Catholic mass and its healing implications for the addicted person

Area of Science:

• Spirituality and Addiction Recovery
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Sociology of Religion

Background:

• Alcoholism and addiction recovery are significant public health concerns.
• The role of religious practices in addiction recovery is increasingly recognized.
• Catholic Mass offers a unique spiritual and communal context for adherents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of recovering alcoholics/addicts attending Catholic Mass.
• To understand the relationship between Catholic Mass participation and sustained recovery.
• To identify potential spiritual and social benefits derived from Mass attendance.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing open-ended interviews with 12 participants.
• Convenience sampling of individuals recovering from alcoholism/addiction in California.
• Phenomenological data analysis to capture participants' unique perspectives and vocabulary.

Main Results:

• Participants reported Mass provided a sense of community and spiritual grounding.
• Experiences of Catholic Mass were perceived to offer structure and meaning to recovery.
• Both lifelong Catholics and converts found value in Mass participation for sobriety.

Conclusions:

• Catholic Mass can serve as a supportive element in the recovery process for some individuals.
• The spiritual and communal dimensions of religious services may enhance addiction recovery efforts.
• Further research is warranted to explore these connections across diverse populations and religious contexts.