The Causes Excusing from Mass

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;¹ for since this precept does not pertain to the graver ones, any truly grave cause excuses from its observance. Four causes of this sort are numbered: a. moral impotence; b. charity; c. office; d. custom.

In judging in concrete cases the excusing causes, whether they are or are not sufficient, one must attend both to the condition of the person about whom the matter is in question, since what is grave for one person is not grave for another, and to the same person's state of conscience: for he who is of a timorous conscience will not easily exaggerate inconveniences nor seek pretexts for declining the obligation.

1. By reason of moral impotence, such as any grave inconvenience, the following are excused:

a. Those who are far distant from a church. According to St. Alphonsus, for all, even the healthy, a walking journey of one hour and a quarter excuses, and a lesser distance if the weather is adverse or if the person is weak in strength; but those who can ride are not excused unless the distance is at least twice as great.

Busenbaum rightly adds that in this matter account must be taken of the custom of the place; and indeed in the mountainous regions of our country no one holds himself excused because he is distant from the church by the space of an hour and a quarter, provided he is not of impaired health.

b. Those who fear loss of honor, as those who lack garments suitable to their state and condition, girls pregnant from hidden fornication, unless they can hear Mass very early in the morning.

c. Those who must make a necessary journey or cannot interrupt one already begun.

d. Those who fear loss in goods of fortune: damage arising or profit ceasing. Now the damage which someone must undergo excuses more easily than profit ceasing; but a notable loss of profit certainly excuses. Notable profit differs according to diversity of state and condition.

Therefore, in order that profit ceasing may excuse, it is required that it be extraordinary profit and notable with respect to the determinate man; profit of this sort is judged to be profit which is at least twice greater than the ordinary profit of a day. A greater cause would be required if servile labor also had to be undergone, and a still greater one if the wonder and scandal of the people were to be feared.

e. The sick and convalescents who fear grave damage to health or a notable delay of convalescence.

alpha. When such damage is truly to be feared must be determined by the judgment of prudent persons, nor is it necessary to have recourse to the judgment of a physician or confessor; but the sick person himself can judge of this matter, provided he is capable of forming a prudent judgment. Generally it can be said that he is excused who fears such an inconvenience on account of which he is accustomed to omit other business of equal labor, for example, going out to handle business, to buy necessities, etc.²

beta. According to the opinion of physicians, the corrupt air of a church can truly bring a more or less grave inconvenience and therefore can be a cause excusing from frequenting the church. Therefore those who experience a notable inconvenience in church, such as constrictions or faintings, are excused from hearing Mass. This rarely happens to healthy persons, more frequently to those who are of infirm health and easily suffer irritations of the nerves.³

f. Those laboring in workshops in which they cannot abandon a work already begun or extinguish a burning furnace. But if the necessity of labor does not press, the owner of the workshop is held to permit the workers a suitable time so that they can hear Mass.

g. Wives and children on account of grave indignation of husband or parents; soldiers, who would be exposed either to the vexation of officers or to long-lasting and strongly troublesome mockeries of fellow soldiers.

2. By reason of charity, that is, for helping a neighbor in necessity, whether bodily or spiritual, the following are excused:

a. those who assist the sick;

b. those who bring help to a neighbor in a fire or flood, etc.;

c. those who hope that by their presence they can impede sin.

3. By reason of office the following are excused:

a. Soldiers on guard posts; guardians of cities, flocks, even of individual houses, where only one Mass is celebrated; nevertheless superiors are held to take care that subjects can hear Mass.

b. Mothers and nurses who can neither leave little ones alone nor take them with them.

c. Servants who are impeded by necessary service; yet if without great trouble, for example by rising earlier, they can hear Mass, they are held to this. But if they are impeded by the master's evil will, they can obey if they fear a grave inconvenience; however, on account of a light inconvenience they are not excused, but ought to bear it patiently. If they are frequently impeded, when a suitable occasion has been obtained, they ought to seek another service.

d. Those who must prepare food or perform necessary things of this kind; yet if several Masses take place, care must be taken that they be present at Mass successively.

