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

[YourNameHere]

I pray while others sing. I do not have a good voice. Let those who have good voices sing.

 

[YourNameHere]

I say each to there own. Some people want to sing the final song. Some people would like to leave the church and leave the parking area. Some people want to stand around and socialize after Mass.
I have never been distracted by the thoughts of “getting out as soon as possible to be the traffic” but I am not one to chit chat with people after Mass.
We all are a little different in our approach to things.
The main thing is that we all go to Church on Sundays and give praise to God, and love and support our brothers and sisters in Church.
I actually think this thread is much ado about nothing. But, that is only my opinion.

 

[Augustinian]

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

Of course you’re right, but try to be understanding of the people.

I was at a church here in Pittsburgh in the suburbs for a funeral, and there were only about 100 people there, and it was really a pain to get out of the parking lot. And that wasn’t that many cars, during a big Sunday mass, its got to be a real headache.

Not every church was planned that great as far as the parking situation. Others may have been fine when they were built, but the adjacent roads have really become crazy since 1958 or whenever the plan was drawn with new subdivisions.

 

[rondirect]

The main thing is that we all go to Church on Sundays and give praise to God, and love and support our brothers and sisters in Church.

I actually think this thread is much ado about nothing. But, that is only my opinion.

I respect your opinion. But, let’s look at it this way. You say love and support our brothers and sisters in church. Are you really doing that when you turn your back on the music ministry during the Closing Song? They are singing to support you in your praise to God and took the time to rehearse and stay for you. Even if you do not have a good voice and don’t want to sing, all through this thread, I and many others have agreed to walk out is somewhat rude. Their Closing Song, in most cases, should be thematic to the Mass you just attended. Stay and listen then. They are staying, once again, for you.

To say this thread is much ado about nothing is true in your case because you don’t want to sing, but to others it is a thread of respect and support to a ministry that is there for you week after week. Show them some love.

 

[rondirect]

Of course you’re right, but try to be understanding of the people.

Augustinian, thank you for saying, “you’re right.” I can understand the people’s issue with long wait times to get out of the parking lot, but those who attend Mass should prepare themselves that it is going to take some time to get out, just like any large venue they may attend. I am respectfully sorry Augustinian, but “getting our quickly is a smarter idea,” as a reason to leave Mass early and quickly goes against my reason why we attend Mass in the first place. If that is so bothersome to people, perhaps a TV Mass might meet their needs best.

 

[YourNameHere]

I respectfully appreciate what you are saying.
But those who are in the music ministry do that because it is something that they choose to do.
Like greeters, ushers, communion givers, and money takers, etc., the music ministers are there in their own capacity doing something the enjoy and want to do to serve.
By the way, if it is disrespectful to leave before they are through singing then why do the priest, deacon, and alter servers not stay until the music ministers are done? Or they could easily wait until the final verse of a song to exit the Church.
If I offended you or others by saying that this thread is much ado about nothing, for that I apologize.

 

[rondirect]

I respectfully appreciate what you are saying.

But those who are in the music ministry do that because it is something that they choose to do.

Like greeters, ushers, communion givers, and money takers, etc., the music ministers are there in their own capacity doing something the enjoy and want to do to serve.

By the way, if it is disrespectful to leave before they are through singing then why do the priest, deacon, and alter servers not stay until the music ministers are done? Or they could easily wait until the final verse of a song to exit the Church.

If I offended you or others by saying that this thread is much ado about nothing, for that I apologize.

Thank you and I respect your comments as well. Yes, you are correct that the music ministry is there because it is what they want to do. But, they do not do it because they just want to sing. They are a serving ministry there to enhance the liturgy for the people and they do it for that reason. It’s there talent they are giving you as a gift. All I am saying is that you accept that gift of their music that is hopefully contributing to the Mass overall, and show them that you care by staying for the Closing Song. It really means a lot to them.

As far as the priest and others leaving during the Closing Song, that’s another issue in itself. Some priests do stay and sing and start to recess during the final refrain, while others do not. 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. Well, in 36 years, that has not happened. But, just because the Closing Song is the time that the clergy and servers normally recess, it does not mean that the people cannot stay and sing, or even listen out of respect for the ministry.

And, no need to apologize, IMO. We are here to voice our opinions. I take no offense, unless you turn your back on me again! LOL! Good discussion…

 

[YourNameHere]

I like your sense of humor. LOL
You have given me much food for thought.
When it come to my mind, I need all the food I can get.
And it is very likely that I will stay until the music ministry winds things up at Mass this coming Sunday. Amen

 

[rondirect]

I like your sense of humor. LOL

You have given me much food for thought.

