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Hi, Pam —
- Why do you have panic attacks
at Sunday Mass and not at daily
Mass?
- Does it have to do with the number
of people present?
- If so, have you considered either
going to an earlier Mass, or to
a smaller parish?
You might even consider going to
an Eastern Catholic parish if there
is one near you; it would be a bit
different but it is fully Catholic
and might have a much smaller congregation
in attendance.
It's important to be at Sunday Mass,
if at all possible. Don't worry about
the distraction; it's still OK to
attend Mass distracted. Perhaps if
you expose yourself to it enough,
the panic attacks will go away.
- Are
you seeing a therapist?
<That might
help.>
I am assuming
your panic attacks are truly debilitating,
making it difficult to make it through
the Mass and causing significant
trauma. If this is a matter of a
mere annoyance or inconvenience — something
you can endure with a modest amount
of effort — your obligation
to attend would probably remain.
There is a difference between a distraction, which suggest something you can readily overcome,
and something more serious and all-consuming. In any case, it would probably be
wise to go over the details of what
you experience with a priest, therapist,
or both before making a determination.
We can't really judge over the Internet
whether you are or are not obligated.
We can only set down some parameters
or articulate some principles.
Eric
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