4. By reason of custom in certain places where custom prevails, the following are excused:

a. Women recently delivered of a child, who for a month or six weeks after birth do not go out of the house.

b. Widows, who after the death of the husband remain at home for a month.

c. Betrothed women, especially noble ones, who do not approach the church when their nuptials are proclaimed.

¹ Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 324.

² Ballerini-Palmieri, II, n. 803.

³ Cf. Capellmann, Medicina pastor., p. 90 s.

Excuses from Observance of First Precept.—These reasons may be reduced to two classes, namely, external reasons (i.e., a dispensation or a lawful custom) and internal reasons (i.e., one’s own inability or necessity).

(a) External Reasons.—Dispensations may be given under certain conditions by local Ordinaries, by parish-priests, and by superiors of exempt clerical institutes (Canon 1245). Custom in certain places excuses from Mass for a month women who have just given birth to a child or who have lost their husband by death, and also—from the Mass in which their banns are to be proclaimed—those women who are about to marry. Custom further permits necessary labors, such as cooking, ordinary housecleaning, barbering, the work of railroad and garage men, etc.

(b) Internal Reasons.—Impossibility or serious inconvenience excuses from hearing Mass (e.g., those who have to walk an hour’s journey to church or ride a two hours’ journey, regarding which, in terms of distance travelled, it has been suggested that the figures should be more than three miles each way if one must walk, more than thirty miles if a car is available and the roads are good; those who will suffer great detriment to health, honor, fortune, etc., if they go; those who are kept away by duties of charity or employment or office that cannot be omitted). Necessity or duty to others permits one to work on Sunday at least to some extent (e.g., those who must labor on a Sunday in order to live, or to keep out of serious trouble, or to perform services or works of charity that cannot easily be done at another time). To avoid self-deception the faithful should consult their pastor or other prudent person if there is doubt about the sufficiency of the excuse.

Though the Church does not impose excessive Sabbatarianism, neither does she admit laxity in the important matter of the Lord’s Day.

(a) Hence, not every reason excuses from the church precept. Thus, those are guilty who unnecessarily place themselves in the impossibility of observing the law (e.g., by moving to a place where there is no church, by taking a position that requires work all Sunday morning, by starting on a vacation or auto trip to a churchless region), or whose excuses are frivolous (e.g., those who stay away from Mass because they dislike the priest, or who work on Sunday merely to keep busy).

(b) Reasons that excuse from part of the ecclesiastical precept do not excuse from all of it. Thus, those who are unable to hear Mass are not thereby justified in doing servile work, those who can hear the essential part of Mass (Consecration and Communion), but not the other parts, should hear the essential part; those who can hear Mass only on one Sunday a year are not excused on that Sunday.

(c) Reasons that excuse from the ecclesiastical precept do not excuse from the divine precept (see 2575) of worshipping God. Hence, those who are really obliged to work every Sunday should sanctify the Lord’s Day by whatever private prayer or devotion they can substitute. Some authors very rightly believe that those who can never go to Mass on Sunday are held by divine law to hear Mass on weekdays three or four times a year at least, when this is possible (see 2148, 2180).

What are the causes excusing from Mass? - Any moderately grave cause excuses from hearing Mass, or one which involves a notable and at least moderate inconvenience or harm in the goods of soul or body, one's own or a neighbor's, private or public. This is clear from common interpretation and custom, which is the best interpreter of laws. Moderately grave: a graver cause is required in servile and forensic works, because that part of the precept of the observance of a feast is graver. L. 324.

You will resolve: Women are excused who do not have clothing decent according to their condition and state; as also those not having a maidservant or companion, without whom they would be suffused with great shame, are well excused from hearing Mass, provided they cannot be present at it either very early in the morning or in a remote church where the people by no means assemble. The same must be said about girls dishonorably pregnant, and about those who leave the church at the time when announcements for their marriages are made, if they would have to suffer great shame on account of this. Usage excuses, according to the custom of places, of not going out from the house for six weeks after childbirth, or for a month in the time of mourning on account of the death of a husband, and also of a sister or daughter. L. 330; H. A. 42.

