Arriving Late To Mass

[Cordelil]

I have noticed in some parishes many people arrive late to Mass. Being a stickler on time I of the opposite persuasion and rarely arrive late to anything.

What I have done to alleviate my irritation at this phenomenon is sit close to the front of the church where I don’t notice it as much.

What have others done to reduce their irritability of seeing people come strolling into church a hour after it’s started?

John

 

[mommyof4]

I like to be on time myself, but life does happen at times. When others come in late, I just remember the times that I myself have arrived late, and I think that maybe they had to handle a similar situation ( you know- kid having to go to the bathroom at the last minute, car problems, wardrobe issues, getting stuck by a train, etc).

 

[mflaschner]

I have noticed in some parishes many people arrive late to Mass. Being a stickler on time I of the opposite persuasion and rarely arrive late to anything.

What I have done to alleviate my irritation at this phenomenon is sit close to the front of the church where I don’t notice it as much.

What have others done to reduce their irritability of seeing people come strolling into church a hour after it’s started?

John

I pray a LOT

 

[puzzleannie]

what I work on since I cannot change the behavior of other people is to (try) eliminate in my own personality the trait of becoming irritated by the actions of others. I save emotional reactions for big things that justify a full-blown meltdown.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

I like to be on time myself, but life does happen at times. When others come in late, I just remember the times that I myself have arrived late, and I think that maybe they had to handle a similar situation ( you know- kid having to go to the bathroom at the last minute, car problems, wardrobe issues, getting stuck by a train, etc).

Around here, there can be frequent snowstorms from which the plow truck leaves a large bunker of ice in your driveway – “shoveling delay”. Or the times that the parking lot fills up early because there is a large group of First Communion kids and their families (or other special group), and you’re late because you have to drive around looking for a parking spot.

As far as reducing one’s irritability, I recommend joining the choir – it’s amazing how much you don’t see from the choir loft.

 

[SMHW]

You can see just about everything from our choir area if you are looking around.

But since the choir and most others who have some special role to play at the Mass have to be there a half hour before hand, to me it seems like EVERYONE is coming in late, even those who arrive before Mass begins. Once Mass begins I’m usually too busy trying to pay attention to the choir director/priest/deacons/readers to notice who comes in late. …unless it’s someone who is late coming in on a musical part.

 

[allhers]

I have noticed in some parishes many people arrive late to Mass. Being a stickler on time I of the opposite persuasion and rarely arrive late to anything.

What I have done to alleviate my irritation at this phenomenon is sit close to the front of the church where I don’t notice it as much.

What have others done to reduce their irritability of seeing people come strolling into church a hour after it’s started?

John

We always arrive early, my husband is a stickler for time too. Probably a good thing God put us together or I’d be one of the ones irritating you. Well, I doubt I’d be an hour late, but probably just in time. We say some prayers and read the readings for the Mass for that day and the only thing that seems to be irritating me these days is when we go to a Parish other than our own for differing reasons and someone suggest that we all stand first and greet one another, where the heck did that come from??
If we had a TLM closer to us, that’s where I’d be going.

 

[Newbie2]

what I work on since I cannot change the behavior of other people is to (try) eliminate in my own personality the trait of becoming irritated by the actions of others. .

Dittos, not to mention that I feel a bit sorry for them for what they’re missing.

 

[pnewton]

I do not believe in arriving late, nor do I think real reasons arrive that much. However, there are many that you will never convice of the importance of punctuality. Give it up. We are all different. Accept that you too have your own issues that may irritate others is a good start. Just blow it off and get back to the Mass. If their mama and daddy didn’t teach them any better, you surely will have no impact.

 

[thistle]

I have noticed in some parishes many people arrive late to Mass. Being a stickler on time I of the opposite persuasion and rarely arrive late to anything.

What I have done to alleviate my irritation at this phenomenon is sit close to the front of the church where I don’t notice it as much.

What have others done to reduce their irritability of seeing people come strolling into church a hour after it’s started?

John

Why do you get irritated? Stop judging them. You do not know the reason they are late.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

From my chair (sitting in the front facing the people) I can see everyone that comes in late. However, from the moment the entrance song has begun my mind is focused on the Mass and not on people arriving late. I never really notice it unless they interrupt my homily when they come in late.

