Have you ever walked out of church during Mass?

[catharina]

Liturgical abuse can be really bad. I’ve been tempted to walk out on several occasions because I just couldn’t stand it but managed to force myself to stay and offer it up. I normally don’t take communion in such situations because it doesn’t seem right.

Have you ever left during Mass? Can that be justified?

I hope it can be justified because I did it once.
It was the Christmas Eve Mass at a local cathedral.
One of our group was Jewish and it was his first attendance at Mass.
Come the Offertory procession, the choir began singing
“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and without a word,
the other Catholics and I agreed to leave at once - and
to get our Jewish friend OUT OF THERE lest he be shocked at
the irreverence. That was in 1973. Since then, that cathedral
has been torn down and a new one now exists.

Fine with me.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I think that you’ve misinterpreted what I said. I agree with you that I do not have the right to take the Mass into my own hands as you describe above. But if the music director feels that all the hymns will be secular songs, or none of them will be in the missalettes (if in fact we have them) such that I sit there and am 'entertained, or the lectors or extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist dress as clowns, or Father preaches a sermon on why Obama or the Tea Party-ers are so bad, or during the Prayers of the faithful people get up and offer their won petitions such as ‘That the Church will see error of Her ways and ordain Women to the preisthood’ … then I do have the right to walk out … and quickly

God bless

Tony

How many times have these things happened to you personally? Did it all happen at the same parish? Did you speak to the priest or bishop? And on that Sunday, did you go to another Mass?

 

[velvetsky]

I walked out of Mass once because I had the giggles. Actually it was more like a laughing fit. The priest was proclaiming the Gospel about the apostles seeing Jesus walk to them on the water and they thought he was a ghost…only he didn’t say “ghost” but “goat.” My friend looked at me and said, "did he say goat?’ The two of us started giggling and could not stop. We moved further away from each other to calm down, eventually to either ends of the pew. But we kept turning to look at each other and would crack up again. Finally, after I could not contain myself any longer, I walked out and came back in time for communion, by which time I had calmed down in the vestibule. But wouldn’t you know it, there were no EMHCs and my friend went up to help. I went up to receive and got the giggles again.

After Mass we went to the priest, whom we knew very well and were friends with (still am) and apologized. He understood, but did mention that he corrected himself. We also apologized to the woman sitting behind us but she said it happened to her once. Anyway, it led to some good teasing back and forth with the priest over the next few days, and now and then, when that reading comes up, even though it is YEARS later, I send him an e-mail reminding him the word is “ghost” not “goat.”

Thanks for sharing this, me and my husband had a giggle about it.

 

[distracted]

Quite a long time ago, when one of the priests in a church I used to attend would preach, I would get extremely uncomfortable - I didn’t know why, because it wasn’t anything he said. I would get very anxious and feel that I just couldn’t sit there for another minute. I never actually left while he was speaking, but it was such a trial that eventually, when I saw that he was going to be giving the homily, I would quietly leave while we were standing up for the gospel and come back in afterwards for the creed, so I didn’t have to listen to him.

This lasted for a few months. Some time later he left the Catholic priesthood, married, and became a pastor in a Protestant church!

wow, thanks for sharing… 'cause it makes me think of… how i also have had bad feelings toward certain priests…

again, the homily is not anything close to being the most important part of the Mass… If you miss it, no big deal… and sometimes it is best to miss it… if the priest is unorthodox and/or says things that aren’t… well… fill in the blanks…

i dont think you should leave for petty reasons… like u dont like his hair style but…

 

[distracted]

I hope it can be justified because I did it once.
It was the Christmas Eve Mass at a local cathedral.
One of our group was Jewish and it was his first attendance at Mass.
Come the Offertory procession, the choir began singing
“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and without a word,
the other Catholics and I agreed to leave at once - and
to get our Jewish friend OUT OF THERE lest he be shocked at
the irreverence. That was in 1973. Since then, that cathedral
has been torn down and a new one now exists.

Fine with me.

gee, sure am learning a lot at this thread…

i had no idea this kind of thing happened …

so after you heard the Chstnuts Roasting song… did you also hear the Twilight Zone theme music as well…?? :hypno:

 

[Monica4316]

Liturgical abuse really upsets me… but I’d probably only walk out if the Consecration was invalid. Otherwise, I think we should stay there and perhaps offer reparation to Our Lord.