Mothers and nurses are excused who have no one to whom they can leave little children, nor can they bring them to church without great disturbance of those standing by. If there are only two spouses, they will conveniently be able to be present at Mass by alternate turns. Those are excused who guard the flock or house, or who must prepare food, or perform similar necessary things; yet if several Masses are held, all, as far as can be done, must hear Mass successively. Travelers are excused for whom no place occurs where they may be present at Mass, or who cannot interrupt the journey because public coachmen, or companions on the road without whom the journey would not lack inconveniences or danger, refuse to stop. Servants are excused if they cannot omit their service without grave detriment to the master, or if they are prohibited by him. But when they are frequently and without just cause impeded from hearing Mass, they are bound to seek another master if they can do this without grave inconvenience. Struggl 53; L. 326-328.

The sick, the infirm, and convalescents are excused, whom it harms to go outside. Likewise he is excused who must guard a sick person who, being left by him, would suffer grave disturbance; and this even if another assistant were present, but the sick person thought that his assistance was necessary to himself, and otherwise would suffer grave sadness. Likewise those are excused who otherwise cannot prevent blasphemies, quarrels, thefts, etc. Hence also a wife is excused who "from going to Church would fear the indignation of her husband, or grave jealousy of the husband." Struggl 50. Distance from a church, by the space of a whole hour, excuses, with account taken of persons and weather. Very grave doctors teach that a distance of three miles, or a pedestrian journey of an hour and a quarter, and also something less if it should rain or snow, absolutely and without distinction excuses all. A mile corresponds to about a kilometer and a half. Therefore three miles are about four and a half kilometers.

Notable extraordinary gain to be made excuses. L. 325-327, 329, 332; H. A. 41; Collectan. S. C. de P. F., n. 2039.

351. • Any moderately grave cause excuses from hearing Mass, or one which involves a certain moderate inconvenience or damage in the goods of soul or body, either one's own or a neighbor's. This is clear from common interpretation and custom, which is the best interpreter of laws. - Thus commonly. - St. Alphonsus, n. 324.

Resolves. - 1. The sick, the infirm, the convalescent, for whom it is harmful to go outside, are excused. Likewise those who must guard the sick. - St. Alphonsus, n. 325.

2. Travelers are excused, for whom no place occurs where they may be present at the Sacrifice, or who cannot interrupt the journey because public coachmen, or companions of the road without whom the journey would not be free from inconveniences or danger, refuse to stop.

3. Those are excused who guard a flock or a house, or who must prepare food, or perform similar necessary things; if nevertheless several Sacrifices are held, all, insofar as it can be done, ought to hear Mass successively. - St. Alphonsus, n. 326.

4. Mothers and nurses are excused, who have no one to whom they may leave little children, nor can they lead them to church without great disturbance of those present. If there are only two spouses, they will conveniently be able to be present at the Sacrifice by alternate turns. - St. Alphonsus, ibid. ¹.

¹ ** St. Alphonsus adds (lib. 3, n. 330): "Widows are excused by reason of mourning, and also daughters and sisters." As regards the space of time, he adds that it is not to be extended up to a month, since St. Charles permitted only a month. Yet he adds that if there were another custom in some place, it would not be condemned as a grave sin. And rightly; for if the reason of excusing is custom, this ought to be valid in the same way for a month as for a longer time. This one thing is obscure: why he restricts the excuse to the limits of grave sin. For if such a custom truly flourishes, it does not appear why it would not excuse even from light fault.

5. Often those are excused who are distant far from the church, so that they cannot approach it without great difficulty, especially in the wintertime.

6. Servants are excused if they cannot omit their service without grave detriment to the master, or if they are prohibited by him and cannot easily find another master. Yet they ought diligently to take care that they remove the impediments, if they can. - Thus commonly. - St. Alphonsus, n. 327. - Reuter, n. 288.

