ARTICLE II: On Causes Excusing From Mass

St. Alphonsus (III, 324; ed. G., I, p. 591) states the general principle thus: Any moderately grave cause excuses from hearing Mass, namely one which involves some notable inconvenience or harm in the goods of soul or body, one's own or another's.

Four CAUSES, besides dispensation (concerning which n. 664), are usually brought forward, which exempt from the obligation of hearing Mass: namely impotence, charity, office, custom.

681. I. IMPOTENCE excuses, whether physical, or spiritual, or even moral.

By reason of physical, or absolute, impotence there are excused: the gravely sick, captives, those for a just cause sailing on the sea (cf. Ami du Cl., 1908, p. 982), or pilgrims in regions where Mass is not celebrated.

By reason of spiritual impotence there are excused: the excommunicated and interdicted. For the hearing of Mass is interdicted to them. If, however, they could obtain absolution easily, and neglected it, they would sin against the precept (III, 325; H. Ap., VI, 39).

By reason of moral impotence, that is, of some notable inconvenience, there are excused:

1. Those who, because of weakness of body, roughness of the road, inclemency of the weather, or distance of places, prudently fear for themselves no light inconvenience or danger to health.⁴ But the distance of places which excuses from the sacred rite varies according to the variety of persons, place, and time. Commonly as sufficient there is held a distance of three miles, or a pedestrian journey of one hour and a quarter, which nevertheless would not excuse for absence that is too long, for example through a year; indeed less, if it were raining, snowing, or another cause already partly excusing were present (III, 329). - But those who can be carried by horse or carriage are not excused unless the distance is twice, indeed three times, longer. In doubt, see n. 248. He who with only light inconvenience can use a railway carriage is not excused. Cf. Kenrick, tr. 4, p. 2, n. 19.

2. Travelers who cannot depart from companions continuing the journey without notable expense, or without danger of grave inconvenience. Likewise, coachmen, millers, or other workers who would be deprived of a suitable opportunity of making notable gain, or servants who, more or less, are compelled by the master to furnish work in hunting (III, 332; H. Ap., VI, 43).

3. Those laboring in foundries and similar workshops, where they cannot desert work already begun, nor have others who may succeed them; or workers returning at very early morning from nocturnal labor.

4. Women lacking garments suitable to their condition, or pregnant from crime, as long as their shame is hidden. And yet they are not excused if, without loss of reputation, they can hear Mass in a remote place, or at an earlier hour, which can easily be done in cities (III, 330).

5. All who are not of their own right: such are servants whom either necessary ministry or the very bad will of the master keeps away from hearing the sacred rite. But they would not be excused if they easily found another service, or if without great trouble, for example without notable deprivation of sleep, they could intervene at Mass. - Likewise wives and children of the family are excused, for whom grave indignation of husband or parents would have to be feared; soldiers who, from hearing Mass, would be liable to the vexation of their leaders, or to the very troublesome mockeries of fellow-soldiers (H. Ap., VI, 40).

Nevertheless all these must diligently strive that, as much as they can, they remove the impediments (cf. n. 225, 226).

6. Drivers, carriers of merchandise, workers, and generally all who, by assisting at Mass, would lose notable gain (III, 332). Gobat, whom the holy Doctor does not contradict, excuses a poor man on account of the gain of one ducat; and another of slender fortune, of two.

682. II. CHARITY excuses those who have care of the sick, from whom they cannot depart without undue anxiety on the part of the sick, and they are excused even if another assistant were present; - likewise those who bring help to neighbors suffering grave harm from fire, storm, flood, or other calamities; - likewise those who have hope that by their presence quarrels, lawsuits, grave brawls, thefts, duels, or shameful acts will be impeded (cf. n. 512).

But it is not licit to omit Mass in order to accomplish a work not commanded, although of higher merit (III, 326, 332, vers. fin.).

Note. Charity can persuade a girl who knows that she is shamefully desired by someone to omit Mass; nevertheless she is not always held to remain at home (III, 331). See what was said n. 512. He also will preserve charity toward himself who omits Mass, at least sometimes, lest he expose himself to a probable danger of becoming drunk, from the fact that ordinarily he cannot conveniently return at once, and friends invite him to drink (Ami du Cl., 1906, p. 1048).

683. III. OFFICE excuses soldiers acting as guards, guardians of a house or of a flock; who nevertheless, if they are several, and only one Mass is said, are held by alternate turns to assist at the sacred rite. Likewise nurses and mothers who have no one to whom, without danger, they may leave little children, whom they cannot bring with them into the church without notable disturbance of those standing by.

Concerning this matter St. Alphonsus speaks thus (III, 326): "If it is necessary for husband or wife to remain at home for guarding, the husband cannot compel her to remain always at home, since she is a companion, not a maidservant, who conversely could be compelled: but also the master could sometimes remain at home, so that the maidservant might hear Mass; for the utility of that woman would excuse the master." Certainly in our times the husband will rather be exhorted that he sometimes leave to his wife or to a faithful maidservant the office of guard to be fulfilled.

684. IV. CUSTOM received in many places excuses from Mass widows within the first month of widowhood; women after childbirth, for a month or six weeks, provided nevertheless that they do not go out in public for other causes. Likewise, in some places it excuses brides when their wedding banns are proclaimed; yet if another Mass is celebrated, they are held to assist. "But by no reason can that custom be reputed licit, or, to speak better, that abuse, by which girls, lest they go out in public, abstain from hearing the sacred rite." Thus St. Alphonsus (H. Ap., VI, 42).

685. Practical rules. It is useful in this place, by way of conclusion, to add the questions which the holy Doctor suggests should be asked of the unlearned by a confessor (Prax. conf., n. 32 seqq.):

1. As regards the obligation of HEARING THE SACRED RITE on feast days, he should ask the penitent whether sometimes he omitted the sacred rite, or rather should ask: whether he adverted to the omission? whether he doubted at the time at which he could hear the sacred rite? For often, when the penitent delays hearing the sacred rite to a late hour, although by chance he found the sacred rite and was present at it, nevertheless without just cause he cast himself into the danger of omitting it; and concerning this the unlearned do not accuse themselves. Likewise, if the penitent accuses himself of having omitted the sacred rite, let him ask about the cause, whether on account of necessity, etc.

2. As regards SERVILE WORKS let him ask: whether he labored on a feast? and if the penitent affirms, let him be asked: a) How much time did he labor, and what genus of labor did he exercise ... But if the penitent confesses that he labored, sometimes more, sometimes less, let him be asked how often he labored while judging that he was laboring in grave matter? But there is need that he teach him that to labor for a long time, even secretly, and for consolation of mind, and gratis, is also a sin. - b) Let him be asked why he labored, whether by the custom of the region? whether on account of necessity, or compelled by a master, by parents, etc.?

Note. Let the pastor of souls use all the authority by which he has power, so that he may exhort to assistance at Mass the men whom he has known to be negligent or indifferent, especially to hearing that Mass in which a sermon is had, that thus little by little he may confirm in faith those whom the divine will has committed to him. Cf. Ami du Cl., 1907, p. 305. If he has found that some exercises of piety have been introduced, for example evening prayers made in common, let him not suppress them unless grave reasons are present (Ami du Cl., 1910, p. 1087).