 

[catharina]

gee, sure am learning a lot at this thread…

i had no idea this kind of thing happened …

so after you heard the Chstnuts Roasting song… did you also hear the Twilight Zone theme music as well…?? :hypno:

It happened.
It was a long time ago.
I hated it.
I still hate it.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Um, no, you don’t have any such right, not the way you seem to mean it. If the priest determines that it will be a low Mass with no music, you don’t have a “right” to spontaneously sing an offertory hymn while he is doing the offertory. If he determines that the Mass will be sung with all the Gregorian propers and ordinary, you don’t have a “right” to bellow Holy God We Praise Thy Name over top of it. You can “praise the Lord” in your heart but you don’t get to determine the externals of how that’s going to be done. If you don’t find Gregorian chant very conducive to praising the Lord, well, that’s too bad (literally, in the sense that it’s regrettable; but also figuratively, in the sense that you just have to deal).

The same applies to crying babies and rowdy kids (“I left Mass because I couldn’t concentrate!”), awful sermons (“I left Mass because I didn’t like what the priest was saying!”), and liturgical dance (“I left Mass because I don’t approve of liturgical abuse!”). Mass just isn’t all about what you want, what you get out of the experience, whether you approve of it, or how much you enjoy it.

Or I suppose we could say you have the right to walk out, as long as you go to a later Mass to meet your Sunday obligation! Anyone who knowingly shirks his obligation just because he doesn’t like the Mass, has at least one sin to confess.

So my father should have stayed while they were having a “liturgical strip tease”? Showing their boobs, albeit accidentally but still showing their boobs while claiming to be dancing liturgically. Naw, I don’t think so, I would have left right then and there.

I agree that sometimes we have to suck it up but when things get so bad that you just can’t stand by to watch, what good is it doing Jesus? (so bad as to be practically undressed)

I almost walked out once when our Catholic choir turned our congregation into a “baptist revival” but sucked it up and decided to start attending at another Parish. There are SOME things you can suck up and there are others that are not suck-up-able.

 

[distracted]

So is this to say that Catholics should simply tolerate Liturgical abuses, and Priests who are obvious Heretics?

If a Mass is not performed in accordance with doctrine, we DO have the right to walk out and find one that is. Forcing one’s self to endure something that we’re uncomfortable with does not foster our relationship with God - it detracts from it.
We do what we believe is the best thing for that relationship, and if it means leaving Mass because something wasn’t right, so be it.

E.A.

wow… i could SO relate to this post…

i have tried it both ways… i’ve tried enduring the unorthodox stuff in the homilies… :banghead:uch: and i have walked out… walking out is better… i agree… dont think God wants us to just accept any old suffering just so we can have sufferings to offer up…

whatever we do to ourselves, we do to Jesus (St Mt 25:31)… He said that whatever we do to someone who is the least of his brethren, we do to Him… That would seem to include self… so why should we subject Jesus to torture??? and there is no need for it becaues the homily is NOT important… I know of a priest who during daily Mass doesn’t even have a homily about half the time…

i am willing to suffer in many ways to convert souls… and expiate my sins… but listening to smeone who is… a heretic is NOT a suffering i choose, nor do i believe for one minute that God wnats us to…

Jesus stood up to such things… he stood for truth… When necessary, he called people hypocrites and vipers and liars…

this is sometihng i dont like about billy Graham… he never seems to w ant to confrotn people… .like bill clinton on the abortion issue… he acted like it was more important to be some kind of “friend” to the guy… Yikes!! I really like BG aside from that kind of thing…

i’m sick of this PC nonsense … that not hurting someone’s feelings is now the 1st commandment

 

[distracted]

Liturgical abuse really upsets me… but I’d probably only walk out if the Consecration was invalid. Otherwise, I think we should stay there and perhaps offer reparation to Our Lord.

i walk out during the homily and then come back…

 

[distracted]

So my father should have stayed while they were having a “liturgical strip tease”? Showing their boobs, albeit accidentally but still showing their boobs while claiming to be dancing liturgically. Naw, I don’t think so, I would have left right then and there.