352. Questions. - Q. 1. What distance excuses from Mass?

Resp. It cannot be assigned absolutely, but must be determined from the circumstances of persons, places, and times. But regularly a distance of three miles excuses, or a walking journey of one hour and a quarter, and even something less, if it were raining or snowing, or if another cause were present. - St. Alphonsus, n. 329; Hom. apost., n. 41.

353. • Q. 2. Whether a sick person is excused from Mass in doubt whether the inconvenience is grave enough?

Resp. In this case one must stand by the counsel of a doctor, Superior, Pastor, Confessor, or another prudent man. Indeed a sick person can also acquiesce in his own judgment, if he judges prudently in this way. But what if, after counsel has been sought, he still remains doubtful? - Absolutely he is not bound to Mass, because, while the danger of grave damage stands, it must be judged that mother Church does not oblige. - Thus St. Alphonsus says very probably, n. 325. - In practice it is safer that a dispensation be sought, if it can easily be sought.

Q. 3. Whether the occasion of making a notable profit excuses?

Resp. It is affirmed probably, because the precepts of the Church do not oblige with a very grave inconvenience, as is clear from what was said in the Treatise on Laws, n. 100. But profit of this sort ought to be extraordinary. - St. Alphonsus, n. 332. - Elbel, n. 368. - See Cases, n. 347 and following.

c) It remains to deal with the reasons that excuse men from attending Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation. As this precept does not belong to the graviora, any really weighty reason will excuse one from compliance with it. The more common reasons may be conveniently grouped under four heads:

(1) Moral impossibility; (2) charity; (3) office or occupation; (4) custom.

(1) By reason of moral impossibility are excused: (a) Those who live too far away from church. According to St. Alphonsus all, even those in good health, are excused from hearing Mass on Sundays if they have an hour and a quarter’s walk to church, or even less, if the weather is bad or the person weak. Those who are able to ride or drive are not excused, unless the distance is at least twice that which a man can walk in an hour and a quarter. Busembaum adds that due regard should be paid in this matter to the custom of the country or neighborhood.

(b) Those who are afraid of losing their honor or reputation either because they lack becoming clothes, or girls who have become pregnant in consequence of secret fornication, unless they have an opportunity to attend early in the morning. (c) Those who are compelled to travel or are unable to interrupt a necessary journey already begun. (d) Those who have reason to fear a notable loss of worldly goods; but this loss must be considerable, measured by the status and condition of the owner. (e) The sick and convalescent, who cannot attend Mass except with grave danger to their health or a notable retardation in their recovery. Whether such danger is really to be feared, does not necessarily require the decision of a physician or a priest, but may be determined by the patient himself, provided he is capable of forming a prudent judgment. Generally speaking, one is excused from attending Mass if his condition is such that he omits other important affairs involving an equal effort for fear of injury or relapse.³⁸

³⁸ Ballerini-Palmieri, Opus Theol, Mor,., I1,-n. 803,

Not a few persons in delicate health find the air in church oppressive. If it affects them seriously, for instance, by causing difficulty in breathing or fainting spells, they are excused from assisting at Mass.³⁹ (f) Those who work in offices or factories, and whose occupation is such that they cannot get away without grave inconvenience or danger. When there is no real necessity, however, the employer is in duty bound to give his employees time enough to attend Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation. (g) Wives and children who cannot comply with their duty because it would excite the husband or father to furious anger; also soldiers who would incur vexations on the part of their officers or subject themselves to continuous and intolerable slurs on the part of their fellow soldiers.

³⁹ Capellmann, Medicina Pastoralis, pp. 90 sq.

(2) The demands of charity excuse the following persons from hearing Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation: (a) Those in charge of the sick and infirm. (b) Those who assist others in case of fire or flood. (c) Those who have reason to hope that by their presence elsewhere they will be able to prevent sin.

