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rondirect
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Ok, the quote of the GIRM is online, but you are missing the answer to the topic.
Are Catholics and non-catholics supposed to leave a Mass When the Music Stops?
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rondirect
Guest
Have a challenge for ya: try and stay and sing with the choir. After awhile, you might just like it. The music ministry is the most demanding and hardest working lay ministry of the church…for you. Show them some love. The fact that you say that “the choir will go on and on” says a lot.
My friend, just noticed that you posted before this that you like to be very early to Mass. So, don’t worry about leaving a few moments later until the choir stops. Like I said, join in the singing! Peace.
My friend, just noticed that you posted before this that you like to be very early to Mass. So, don’t worry about leaving a few moments later until the choir stops. Like I said, join in the singing! Peace.
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Pup7
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I sang in the Methodist choir for years as a kid and as an adult. I can’t leave before they finish.
I think it’s a wee bit rude to do so. It literally takes two minutes.
We had no accompanist last week so I was super appreciative of their presence this week.
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FrancisPio
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And thus the game of the musical chairs was created.
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Usige
Guest
I will try to put this gently, but part of that seems to miss the proper place of music and music ministers in the context of the liturgy. Everyone deserves to be treated courteously, but time and effort does not mean someone is more deserving than others. I hope anyone that serves in any ministry recognizes that it is a privilege to support the Mass, but it is exactly that; a supporting role.
Music just like statues, stained glass, paintings, et cetera are there only at service to the liturgy. We should appreciate the efforts of the artists but one is no more obliged to study every painting and statue out of courteousness than they are to stay and listen to a complete song. To imply otherwise is to put music into something that lives apart from the liturgical act it supports.
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YoungApologist3
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Same here. Sometimes, I even walk out before the crucifix. Well, I am holding the thurible, so I guess that doesn’t count either.Lately I’ve walked out right before the priest or even the bishop. […] Then again, since I’m serving the altar I am in the recession so maybe that doesn’t count.
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thelibrarian
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There are people at my church that do not go up for communion for various reasons (they are attending RCIA but have not been initiated, are not Catholic and are attending with family, are too young to have received First Holy Communion or do not feel they should that day).
The etiquette during communion is if to sit with your legs close to you so that people can by you in the pew, or if you are at the end where people will be reentering, stand and allow others to reenter.
My extended family on one side is Catholic. The other side is of another Christian denomination, though several have converted to Catholicism. When the non-Catholics attend mass because they are visiting us and have come with us, or its a family celebration (Confirmation, etc), they do just that.
There is no reason to leave. Stay to hear the closing messages, enjoy the closing music and feel free to mingle
There are people at my church that do not go up for communion for various reasons (they are attending RCIA but have not been initiated, are not Catholic and are attending with family, are too young to have received First Holy Communion or do not feel they should that day).
The etiquette during communion is if to sit with your legs close to you so that people can by you in the pew, or if you are at the end where people will be reentering, stand and allow others to reenter.
My extended family on one side is Catholic. The other side is of another Christian denomination, though several have converted to Catholicism. When the non-Catholics attend mass because they are visiting us and have come with us, or its a family celebration (Confirmation, etc), they do just that.
There is no reason to leave. Stay to hear the closing messages, enjoy the closing music and feel free to mingle
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TheOldColonel
Guest
You are quite welcome to stay until they start locking the doors. No need to rush out.
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rondirect
Guest
And, I’ll try to put this gently: you’re missing my point. I never excluded any other ministry as not deserving as a supporting role. They all are and we all work together. The difference is that one cannot walk out on an usher taking up the collection, a Lector proclaiming the Word, an EM distributing Communion; but, you surely can on the music ministry who is there for you during the Closing Song. It should be mentioned also, that one must admit (and there a bunch of people here in music ministry) that no other supporting ministry is as demanding: rehearse each and every week for 1 - 2 hours, if not more for the holidays and then sing at one or even two Masses during the weekend, Holy Days, plus Confirmations and Communions. Directors need to study and know the whole liturgy and study the readings for proper songs that fit in the context of the liturgy. All right, I’ll get down from my soap box now, but how am I “missing the proper place of music and music ministers in the context of the liturgy?”
Your operative words here are “obliged…stay and listen,” so I know where you are respectfully coming from, so anything I say will not hold water with your thinking. I’m sorry, but your analytical attempt between artists of items in the church and people who work in ministry doesn’t work for me. Maybe we should study every painting and statue, and thus a complete song. In not doing so, just perhaps we are missing out on the artist’s intentions and the intricate beauty of these items; and, the musical composer’s words of a sacred song befitting of that day’s liturgy. And, thus so, it does not imply that music “lives apart from the liturgical act it supports.”
