King Frederic William of Prussia was a God-fearing man, and always went to Church on all Sundays and Holy Days. One rough December morning he remarked how few people there were in church; evidently they had not liked to venture out in such bad weather.

In the evening of the same day the king drove to the theater. The weather had not improved; on the contrary, the snow was beating down more fiercely than in the morning, yet the theater was crowded.

Perceiving this, the king remarked to his attendants "People will make any sacrifice for the sake of pleasure, but not for God's sake."

We are only excused from our Sunday (and Holy Day) obligations if, by attempting to travel to the church, we will be seriously harmed. Bad weather and a long distance from church do not always hinder us from attending Mass.