Are Catholics and non-catholics supposed to leave a Mass When the Music Stops?

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Ah in that case, our parish church is located in a compound where traffic usually bottlenecks upon exit. To us, it’s just simply a case of wanting to beat the exit rush. All over the Philippines that seems to be the case. People don’t want to be held up leaving the Church.

I can’t say the same is true for myself. I recite the seasonal marian antiphon in front of the image of our Lady. It also helps to leave after everyone else has already left.
 
coop_veritatis said:
Ah in that case, our parish church is located in a compound where traffic usually bottlenecks upon exit. To us, it’s just simply a case of wanting to beat the exit rush. All over the Philippines that seems to be the case. People don’t want to be held up leaving the Church.

I can’t say the same is true for myself. I recite the seasonal marian antiphon in front of the image of our Lady. It also helps to leave after everyone else has already left.
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I see you are catching up on this thread. What’s interesting to me is that when most people leave early with so many others, they still meet the same traffic jam as they would if they stayed and left after the Closing Song.

I like your way!
 
There was one church where I went for daily Mass … for which they used the little chapel … and after Mass a lot of people went into the main church and spread out … so the could say their intimate personal prayers while their Host was still in their mouth.
 
rondirect said:
I always had this thought that someday the change would be made that the priest should stay and recess during the final notes of the Closing Song.
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And this is where the divide is.

At the conclusion of the Mass there is a Recessional Hymn for the purpose of . . . recession.

Those who want and perform songs and those who want a hymn don’t see across this divide.
rondirect said:
or even listen out of respect for the ministry.
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Frankly, in a great many of the RC churches I’ve attended, the “music ministry” has shown a staggering lack of respect for the congregation, which they seem to see as a captive audience for their performances.

hawk
 
Serious, honest question here. Not trying to be cute.

Is this like the orans position which is for the priest and not the congregation - is the Recessional, as we say in the military, for the “official party” (the celebrants and altar servers), or for the entire congregation?

I swear there are no ulterior motives attached to this question. I just started thinking about it.

I know technically we’re dismissed once the end is announced, but I’m curious. Honest question, I promise.
 
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Pup7 said:
Serious, honest question here. Not trying to be cute.

Is this like the orans position which is for the priest and not the congregation - is the Recessional, as we say in the military, for the “official party” (the celebrants and altar servers), or for the entire congregation?

I swear there are no ulterior motives attached to this question. I just started thinking about it.

I know technically we’re dismissed once the end is announced, but I’m curious. Honest question, I promise.
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LOL! I was thinking along the same lines when your post popped up. But, I’ll bite.
 
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dochawk said:
I always had this thought that someday the change would be made that the priest should stay and recess during the final notes of the Closing Song.

And this is where the divide is.

At the conclusion of the Mass there is a Recessional Hymn for the purpose of . . . recession.

Those who want and perform songs and those who want a hymn don’t see across this divide.

rondirect:

or even listen out of respect for the ministry.

Frankly, in a great many of the RC churches I’ve attended, the “music ministry” has shown a staggering lack of respect for the congregation, which they seem to see as a captive audience for their performances.

hawk
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Hawk, to recess during the final chorus of a Closing Song is still the process of recessing. There is no time or rule on when the priest and other ministers should start to recess. So, there is really no divide. I think you would just really dislike it if the priest stood in the aisle and sang and did not recess within your time limit.

Furthermore, speaking of divides, there is a fine line or “divide” if you will between one person seeing the music ministry performing vs. them leading the congregation from another. It’s all in the eyes and ears of the beholder. I’ve heard this argument many times: If the music ministry is strong, good and sings on key beautifully, some take the stand of them “performing.” I think some (ahem) think that if the choir is small, lousy, they are not worthy of a performance, so they are then trying their best to lead!

It is rather disheartening to hear (or read) you say, " ‘the “music ministry’ has shown a staggering lack of respect for the congregation.’ ‘’ I’ve said it so many times before, the MM of the church is one of the hardest working and dedicated lay ministries, with weekly rehearsals and requirements to be at all Holy Days, etc., and all for you to enhance your worship and prayer at Mass. It is then, IMO, rather disheartening that people turn their backs and rather not sing the Closing Song we rehearsed and claim it as "well, the Mass has ended, this song is optional, so I’ll join in an recess out the door to get out of the parking lot in a timely fashion.

Doc, you read many say in this thread, that it was rude. I mean no disrespect, but I know you know that I agree.
 
I was taught that the Recessional symbolised bringing the Evangelium into the wider world, the cross and the ’official party’ leading the way. And the congregation following, after praying or not, hurrying or not, added to that symbolism.

Edit: you cannot be faulted for leaving if you were in a rush, but it’s better if you stay another few minutes.
 
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I think there is a long tradition in the Church that the music is meant to accompany liturgical action. So I think there’s a bit of a clash of “here’s how things have been done for the past 40 years or so”, and here’s how my family has always behaved during Mass. I can’t imagine where this dichotomy in practice comes from. 🤣
 
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What do ya do when they play and sing all five stanzas … and the priest is long gone.
 
Simple. You sing. Or at least try to sing, like those of us who have horrible voices.
Let the Holy anthem rise, Amen
 
So the priest is “long gone.” What does that have to do with you staying and singing? And, what is “long,” 3 more minutes? Monte: does your music ministry always sing 5 verses of a Closing Song? That’s rare, IMO, and many songs don’t have that many verses. I plan only 2 at most; even patriotic songs that people won’t stay for which does not compute in my mind. To be frank however, I think that singing 5 verses at Closing is rather over doing it.
 
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I would stay after Mass for fifteen minutes for thanksgiving. Especially if you have received the Holy Eucharist.
 
rondirect said:
So the priest is “long gone.” What does that have to do with you staying and singing? And, what is “long,” 3 more minutes? Monte: does your music ministry always sing 5 verses of a Closing Song? That’s rare, IMO, and many songs don’t have that many verses. I plan only 2 at most; even patriotic songs that people won’t stay for which does not compute in my mind. To be frank however, I think that singing 5 verses at Closing is rather over doing it.
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It always bums me out when the Recessional is a favorite. I can’t help it. ☺️ I’m like, darn it, I know this one and I like it…lemme sing!
 
Loud-living-dogma said:
I think there is a long tradition in the Church that the music is meant to accompany liturgical action. So I think there’s a bit of a clash of “here’s how things have been done for the past 40 years or so”, and here’s how my family has always behaved during Mass. I can’t imagine where this dichotomy in practice comes from.
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From the 60s, where we were first asked to take part in the Mass and not looking at all the issues. In other Christian denominations who have been singing way before we did, the pastor sang (and still does) the Closing Song with the congregation and recesses with instrumental music only. Our Concluding Rite should have been looked at more closely, IMO, to be in line with these other denominations regarding this subject: simply add the Closing Song to the Concluding Rite, dismiss the people, and recess to instrumental music or silence. Maybe in my lifetime…but, I’m aging quickly for this to happen! LOL! And so, we have this discussion. The big change in the 60s caused so many other conflicts as well regarding music. At that time there was no clear message about it, so you got traditional at one mass and a guitar at another and many different compositions from so many composers written without guidelines, and the pastors and the people were so confused.
 
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