about not going to Sunday mass as a mortal sin:
