A friend of mine went to confession because she had missed mass on Sunday and believed she had committed a mortal sin. The priest told her that not going to mass is a serious sin, but not a mortal one. I am sure that not going to mass on Sunday is a mortal sin, because it violates the third commandment. Or can you replace it by going on a weekday?
John Paul II, in the post-synodal exhortation Reconciliatio et paenitentia of 2 December 1984, wanted to recall that in the doctrine of the Church grave sin is identified with mortal sin:
«It always remains true that the essential and decisive distinction is between sin which destroys charity and sin which does not kill supernatural life: there is no middle ground between life and death [...] therefore, serious sin is identified practically, in the doctrine and pastoral action of the Church, with mortal sin" (n. 17). There is therefore no third kind of sin, because all grave sins are mortal and all mortal sins are grave.
On 8 December 1870, Blessed Pius IX proclaimed Saint Joseph the patron saint of the universal Church. In difficult moments for the historical events of the Italian Church, Pius IX begins his Decree with the image of Joseph the son of Jacob who in Egypt reserves the grain in the warehouses for the nourishment of that initial nucleus of the future people of Israel. In the "fullness of time" God sends another Joseph to his people with the task of educating and accompanying his Son Jesus in his stay on earth to concretely acquire the flavor of the joys and hopes of humanity.
edited by Graziella Fons
For some time, moments of silence have been recommended during liturgical celebrations. Sometimes I have the feeling of an uneasiness as if it were a soulless silence. So why when more than an elevation of the spirit it is a leaden silence?
We are used to living in the "Gehenna of noise", as our noisy time that afflicts and stuns has been called. For the spiritual journey, silence is an essential element to progress in a profound relationship with God. If we want to authentically hear the Word of God acting in our conscience it is necessary to undertake an educational path, which does not only apply to monks of seclusion. The passing silence of our celebrations is a sterile and annoying silence.