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Hi, Myungjin —
Thank you for your question.
Catholics are indeed bound to attend
Mass every Sunday. To deliberately
not attend without a legitimate excuse
constitutes grave matter and requires
that you go to Confession before
you can receive Holy Communion. Examples
of legitimate excuses would include:
- sickness
- taking care of a sick person
- lack of transportation, and
- not being
able to walk.
Confession is not a substitute for
attending Mass. The reason you go
to Confession is because failure
to attend Mass is a serious sin.
When you go to Confession, the priest
will assign you a penance according
to the sins you've committed. Beyond
the penance that you've been assigned
by the priest, you have no other
obligation, so your mother is misinformed.
While saying the Lord's prayer 33
times won't do any harm, it is not
a substitute or a requirement for
those who don't attend Mass. It would
be a requirement if a priest assigned
to you this penance in Confession
but penances that are assigned at
each Confession will vary and probably
won't be as harsh.
Finally, it sounds like you struggle
to attend Mass on Sundays regularly.
I would encourage you study the parts
of the Mass and get a better understanding
of what is happening during the Mass.
If you truly understand the beauty
of the Mass and the importance of
everything that is done,
you won't want to miss it.
John
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