(3) By reason of their office or occupation the following are excused from hearing Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation: (a) Soldiers on duty; watchmen in cities and villages; shepherds in care of flocks; the custodians of buildings in places where but one Mass is celebrated, etc. The superiors of all such persons, however, are in duty bound to permit their subjects or employees to hear Mass whenever possible. (b) Mothers and nurses who can neither leave their charges nor take them along to church. (c) Servants who cannot get away because of urgent duties. These are, however, obliged to hear Mass if they can do so without great inconvenience, e. g., by rising earlier in the morning. In case they are prevented by their employers, they may acquiesce if they have reason to fear serious consequences, but if the inconvenience to be apprehended is light, they should do their duty and bravely make the sacrifice which it involves. If they are regularly or frequently prevented from going to church on Sundays, servants should seek another position. (d) Those who have to prepare food or provide other necessaries of life; but where there are several Masses, such persons, with a modicum of good will, ought to be able to attend one of them.

(4) Custom in some countries or places ex- cuses certain classes of persons from attendance at Sunday Mass. Among these classes we will mention: (a) Women for a month or six weeks after childbirth. (b) Widows who remain secluded at home for a month after the death of their husbands. (c) Brides in countries where it is not customary for them to attend Mass on the Sundays when the banns of marriage are proclaimed.⁴⁰

⁴⁰ In the above we have followed Noldin, Summa Theol. Mor., II, pp. 282 sqq.

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).

486. The causes excusing from the obligation of hearing Mass can all be reduced to physical or moral inability or, as others say: necessity, charity, and office excuse from the obligation of hearing Mass.

Since the precept of hearing Mass is not reckoned among the greater precepts of divine law and pertains rather to ecclesiastical law, "any moderately grave cause excuses, namely, one which involves some notable inconvenience or harm in the goods of the soul or body of oneself or one's neighbor."⁶⁹³ Dispensation in this law will be discussed below in n. 498.

a) By reason of necessity the following are excused:

1. the sick and convalescents who, because of bodily weakness, prudently fear some detriment to health from assistance at Mass. In doubt, the judgment of a physician, confessor, or another prudent and religious person suffices. To the sick in this matter are to be equated hysterical persons, pregnant women, and other persons who can breathe the air of the church only with difficulty;

2. those who are far distant from a church, so that they cannot approach the church without notable labor or expense. But what constitutes a long distance that excuses cannot be determined mathematically, because this depends greatly upon the particular circumstances of the person, place, time, inclemency of the air, etc. Thus a journey of one hour is not a grave inconvenience for most persons when the weather is clear and the road level and easy; but it is an excusing cause if one must proceed in snow, under rain and cold, or along a rough road. Likewise, the elderly and other weak persons are more easily excused than robust young persons, as is evident of itself.

Here it is useful to note briefly that those Catholics who dwell in regions of infidels or non-Catholics far from any Catholic church do not indeed sin by omitting the hearing of Mass, since they are in moral inability to approach a church; nevertheless, they must strive according to their powers to leave such regions as soon as possible, because, as sad experience testifies, otherwise they are endangered in the orthodox faith and gradually neglect all religious exercises. Travelers are not of themselves excused from hearing Mass unless the journey was undertaken for a just and proportionate cause. Since in present times very many travelers make journeys for the sake of recreation alone, they are to be exhorted not to omit hearing Mass on days of precept because of excursions of this kind. Cf., however, what was said above in I, n. 237 concerning causes excusing from a human law;

3. those who deservedly fear loss of honor, for example, those who lack suitable clothing; girls pregnant from a fault, unless, however, their fault is already publicly known. Wherever it is judged unbecoming for a girl to assist at a Mass in which her betrothal is proclaimed, such a custom is indeed to be condemned; but while it remains in force, the girls seem to be excused from the precept of hearing Mass;

4. wives and children because of the grave indignation of a husband or parents. If, however, such indignation arises solely from hatred of religion, it must be resisted with all one's strength and is not of itself a sufficient excusing cause. The same is to be said of soldiers, who are excused from hearing Mass if they must thereby suffer grave vexations from commanders and fellow soldiers.

⁶⁹³ Thus St. Alphonsus, Theol. mor. l. 3, n. 324.