I agree that sometimes we have to suck it up but when things get so bad that you just can’t stand by to watch, what good is it doing Jesus? (so bad as to be practically undressed)

I almost walked out once when our Catholic choir turned our congregation into a “baptist revival” but sucked it up and decided to start attending at another Parish. There are SOME things you can suck up and there are others that are not suck-up-able.

i totally agree…

and i really admire your father for walking out… most men i’ve ever known… geeze…

 

[momor]

No, we do not have to tolerate true liturgical abuse. But the middle of Mass is not the place to start making your feelings known. If it is your parish, you need to make an appointment with the priest and speak to him about whatever issue is the problem. If it id truly against the rules (ceramic chalice say) and the priest refuses to fix it, then involve the Bishop. If you don’t like the homilies or the clothes worn by other parishioners, you can charitably request changes, but that it no reason to leave during Mass.

If some external issues bothers you that much, certainly find another parish. But I would also suggest that you work on closing your mind to distractions and becoming more forgiving of your fellow parishioners.

Mrs Sally, I agree with you 100%. If it’s bad enough that a person feels the Mass is abused or invalid then they are obligated to take the matter up with the pastor/bishop later, not just walk out.

With regard to being upset by what other parishioners do, I’d like to tell a story on myself.
I started going to daily Mass at my parish and there was one woman who had a habit of coming in during the consecration and expected people to move down the pew or in some way make room for her, disrupting our attention. I felt this was so disrespectful of Jesus and the congregation that I was mightily irritated by it. I couldn’t understand why the priest didn’t ask her not to interrupt. It bothered me so much that I found myself getting annoyed and anticipating her disruption even before she got there. This was really impacting my attention and my state of mind and heart.

I finally decided that this was not about her, it was about me and my attitude. I was letting someone else come between me and Jesus. I worked on forgiving her and being tolerant. Eventually I lost all irritation at her interruptions and I no longer pay any attention. It was an opportunity for me to learn tolerance and it has extended beyond just this one situation. Having to work on my tolerance and forgiveness during the Mass was a real blessing and I believe I was given greater grace to do so. What started out as a real irritation and distraction turned into a great gift. God works in mysterious ways for sure!

 

[steve975]

This is a tough one because I can see both arguments. On the one hand, I can see how walking out would be legitimate if there is a certain level of abuse at the Mass. I can especially see doing this if you have children with you who may be exposed to scandal or be led astray by remaining and witnessing some type of abuse at Mass, such as a homily that does not teach in accordance with Church doctrine. However, I still believe that on a day of obligation, you would be obligated to attend another service after walking out.

On the other hand, I can see the argument that walking out would be a form of pride, and also that it is not necessary because the Mass would most likely still be valid. For example, I remember reading a vision by Mother Theresa (I think it was Mother Theresa) where she went up to receive Communion and saw the devil or demons with their grip around the priest and I believe the priest’s throat. But the Communion was still there unscathed. She took this as an indication that although the priest was living in sin or in the grip of evil, Christ was still present in the Eucharist and the devil was powerless to prevent that despite what he did to tempt or win over the priest. And I would also have to say that I think that an occasion where the abuse would be so bad so as to cause scandal to oneself or children by remaining would have to be exceedingly rare. There would be a very fine line between reasonably concluding a Mass is invalid or scandal is being created and leaving more because you don’t like something or your pride makes you think you know better.

 

[steve975]

I finally decided that this was not about her, it was about me and my attitude. I was letting someone else come between me and Jesus. I worked on forgiving her and being tolerant. Eventually I lost all irritation at her interruptions and I no longer pay any attention. It was an opportunity for me to learn tolerance and it has extended beyond just this one situation. Having to work on my tolerance and forgiveness during the Mass was a real blessing and I believe I was given greater grace to do so. What started out as a real irritation and distraction turned into a great gift. God works in mysterious ways for sure!

I need to take a page out of your book. I struggle with this same type of anger in many areas in life and have for a long time.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Mrs Sally, I agree with you 100%. If it’s bad enough that a person feels the Mass is abused or invalid then they are obligated to take the matter up with the pastor/bishop later, not just walk out.

With regard to being upset by what other parishioners do, I’d like to tell a story on myself.
I started going to daily Mass at my parish and there was one woman who had a habit of coming in during the consecration and expected people to move down the pew or in some way make room for her, disrupting our attention. I felt this was so disrespectful of Jesus and the congregation that I was mightily irritated by it. I couldn’t understand why the priest didn’t ask her not to interrupt. It bothered me so much that I found myself getting annoyed and anticipating her disruption even before she got there. This was really impacting my attention and my state of mind and heart.

