Bored With Mass

Dear Sr. Edwina: My 17 year old daughter complains that Mass is boring. Would it be better to excuse her from Mass until she’s ready to come back with a willing heart?

Concerned Catholic: Sr. Edwina has seen many young people fall away from the Church because parents “let them find their own way”. So, let me respond to your question with one of my own. I am guessing that your teenager doesn’t like going to school every day either; would you be willing to excuse her from school because she’s bored?
It is my humble belief that God places children and teenagers in the loving hands of their parents because they require guidance. A teenager who is excused from going to school will most likely never graduate. Likewise, a teenager who is excused from attending Mass will view their Catholic heritage as unimportant and will never develop the roots and spiritual depth that will see them through many of life’s difficulties.
Let me offer proof. The National Study of Youth and Religion have found religious service attendance to correspond with higher academic success, lower delinquency rates, fewer propensities toward alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and religious teens are less likely to become sexually active at a young age.
I’m certain, dear Christian, that you want only the best for your child. The best God has for all of us includes a well rounded spiritual life and solid faith formation.