487. b) By reason of charity and office the following are excused:

1. those who must assist the sick during the time of Mass; those who hope that by their presence they can prevent the grave sins of others. For example, a servant suspects that his fellow servant is going to commit a sin of lust with a maidservant during the time of Mass, and hopes that the former will be prevented from this sin if he himself remains at home and does not go to church. In this case it is lawful to omit Mass in order to prevent the grave sin of another;

2. mothers and nurses who can neither leave little children alone nor bring them with them to church;

3. soldiers, guards of cities and flocks, several officials on the railway, and certain laborers in factories who must attend to and supervise machines;

4. generally, all who would undergo notable material harm from hearing Mass, for example, drivers, sailors, barbers, bakers, etc. Although these are sometimes excused from hearing Mass, nevertheless they are not always excused; hence let them either leave their office, if this can be done, or at least sometimes assist at Mass on weekdays. For since the Eucharist is the greatest gift granted to the world, some authors not without reason think that hearing Mass is commanded not only by ecclesiastical law, but also sometimes by divine law, just as every priest is also sometimes bound by divine law to celebrate Mass. Wherefore one who can never assist at Mass on Sundays and feast days is bound at least sometimes to assist on weekdays.⁶⁹⁴

Practical admonition. The faithful are to be earnestly exhorted to assist diligently at Mass on days of precept. For although the omission of Mass is sometimes not a sin because of excusing causes, nevertheless, as experience testifies, repeated omission is accustomed to produce the worst effects: for faith and religion gradually grow lukewarm; man becomes immersed in earthly things; he becomes weak in temptations; he easily falls into many sins.

⁶⁹⁴ Cf. Lehmkuhl, Theol. mor. I, n. 724, who thinks that by divine law a man is bound to hear Mass at least three or four times a year.

407. • Any moderately grave cause excuses from hearing Mass, or one which involves some notable inconvenience or damage in the goods of soul or body of oneself or one's neighbor. This is established from the common interpretation and custom, which is the best interpreter of laws. - Thus commonly.¹

408. You will resolve. - 1° The sick, the infirm, and convalescents are excused, whom either going out or being in church harms. (A) p. 474. Likewise those who must guard the sick.²

2° Travelers are excused, to whom no place occurs where they may be present at Mass, or who cannot interrupt the journey, because public drivers, or companions on the way, without whom the journey would not be without inconveniences or danger, refuse to stop.

3° Those are excused who guard the flock or house, or who must prepare food, or perform similar necessary things; yet if several Masses are held, all ought successively to hear Mass, insofar as it can be done.³

4° Mothers and nurses are excused who have no one to whom they can leave little children, nor can they lead them to the Church without great disturbance of those standing by. But if there are only two spouses, they will conveniently be able to be present at Mass by alternate turns.⁴

5° They are often excused who are distant far from the Church, so that they cannot go to it without great difficulty, especially in wintertime.

6° Those who dwell in the country and enjoy the supply of a priest once in a month in a church which is for them as if parochial, according to Kenrick,⁵ are not bound to make the journey elsewhere on feast days and Sundays on which the priest is absent, unless, I would except, they are distant less than three miles from some other church.

7° Those seem to be excused, for the sake of demonstrating affection toward parents and relatives, who sometimes betake themselves to places in which there will be no faculty of hearing Mass. For the rest, this must not be done often, nor lightly, nor for a long time.⁶

8° Those who, for the sake of health or of lawful recreation of mind, betake themselves elsewhere for some fixed weeks, as is the custom of many here, are excused from violation of the precept, even if the supply of hearing Mass will be lacking to them while making the journey; for that leisure and relief of mind is sometimes necessary and very often useful, nor are they compelled always to remain in a place in which there is a supply of Mass.⁷

9° In some rural places there is a custom that neighbors, especially non-Catholics, visit others in the morning of the Lord's Day, to remain with them the whole day, whereby Catholics are detained from hearing Mass. Whether in this case those are excused who remain at home lest they seem to be lacking in company and friendship must be defined from circumstances. Thus, if there is the faculty of going to church and returning to furnish the rights of hospitality, it is clear that Mass must be heard by most members of the family, although someone can remain at home for the sake of companionship; but scarcely do we judge, says Kenrick,¹ that all can ever remain at home, especially if guests have come by design, not once or twice, but rather often. - This must especially be said if Catholics visit Catholics. "For the rest," he adds, "we do not condemn him who, to avoid grave offense of others, sometimes remains at home with guests."

