Jimmy Akin cites the Code of Canon Law to explain why it’s not a sin to miss Mass for medical reasons and what to do on such an occasion.
Transcript:
Host: Jaelyn in Pilot Rock, Oregon, listening on 100.7 FM you’re up with Jimmy Akin. Hi Jaelyn, how are you?
Caller: Hi, I’m very good, and you?
Host: Doing well.
Jimmy: Better now that you called.
Caller: Okay. Yeah, so I am—the reason why I’m calling is cause I am visually impaired, and so winter weather can be very dangerous for me, so I had to skip going to the Mass at our local church because of it. And it was on the Immaculate Conception and the holy day of obligation, so what do you do if you have to skip a—I might have to skip Christmas because of transportation issues and weather as well, and so—basically Christmas we stay the night, and so it’s like, it’s impossible to…
Jimmy: I understand. So here’s the answer: in the Code of Canon Law, in Canon 1248 section 2, it deals with your question, and it says: “If participation in the Eucharistic celebration—” that’s Mass— “becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause—” and your visual issues and need of transportation and winter weather issues, all of that can constitute another grave cause—”it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a Liturgy of the Word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.”
So that’s really the part that’s likely to be most applicable to your situation. In your situation, participation in the Eucharistic celebration may be impossible—not because there’s an absence of a minister, there there may be a priest at the local parish who can say Mass—but you may not be able to get there for another grave cause, such as the transportation and winter weather issues that you mention.
And so in that case, if—you also likely wouldn’t be able to make it to a parish for a Liturgy of the Word if they were having one—and that means the part of the Canon that would most directly apply to you would be the latter suggestion, that you devote yourself to prayer for a suitable time; either alone, or as a family, or, if there are other families, over as a group. So that would be the Church’s recommendation.
Now you’ll notice it’s a recommendation. It’s not a mandate. And so if, for a legitimate reason, you can’t get to Mass, you’re not obligated, you’re not bound under pain of sin, to do this; but the Church hopes that you will do it if you’re able as a way of fulfilling the spirit of the Eucharistic celebration, even though you’re not able to attend one. So if you’re able, the Church recommends—but does not require—that you spend a suitable amount of time in prayer.