A Topic of Moral Theology

Hearing Mass of Precept

The precept of hearing Mass on Sundays and holy days: what presence and attention it requires, and the causes that excuse.

Within this topic

See also Holy Days of Obligation — in The Commandments of the Church

Also asked about as…

holy days of obligation · missing mass · obligation to attend mass · skipping mass · sunday mass obligation · sunday obligation · televised mass · watching mass online (ed.)

In the index as Mass · Mass of precept (Missa de Praecepto) · Oratory · Feasts · Mass to be heard by the faithful · Sunday · Attention (Attentio) · Mass to Be Heard · Precept of hearing Mass · Sacrifice of the Mass · Sermons · The sick (Infirmi) · A public, semipublic, and private oratory · Cemetery · Confession · Distance (Distantia) · Distraction (Distractio) · Servant (Famulus) · The Lord's Day · Ceasing profit (Lucrum Cessans) · Days · Drinks (Poculenta) · Excuse from the breviary · Feast

In the manuals

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. I, Bk. VI, Pt. III, Chapter I. Hearing Mass of Precept, nn. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. III, Section I. On Hearing Mass, nn. 702, 703 & 704 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. III, Art. 1. The Duties of Memb…, First Precept of the Church: Sanctification of the Lord’s Day, n. 2575 — The First Precept of the Church. The First Precept of the Church.—This precept commands that on Sundays and holydays of obligation Mass be heard and servile and other like works be omitted (Canons 1247-1249) by the subjects of church laws (427 sqq.). (a… Read in context →

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. III, Art. 1. The Duties of Memb…, Excuses, nn. 2584 & 2585 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, On the Third Precept of th…, I. On the Precept of Hearing Mass, nn. 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650 & 651 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

52. On Hearing Mass, nn. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (24 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. I, Treatise On the Precepts o…, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Article I. On Those Things Which Generally Must Be Furnished on Feast Days, n. 338 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Treatise On the Precepts o…, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Article II. On the Hearing of Mass in Particular, n. ¶1 — We must treat: 1. of those things required for hearing Mass rightly; 2. of the causes excusing from it.Read in context →

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. II, On the Virtue of Religion …, Chapter III: On the Sanctification of Sunday, nn. 1020, 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1035 & 1036 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Handbook of Moral Theology (Koch–Preuss)

Vol. IV, Pt. III, Chapter II: The Observance of Sundays and Holydays of Obligation, nn. ¶28–¶58 (31 passages)

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. I, Tit. I, Article II: The Positive Part of the Sanctification of Feasts, nn. 858, 859, 860, 861, 862 & 863 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. II, Tr. XI, Sect. II, Q. I, Ch. II, Art. VII, § 3. On the Precept of Hearing Mass, nn. ¶63, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486 & 487 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Vol. I, TREATISE ON THE PRECEPTS O…, Ch. I, ARTICLE II: ON THE HEARING OF MASS IN PARTICULAR, n. ¶1 — We must treat: 1° of those things which are required for hearing Mass rightly; 2° of causes excusing from it.Read in context →

Vol. I, TREATISE ON THE PRECEPTS O…, Ch. I, Art. II, § I. On Those Things Which Are Required For Hearing Mass Rightly, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶399, ¶400, ¶401, ¶3, ¶402, ¶403, ¶404, ¶405, ¶4 & ¶406 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, TREATISE ON THE PRECEPTS O…, Ch. I, Art. II, § II. On Causes Excusing From Mass, nn. ¶407, ¶408 & ¶409 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Pastoral Questions

Ch. II, Section A. Concerning Cert…, Q. III, Or Concerning the Violation of Sunday, nn. ¶4668–¶4685 (18 passages)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Article I. On the Obligation of Hearing Mass, n. 240 — I Say 1st. All the faithful having the use of reason are held under grave obligation to be present at Mass on individual Sundays and feast days, as is clear from canon 1248. - I said under grave obligation; for it is a q… Read in context →

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Art. I, § I. On Presence of Body, nn. 241, 242, 242, Q. 2, 242, Q. 3 & 242, Q. 4 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Art. I, § II. On Attention of Mind, nn. ¶1, 243, 244 & 245 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Third Precept of th…, Ch. I, Art. I, § III. On the Due Place, nn. 246, 247 & 248 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Tr. VII, On the First Precept of the Church: To Hear Mass on Sundays and Other Feast Days, nn. ¶1 & 327 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume I

Slater, Cases I, The Third Commandment, Case 1. Hearing Mass in a Convent, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11 & ¶12 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. I, Case XXIX: May a Person Be Dispensed from Hearing Mass on Sundays If Going to Mass Becomes a Proximate Occasion of Sin?, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11, ¶12 & ¶13 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, Case LXXIII: Is It Possible to Hear the Mass of Obligation While Making Confession at the Same Time?, nn. ¶1–¶24 (24 passages)

Vol. V, Case XLVIII: The Duty to Hear Mass on Sundays, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4 & ¶5 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent (The Roman Catechism)

Pt. III, The Third Commandment, nn. ¶46, ¶47, ¶48, ¶49, ¶50 & ¶51 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism Explained: An Exhaustive Exposition of the Christian Religion

Pt. III, I. THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF T…, 10. THE OBLIGATION OF HEARING MASS, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10 & ¶11 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Guide for Catholic Young Women

Chapter XVII: On Attendance at Mass. — Excuses for Neglecting It, nn. ¶207–¶225 (19 passages)

Chapter XVIII: Excuses for Not Attending Mass, nn. ¶226, ¶227, ¶228, ¶229, ¶230, ¶231, ¶232, ¶233, ¶234, ¶235, ¶236, ¶237, ¶239, ¶240, ¶241, ¶242 & ¶243 (17 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter XIX: How to Assist at Mass, nn. ¶244, ¶245, ¶246, ¶247, ¶248, ¶249 & ¶250 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Vol. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Tr. III, CHAPTER III: On the Obligation of Hearing Mass, nn. ¶1 & ¶670 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Tr. III, Ch. III, ARTICLE I: On the Requisites for Hearing Mass, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶671, ¶672, ¶673, ¶4, ¶674, ¶675, ¶676, ¶5, ¶677, ¶6, ¶678, ¶7, ¶679 & ¶680 (17 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Tr. III, Ch. III, ARTICLE II: On Causes Excusing From Mass, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶681, ¶682, ¶683, ¶684 & ¶685 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. II, Part Second. On the Precep…, Book Third. On the Third P…, Question Second. On Hearing Mass, nn. ¶1, 262, 263, 264, 265 & 266 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Second. On the Precep…, Book Third. On the Third P…, Question Second. On Hearin…, Article Second. On the Causes Excusing from Mass, n. 267 — 267. Excusing causes. From hearing Mass, generally, any moderately grave cause excuses, or any notable inconvenience or damage in the goods of one's own soul or body, or of a neighbor; for since this precept does not per… Read in context →

Treated under the broader heading The Lord's Day (Third Commandment) — Merkelbach, Summa Theologiae Moralis — this work does not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so its treatment stands one heading up (ed.)