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he first part draws us together, as we ask for forgiveness, pray together and form a common mind through reflecting on the words of Scripture. On the basis of that unity we offer our gifts of bread and wine, and receive back from God the supreme gift of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which brings us reconciliation, peace and a deep intimacy with God.
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n such circumstances you do what you can to get to Mass, even going to Mass on another day when you have time off. The Sunday ‘Vigil’ Mass, celebrated on Saturday evening, which is the first Mass of Sunday is always an option. If you can’t attend Sunday Mass for good reasons in such circumstances then it is not a sin, because you’d be there if you possibly could. In conclusion o the obligation in the Ten Commandments to keep the Sabbath holy became the duty of a Christian to celebrate the Mass on a Sunday.
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Working on Sundays? he Church expects and encourages all who can to go to Mass on Sunday, and to rest on the Lord’s Day. There are some people who are genuinely obliged to work on a Sunday, for example doctors, nurses, and emergency services. There are others who may be subject to unfair, even unjust, pressures that are placed on them forcing them to work on Sunday. Christians should be alert to this and attempt to resist where possible.
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ot to do so would be to reject one of the Ten Commandments and one of the most important instructions of Jesus, which would therefore be a very grave sin. That is why the Church teaches us that we have an obligation to go to Mass on Sundays, unless we are too ill or are physically unable to reach a Church where Mass is being celebrated.
www.ctsbooks.org ISBN 978 1 86082 252 0 | LF 5 All rights reserved. ©2004 Incorporated Catholic Truth Society. Pictures: The Polish National Pilgrimage to Rome Mass in Santa Maria Maggiore © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk, Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, Flikr. | Inside images: © Corbis Images/© Lorenzo Lees/ © Bridgeman Art Library/ © Carlos Reyes-Manzo.
WHY SHOULD I GO TO MASS ON SUNDAY?
Sunday is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation - Why?