10° Innkeepers are not excused who on Sunday neglect Mass so that they may receive those going to the inn and are going to obtain great gain; for this is done with detriment of religion and great offense of all.²

11° Servants are excused if they cannot omit their service without grave detriment of the master, or if they are prohibited by him, nor can they easily find another master. Resolve the same concerning a wife and a son of the family, for whom grave indignation of the husband or parents is to be feared.³

12° Almost the same, proportion observed, resolve concerning those who accept or retain an office - for example in railroads - or are occupied with a trade - for example of a barber - by which ordinarily or very often they are impeded from Mass. Namely, they seem to be excused, provided: a) by leaving the office or trade they would suffer a grave inconvenience, or certainly would obtain a much worse or doubtful condition of life; b) from neglect of Mass they have not fallen or will not fall into indifferentism. Yet in every case they are to be exhorted to devote themselves to exercises of piety at home on that very day or on other days; but they are not easily to be admonished concerning a grave obligation of renouncing the office or trade, both because often this will be established only with difficulty, and because the admonition will often not be profitable.

409. Questions. - Quaer. 1° What distance excuses from Mass?

Resp. It cannot be assigned absolutely, but must be determined from the adjuncts of persons, places, and times. But regularly a distance of three miles, or a walking journey of one hour and a quarter, excuses, and even somewhat less, if it is raining or snowing, or another cause is present.¹

Yet Kenrick² judges that those who can be carried by horse or carriage are not always excused for this reason, that they are distant even ten miles from the church; "for a journey of this sort," he says, "they perform almost daily for the sake of their business; but generally," he adds, "six or seven miles are for an excuse for women, boys, and others who have not grown accustomed to a longer journey." I would add that attention must also be given to the condition of roads and of rainy or very cold weather, etc.

Quaer. 2° Is a sick person excused from Mass in doubt whether the inconvenience is sufficiently grave?

Resp. In this case one must stand by the counsel of a physician, Superior, Pastor, Confessor, or another prudent man. Indeed the sick person can also acquiesce in his own judgment if he judges thus prudently. But what if, counsel having been sought, he still remains doubtful? - Absolutely he is not bound to Mass, because while the danger of grave harm stands, one must judge that Mother Church does not obligate. - Thus very probably, says St. Alphonsus.³ - In practice it is better that dispensation be sought if it can easily be sought. Cf. n. 66. 2° and 67. c).

Quaer. 3° Does the occasion of making notable gain excuse?

Resp. Affirmatively, probably, because precepts of the Church do not obligate with very grave inconvenience, as is established from what was said n. 137. But a gain of this sort ought to be extraordinary (n. 417. 9°).⁴

Quaer. 4° Are the following excused: a) women not having clothes becoming to their state; b) girls dishonorably pregnant; c) those whose banns before marriage are being made; d) women after childbirth?

Resp. to a) Affirmatively, unless they can hear Mass very early in the morning, or in a church in which they are unknown.

Resp. to b) Affirmatively, unless they can be present at Mass secretly and without notice.

Resp. to c) Affirmatively, if either 1) they suffer notable shame because of them, or 2) somewhere there is a custom of this sort, unless nevertheless they can easily be present at Mass in which the proclamations are not made.

Resp. to d) Affirmatively, for the time determined by the custom of places,¹ unless they are already going out from the house to other places. (u) p. 474.

I Say. Any moderately grave cause excuses from hearing Mass, or one which involves a notable and at least moderate inconvenience or damage in the goods of the soul or body, one's own or the neighbor's. This is clear from the common doctrine of theologians, and from the custom of the faithful, which is the best interpreter of laws. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 324.