Deacon Ed

 

[Newbie2]

Why do you get irritated? Stop judging them. You do not know the reason they are late.

Yes, but can you understand why it’s distracting, especially with the people who are habitually late? Surely not all of them are not doing last-minute diaper changes or what not. (Sorry, don’t mean to cally your Shirley )

 

[Cordelil]

We always arrive early, my husband is a stickler for time too. Probably a good thing God put us together or I’d be one of the ones irritating you. Well, I doubt I’d be an hour late, but probably just in time. We say some prayers and read the readings for the Mass for that day and the only thing that seems to be irritating me these days is when we go to a Parish other than our own for differing reasons and someone suggest that we all stand first and greet one another, where the heck did that come from??
If we had a TLM closer to us, that’s where I’d be going.

I haven’t been to a TLM in years but the one I went to in the late 80’s was a monthly service at a California Mission and was well attended. At that Mass no more than a few people came late if that. I won’t speculate on the reasons for it due to not wanting to cause friction. Needless to say, the contrast to many regular masses and their lack of punctuality was stark.

John

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I’m late for everything. I hate being late for mass and really try to make it on time but about half the time I’m from one to five minutes late. I’m horribly embarrassed to go up the aisle after mass has started. I stay quietly in the back and try to go to a seat unobtrusively when we stand for the gospel.

It used to be that I was too embarrassed to arrive late at daily mass and would just turn around and miserably go home. On Sunday if I got to church late I’d drive 45 minutes to another parish that has a mass an hour later.

I like to sit in the front of the church when I get there before mass begins. Just pray for the people who come in late.

 

[Cordelil]

I do not believe in arriving late, nor do I think real reasons arrive that much. However, there are many that you will never convice of the importance of punctuality. Give it up. We are all different. Accept that you too have your own issues that may irritate others is a good start. Just blow it off and get back to the Mass. If their mama and daddy didn’t teach them any better, you surely will have no impact.

You are right that I have issues that bother others. Paramount among them are an ex-wife and several employers who were less than enthusiastic about my personality and habits.

John

 

[agapewolf]

I play at least 3 masses a weekend…(sometimes up to 8).

On the weekends with only 3 masses in one morning, I often go to another church for their evening Mass to research new music. I walk in the gathering space around the time of the psalm, slip in the back door when its not dead quiet so I don’t distract, and have a seat in the back. I then leave after communion (no I don’t got to Communion at this Mass when I don’t participate).

I’ve been to 3 masses already that day. I’m working. There’s a lot more than what you see.

 

[Sr_Sally]

Distracting for a moment, sure, but please don’t let it become so distracting or irritating to you that you stop focusing on the Mass! And certainly try not to keep track of who it is from week to week.

 

[nanastearns]

In The Sixties, When Mores Were More Formal, There Wre Priests In My Parish Who Would Have No Qualms About Addressing Tardiness In Front Of The Whole Congregation, Right After The Announcements And Before The Gospel Reading. After A Few Weeks Of That The Problem Decreased Greatly. Maybe Something Should Be Said Publically Today.

 

[hasikelee]

The only Mass my hubby and I can attend due to work, has us arriving 5 minutes late and leaving 7 minutes early. This allows us to attend Mass during our lunch hour on Sunday.

This is the rock concert parish with 4 priests. Each priest enjoys starting Mass on a whim, apparently, as although we arrive at the same time every Sunday, we’ve either sat in the pew for 10 minutes to wait for Mass to start or we walk in on the readings, or anything in between. Unfortunately, if we arrive to see that Mass has not started, we depressingly know that we’ll be leaving very soon after communion.

Needless to say, job search is a top priority for us.

 

[Cordelil]

In The Sixties, When Mores Were More Formal, There Wre Priests In My Parish Who Would Have No Qualms About Addressing Tardiness In Front Of The Whole Congregation, Right After The Announcements And Before The Gospel Reading. After A Few Weeks Of That The Problem Decreased Greatly. Maybe Something Should Be Said Publically Today.

I remember those days and in the 50’s. Also, church attendance for Catholics on a weekly basis was quite high back then. The only time I can remember something like that occurring was in the 80’s when a young charismatic (personality description) priest on 2 occasions admonished the people not to walk in late unless there was a momentary break in the Mass. He said it was inappropriate to break the continuity of the service.

John