Ok, so I'm sitting here in the hospital with the baby. I cannot make any of the Sunday morning masses here locally in the morning (can't leave the baby alone in the room for any length of time - wouldn't want to anyway), but the wife will relieve me tomorrow late afternoon. Therefore, I can make a 5:30pm Mass and hit the road by 6:30 or so....

That would Normally be so problem, but we live nearly 3 hours away, which means I'm getting home around 9:30 at the earliest. That's not the problem though - the problem is someone will be watching our other 5 children (including the 2 y/o). I feel a great sense that's really asking a lot of our friends....and it's late to get them into bed on a school night.

I'm torn - I never miss mass....

But this entire issue has got me thinking about this type of thing in a general sense.

When do circumstances create a situation where's missing Mass can be morally acceptable? How does one properly judge that situation?

A rule of thumb is that a journey of more than one hour one way excuses you from the obligation.

That's how I've always heard it, so...you would be okay. Also, because it's ONCE in a very, very, very rare and long time...Could you read your Missal at the hospital and make a spiritual communion? for you and the family!

The Church is only a mile away, so getting there would take 5 minutes. So does one consider the entire length of the trip or just the time it takes to get to Mass?

Please forgive the scrupulous side of me on this one.

Add in your journey home and average it, I guess. Seriously, I think you're OK on this one.

Sadly, I don't have a missal with me.

I do have the LOTH though.

You can read the readings of the day at usccb.org

Great idea!

One of the nurses just said she could work it out for me to make either the 8:30 or noon Mass at the Cathedral (Litte Rock)!

I had asked her if they had mass in the chapel at the hospital. She said "no" and I replied, "oh well, no biggie". So she comes back 20 minutes later with a list of local churches and mass times that would likely work with her schedule. I said, "its really no big deal, don't mess up your routine or anything.". And she came back that it was no big deal for her either.

Here's the kicker - I had just said a quick prayer earlier and asked the Lord that if He could work it out so I could go to mass!

I'm cautious with this post because I'm sure Mother Angelica worded it exactly right and a minor detail off here and there on my part may change her statement, but along with being an obligation to attend mass, we also have an obligation to be there in emergency's for our family, and I think you made the right call by taking care of your family at that time when they needed you to.

I've noticed recently that He's rather compliant with that kind of request.

Ya know, I'm starting to notice that as well.