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TC3033
Guest
Personally, I usually try to excuse myself sometime before communion as I’m of a different Christian denomination. (if my youngest makes it that long). My reason to leave is I’d prefer to step out to the gathering space and meet my family there than hear about having to climb over or sit behind the non-Catholic at communion time or get the side eye from others as they walk by.
My 0.02, maybe your parish is different. That’s just me though. Once something like that happens I just try to keep myself out a recurring situation.
Now my 1 year old can’t sit for 5 min of Mass so I usually spend most of Mass in the gathering space now anyhow.
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MonteRCMS
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There are no prizes given out for being the first one to leave,
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rondirect
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Perfectly fine. Our Gathering Space (Vestibule) has a speaker in it for cases like yours.
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Loud-living-dogma
Guest
What do you mean, you’re not a singer? Part of Vatican II expects full conscious and active participation. Many parishes avoid Latin hymns so as many people will sing as possible. What do you do the rest of Mass when there is singing going on, dare I ask? 
That’s why the music ministry folks post the hymn numbers, try to lead the congregation in song, etc. I don’t understand the people who just sit there…
That’s why the music ministry folks post the hymn numbers, try to lead the congregation in song, etc. I don’t understand the people who just sit there…
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Loud-living-dogma
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Mingle? Like talk and circulate as if at a party? I thought most parishes try to encourage reverent quiet for those who are still praying?
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TC3033
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I assume outside the sanctuary in a gathering space or outside the building was implied.
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vallancec
Guest
We try to stay until the music ends and then we kneel and say a few prayers. We have small children so I say try to.
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rondirect
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Mingle and actually talk to people after Mass? Devastating…with tongue in cheek of course. LLD: people can talk quietly together with not thought of it being like a party. Also, every church is different. Our Gathering space or vestibule is rather huge and 4 wood and glass doors separate it from the main church. I’ve seen other churches where that space is within the church itself. It’s where the priest stands and greets people as well. Very few if any stay and pray in the pews. They either go to the furthest point from the vestibule and pray in front of the tabernacle which is not within the Sancturary, or go to our adoration chapel.Mingle? Like talk and circulate as if at a party? I thought most parishes try to encourage reverent quiet for those who are still praying?
Now, on occasions that require complete silence when leaving; e.g. Holy Thursday (chapel of repose and adoration next to vestibule) and Good Friday, the people are encourage to take all conversations outside the church building. We use projection screens (which I maintain and create PPT presentations to coincide with the action of the liturgy) and I remind people of this on the screens. It is very effective.
Thank you, btw, for the response to “your name here.”
“Not a singer?” I wonder if she sings Happy Birthday to you at birthday parties? My answer is yes.
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rondirect
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Leaving during the Closing Song at our Masses is norm now. What gets me the most is when people cannot stay and sing a patriotic song like God Bless America or America, The Beautiful during patriotic weekends. What’s next, taking a knee during the singing of these songs!? All I ask is for just 2 verses at most in most cases. But, I do get even (!) at our annual Thanksgiving Eve Mass when all choral groups combine and we sing all 4 verses of America, The Beautiful for the Opening Song! But, then again, these are people who want to be there…it’s a special Mass and not a Holy Day. In my many years of experience, these types of Masses is where FCAP is practiced to the fullest.
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Augustinian
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That really depends on the parking situation, sometimes getting out quickly is a smarter idea, depending on what the lot looks like and what you are pulling out to.
Here, it isn’t a problem. 50 cars is a lot for the parking lot, there is street parking, no need to be in a rush. Other churches its definitely a different story.
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rondirect
Guest
Ouch! Sorry for the outcry, but parking, IMO, should have no part in the equation as to why one should rush to leave before Mass ends, or before the Closing Song is finished. If Jesus himself should appear in the flesh among a crowded congregation (and thus a crowded parking lot) during the Concluding Rite, would anyone dare say, “nice to see ya, but I gotta run…you know the parking lot is filled.” Regardless, Christ is with us always, but spending time with Him in his Holy Temple is something to be treasured. It’s hard to articulate this, but why would you attend Mass with the distraction in your mind of getting out as soon as possible to beat the crowds? Try this instead: sit awhile and wait in prayer and leave quietly or socialize outside and in about 5 minutes you can go to a nearly empty lot. Why are some so much in a hurry to go nowhere. OK, I get the early bird special thing, but really?
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