You Will Resolve. 1st. The sick, the infirm, convalescents whom going outdoors harms are excused, even if this harm should appear only probable. Likewise those who must guard the sick. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 325.

2nd. Those who guard the house, or who must prepare food, or perform similar necessary things, are excused. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 326.

3rd. Mothers and nurses who have no one to whom they may leave little children, nor can they bring them to church, are excused. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, ibid.

4th. Often those are excused who are distant far from the church, so that they cannot approach it without great difficulty, especially in winter time.

5th. Servants are excused if they cannot omit their service without grave detriment to the master, or if they are prohibited by him, and cannot easily find another master. Nevertheless they ought diligently to take care to remove impediments, if they can. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 327. - Reuter, n. 288.

6th. Those are excused who, if they heard Mass, would lose the occasion of notable gain. Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 332. - Elbel, n. 368.

7th. Those are excused who would suffer notable embarrassment if they went to church; for embarrassment, especially for women, is regarded as a greater inconvenience than cold or a long journey on foot. Wherefore women pregnant from a delict can be excused, or those who do not have decent clothing suitable to their proper state, or when their matrimonial banns must be made. Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 330. - Kenrick, tract. 4, part 2, nn. 20 and 21.

Question. What distance excuses from Mass?

Response. It cannot be assigned absolutely, but is to be determined from the circumstances of persons, places, and times. - According to many, regularly the distance of three miles excuses, or a journey on foot of one hour, and even something less if it were raining or snowing. But this distance among us could often seem small, especially in cities, where carriages are at hand, and also in the country, where men often and very easily use horses. Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 329; and Hom. Ap., n. 41. - Kenrick, tract. 4, part 2, n. 19.

Charles, a young Catholic, joins a cyclists’ society, or bicycle club, and is accustomed to leave home with his companions on Saturday afternoon in order to visit distant places celebrated either in history or otherwise, and to return home on Sunday afternoon. If there is a Catholic church in the place, Charles hears Mass; otherwise he spends the time going about the place. When, however, on a certain occasion he heard an instruction about hearing Mass, being moved by stings of conscience, he asked his confessor whether he had acted lawfully or not. Hence it is asked:

1. How do causes which excuse from a law and causes which exempt from it differ?

2. Is it lawful to place such causes in the way of fulfilling the law?

3. What is to be said concerning the case?

1. See this question answered, p. 80.

2. This question is answered, p. 81.

3. The case. Charles, a young Catholic, joins a bicycle club and is accustomed to go with other members of the club on Saturday afternoons to distant places of resort. They stop at the place for the night and return home on Sunday afternoon. If there is a Catholic church in the place, Charles hears Mass on Sunday morning, otherwise he spends the time in sight-seeing. An instruction on hearing

Mass puts a scruple into his head about this matter, and so he asks his confessor whether he had acted lawfully. Charles would have done wrong if he had chosen places of resort on account of there being no Church there where he could hear Mass. But this he did not do. The question for solution resolves itself into this: May a man for the sake of recreation put himself in circumstances in which he foresees that he will not be able to hear Mass on a day of obligation? Theologians answer that he may not do this on the day itself nor during the time when the law begins to impose an obligation to make ready to fulfil the law. It is difficult to determine the exact time when we are obliged to make preparations for, or not to put impediments in the way of hearing Mass of obligation. Some approved authors say that the obligation does not arise until a few hours before the day on which Mass is to be heard. Thus Génicot says: “It is lawful to undertake a journey even without a special cause, although it is foreseen that this will be an impediment to satisfying, after several days, the precept of hearing Mass. It is not lawful to undertake a journey merely for recreation when the hour for hearing Mass is now imminent. It would be lawful, from mere pleasure, to enter upon a journey which would impede attendance at Mass throughout the whole of Saturday up to one or another hour before Sunday.”¹ According to this opinion Charles did not commit sin in what he did, but he should be warned not to do it too often, and to take care not to become negligent about hearing Mass on Sundays.

1 Gury, vol. i, n. 111; Instit. Theol. Mor., vol. i, n. 116.