I finally decided that this was not about her, it was about me and my attitude. I was letting someone else come between me and Jesus. I worked on forgiving her and being tolerant. Eventually I lost all irritation at her interruptions and I no longer pay any attention. It was an opportunity for me to learn tolerance and it has extended beyond just this one situation. Having to work on my tolerance and forgiveness during the Mass was a real blessing and I believe I was given greater grace to do so. What started out as a real irritation and distraction turned into a great gift. God works in mysterious ways for sure!

Good story–a great witness to the rest of us. I am as easily distracted by the next person and work on this all the time. At every Mass I thank Our Lord for the reverance of my pastor and parish priests. No need to worry about illict or invalid here. (We do have plenty of annoying parishioner behavior though! )

 

[nsper7]

Are there any Church rules that require the laity to vacate a poorly done Mass, thus meaning they have to go to a second Mass to fulfill the Sunday/Holy Day obligation?

 

[Erin_Anne]

Yes! Tolerate it for the whole hour … and then find a different Mass to go to next week.

We should not support the practices of any individual Priest or Church that ignores rubrics and law in favor of their own ideas. To tolerate it, even for the hour, is spitting in the face of the Magisterium.

As long as you meet your obligation that day (and don’t commit a sin while leaving, like yelling “You should be ashamed of yourselves!” and storming out).

That’s not the issue at hand. We already know the obligation has to be met, and no one said anything about making a scene by leaving the Mass.

Haha, try telling that to any of God’s beloved martyrs.

I think you missed the point there. I’m referring to being uncomfortable in Church and the things that are going on around you.

No, you do what God and the Church tell you is the best thing for that relationship. You don’t have to follow your heart; people’s hearts and intuition lead them astray all the time. The Enemy is pushing for the dictatorship of relativism: “Oh, I just do what I believe is best, and I have the right not to do anything I think is wrong!”

I’m bolding that last line because it seems you are not quite understanding what is being said, and in a way you’re proving my point…
Rubrics and Law are in place for a reason. They are NOT open to interpretation, or alteration. We have the obligation to NOT do, or support what we know is against doctrine.

E.A.

 

[Erin_Anne]

wow… i could SO relate to this post…

i have tried it both ways… i’ve tried enduring the unorthodox stuff in the homilies… :banghead:uch: and i have walked out… walking out is better… i agree… dont think God wants us to just accept any old suffering just so we can have sufferings to offer up…

whatever we do to ourselves, we do to Jesus (St Mt 25:31)… He said that whatever we do to someone who is the least of his brethren, we do to Him… That would seem to include self… so why should we subject Jesus to torture??? and there is no need for it becaues the homily is NOT important… I know of a priest who during daily Mass doesn’t even have a homily about half the time…

i am willing to suffer in many ways to convert souls… and expiate my sins… but listening to smeone who is… a heretic is NOT a suffering i choose, nor do i believe for one minute that God wnats us to…

Jesus stood up to such things… he stood for truth… When necessary, he called people hypocrites and vipers and liars…

this is sometihng i dont like about billy Graham… he never seems to w ant to confrotn people… .like bill clinton on the abortion issue… he acted like it was more important to be some kind of “friend” to the guy… Yikes!! I really like BG aside from that kind of thing…

i’m sick of this PC nonsense … that not hurting someone’s feelings is now the 1st commandment

Well stated!

 

[nsper7]

I’m bolding that last line because it seems you are not quite understanding what is being said, and in a way you’re proving my point…
Rubrics and Law are in place for a reason. They are NOT open to interpretation, or alteration. We have the obligation to NOT do, or support what we know is against doctrine.

The sin of purposely committing liturgical abuse falls onto the Priest and others with said authority. Does the Church require under pain of sin that a person leave a Mass which has liturgical abuse in it, thus meaning they have to go to another Mass?

 

[choy]

Yes, I have. I was traveling and went to a parish near me for mass. While I was there the priest began to vent about some of the parishioners during his homily. A number of parishioners began to argue back with the priest. I walked out after five minutes of bickering back and forth. I do not regret it. I am not about to expose my two children to that type of nonsense.

good thing this hasn’t happened to our parish. although our priest have ranted about parishoners before, he never names them anyways, and he integrated them into his homily and he explains why the parishoner is wrong. like recently it was about people receiving the Eucharist without saying, “AMEN”