When it come to my mind, I need all the food I can get.

And it is very likely that I will stay until the music ministry winds things up at Mass this coming Sunday. Amen

Thanks! You know, we take time to write on this board to hopefully help others, to voice our opinions, and give advise. Not all answers or comments are right or accepted graciously, but that’s life. As Catholics or people of faith, we must support each other. Yes, we falter at times and I am no exception. This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday or Easter 4, and we are all sheep in Jesus’ flock and we all need all the food we can get!

I hope that your music ministry supports the liturgy and your prayer this weekend and above all, that the words of the chosen Closing Song continues to feed you, either a song pertaining to the Good Shepherd, Easter, or going forth to spread the Good News (very thematic during the Easter Season).

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

I wonder if you might even to try to sing along? Just a little bit?
I often find that the music is more powerful, sometimes much more powerful, when I sing along. The Church knows what she is doing to have people sing along!
It’s not about people having perfect voices, it’s about singing together. Imagine if a congregation “raised the roof” with their singing - - how amazing would that be?
Also, singing is good for your sinuses! Lots of articles on that…

 

[rondirect]

I wonder if you might even to try to sing along? Just a little bit?

I often find that the music is more powerful, sometimes much more powerful, when I sing along. The Church knows what she is doing to have people sing along!

It’s not about people having perfect voices, it’s about singing together. Imagine if a congregation “raised the roof” with their singing - - how amazing would that be?

Also, singing is good for your sinuses! Lots of articles on that…

Thank you for adding that. “YourNameHere” graciously accepted the challenge to stay and if that means to listen to the choir and the pray the words they sing as one would listen to the Word, I was not going to go there yet. You know, jokingly they say that God gave you that voice, so give it back to Him regardless how it sounds. Singing, actually singing, His praises is so rewarding like you say. I just love it when on special occasions and major Holy Days when I have a full choir of 35 or so with organ, piano, guitars, percussion…it is just so joyous on all accounts. Add that to a day that is not a Holy Day, one like a Thanksgiving Eve Mass we have, where people are there because they want to be and not because of obligation, the roof gets closest to being raised. And, like I said before, they cannot leave on a patriotic song during a patriotic holiday weekend (which I really never understand why) when I have them sing all 4 verses of America, The Beautiful as an Opening Song on Thanksgiving Eve. Yes, a captive congregation, but they sing out! I get full support from my pastor to do so as well.

 

[Pup7]

The very first Mass I attended on my own was at the Cathedral, and the recessional was “Amazing Grace”.

I sang that at the funerals of my nephew and my grandfather.

I had been struggling with religion, and my life, and a whole host of other things - and had been having what I think were some very profound moments with the Holy Spirit all through that Mass, despite the basically unfamiliar liturgy and different music from what I remembered as a kid (going with my Catholic dad) and from what I knew as a Protestant.

By the end of a very familiar song, I knew where I needed to be. And it was like my family that had gone before was telling me it was okay.

Call me crazy, that’s fine. But music is a powerful thing.

 

[coop_veritatis]

I read in one of the books that you’re only supposed to leave once the Priest has left. Forgot from where I read that, but it’s written down there somewhere

 

[Mtatum1958]

Crazy, no. Sounds and smells are closely intertwined with memory and emotion. The aroma of incense, however faint, triggers memories of events that have had profound spiritual effect on me.

 

[redbetta]

I usually stay until the recessional hymn ends. However, if the song is horrendous, I will leave as soon as the priest has left.

 

[Pup7]

Can’t fault you for honesty.

(I actually liked your answer and got a chuckle out of it. No disrespect meant in the least.)

 

[Ann_Stanton]

I leave when the police officer tells me to leave.

 

[Seagull]

The longer you stay in church, after the mass,
easier it is to leave the parking lot

 

[rondirect]

I read in one of the books that you’re only supposed to leave once the Priest has left. Forgot from where I read that, but it’s written down there somewhere

Definitely correct. But, the context of this thread is why do people leave during the Closing Song?

 

[rondirect]

I leave when the police officer tells me to leave.

I got a laugh at that one…thanks. However, you bring up an interesting subject. More and more, churches are hiring the police to walk the grounds and inside the church during Mass. We do. It’s a shame.