Have you ever walked out of church during Mass?

[Contra_Mundum_1]

QUOTE MarkThompson: *I’m not sure how to say this, except: the Church requires that we go to Mass on holy days of obligation (including all Sundays). There are exceptions for physical illness, impractical travel, no Mass available, etc. *

Many posters here focus on the sunday obligation. Which is a relevant point but it seems to me that there is an assumption that the person who leaves a particular Mass won’t go to another one. I suspect that a person who has an understanding of what the celebration of Mass ought to be like according to the rubrics is also aware of the fact that there is such a thing as a sunday obligation.
If I were to leave a Mass I’d make sure I went to another one. I suspect most people here would, right?

 

[SunnaB16]

I think the discussion is pretty well within the ambit of “walk[ing] our of church during Mass,” though I think this particular horse has been flogged.

As to the rest, I was trying to respond not only to you specifically but to the general thread of the comments above, so I apologize if you thought I was putting words in your mouth or accuse you of not going to Mass or something.

No Worries. No apology necessary.

i was a bit snappy…having just previously been involved in a rapidly deteriorating dispute with a pack of SSPX promoters! And just before that: a “priestess” supporter!

 

[roadsend]

QUOTE MarkThompson: *I’m not sure how to say this, except: the Church requires that we go to Mass on holy days of obligation (including all Sundays). There are exceptions for physical illness, impractical travel, no Mass available, etc. *

Many posters here focus on the sunday obligation. Which is a relevant point but it seems to me that there is an assumption that the person who leaves a particular Mass won’t go to another one. I suspect that a person who has an understanding of what the celebration of Mass ought to be like according to the rubrics is also aware of the fact that there is such a thing as a sunday obligation.
If I were to leave a Mass I’d make sure I went to another one. I suspect most people here would, right?

Right. You suspect correctly (given the above exclusions).
However, I do not believe that the Church in any way expects or requires us to condone by our presence and participation any Mass which includes sacrilege or disrespect.
On the contrary, if we know ahead of time that a Mass is likely to be sacrilegious or disrespectful, I believe that we have an obligation to avoid it.

 

[jmcrae]

It would be terribly wrong for me to leave Mass on such a holy occasion. However, my Protestant friend could not receive communion, and while I would have advised her to not have come had I known she would have had to leave early, I felt like it would be wrong for me to insist that she stay. Yes, we cannot be cavalier with the Mass. You shouldn’t go in and out.

A week from the incident, it still causes me great inner distress. My confirmation sponsor’s wife, being born in the era of the Latin Mass, could not imagine why someone would commit sacrilege by abandoning Christ in the sacrifice, and would therefore not allow it.

Your Confirmation sponsor has no authority over your friend. She could have expressed disapproval, but she didn’t have the right to block the way.

People - good traditional Catholics; not only uneducated persons - come and go from Mass at odd times all the time, even in the Tridentine form of the Mass - it is not our place to judge them and certainly not our place to correct them if they are not under our authority.

 

[davinpa]

One day, I remember there was this fellow who decided to arrive for communion, and then leave. As he left, the priest saw her leaving and he asked the servers to actually get two candles and flanked her. Since then no one dares to leave mass early when he is celebrating mass.

 

[distracted]

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!

the funny thing is, when people are talking (and usually about worldly, vain, unimportant things, though God knows, really…) while i am meditating in the Church prior to Mass… I can totally block out their conversation… One time i even tried to focus on what they were saying and i couldn’t… kinda weird but probably becasue i didnt’ CARE what thye were talking about in the slightest…

and/or i was focused so much on Jesus… actually both…

 

[distracted]

One day, I remember there was this fellow who decided to arrive for communion, and then leave. As he left, the priest saw her leaving and he asked the servers to actually get two candles and flanked her. Since then no one dares to leave mass early when he is celebrating mass.

1st u say “this fellow” then you say “her”…

 

[distracted]

, if we know ahead of time that a Mass is likely to be sacrilegious or disrespectful, I believe that we have an obligation to avoid it.

what if there is no other Mass we can attend at that time? (assuming the Consecration is valid)

 

[distracted]

I’m still wondering. If one were to walk out of Mass because of something the priest said, do they still have to fulfill their Sunday obligation. I can understand if it were a serious liturgical abuse, such as a lay person giving the homily or clowns making balloon animals in communion line, but what if it was a small comment that the priest made? Some people do have a tendency to take things out of context, so how do we judge what permits us to walk out of Mass and not fulfill our Sunday obligation?

i only walk out on the homily… and i’m sure others here do as well…

 

[Saffy]

I have had to walk out of Mass many times but not because of the actual Mass or Priest. I suffer from (usually) mild panic attacks. But, when the parish is especially crowded or something else sets it off I can’t stay. I usually go outside for some fresh air and then try to return by standing in the back. I hate it!

 

[Lutheranteach]

I’ve seen a number of people walk out, or turn their backs when about to receive the eucharist and then walk out in protest over church closings. I’ve also seen about 20 people chant “sit down, shut up, Judas” when Bishop Lennon was making remarks at a church closing.

 

[ocleirbj]

“With regard to being upset by what other parishioners do, I’d like to tell a story on myself.
…
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.”

This is a very encouraging story! I have been working on forgiving our church organist for a long time, and I’m about half way there.
On the negative side: he plays the organ like a piano; sometimes rushes through everything, except for slowing down to a dirge on the last line; changes the last chord of anything in the minor key to an intrusive sentimental major; only ever plays two verses of any hymn.
It all makes me really crabby! Argh! (Although I have never actually walked out)
On the positive side: He is always there - he’s so faithful. He has a great singing voice for leading with. He plays for another parish as well as our own. He is clearly serving God the best way he can.
In the past year I have noticed that I don’t get so angry any more at some of these things, and I can “let it go” much more easily. But it’s been hard work!
Thanks be to God for a faithful musician giving his talents and time to the church.
Lord, have mercy on me, an argumentative, perfectionist, grouchy sinner!

 

[ljubim]

I’d say, unless you’re 100% sure the Mass is illicit, or have impressionable children/people of other religions, then stay until the priest dismisses you and never return!

The worst Mass I have ever been to was a massive teen Mass, with the Bishop presiding! Loud Christian rock (were all Catholic songs? I think not) complete with booming bass shook the room, distasteful pronunciations of standard words (Hose-Anna, Eyyy-men) were sung by the band, (who were on a stage next to the altar). Besides the processional crucifix in the corner, there was none. During the entrance and exit songs, everybody was jumping and dancing (as in the congregation!) around me, and I just stood there on the brink of tears being knocked around. Nobody kneeled during the consecration. The chalices and patens(and I think leftover Eucharist!!! Nobody carried anything out) were left uncleaned on the makeshift altar during a loud slideshow of pictures after Mass. I ran out in distress the moment the bishop left, genuflecting to the “dirty dishes”, and broke down sobbing in the bathroom. Later people who had seen my reaction said it was “funny” and that “times are changing.”

I really cannot think of anything worse than this (besides perhaps witnessing desecration. But is this really anything more than what I saw?) But still I didn’t leave. We should see the Mass through unless it’s not a Mass, and be that one person aware of Christ’s presence. I completely agree with the “spiritually fed” argument, but that’s why we don’t go back. (I’m also a TLM’er now God can use trauma to get us where He wants us to be.)

 

[mardukm]

I find the rhetoric of extreme traditionalists highly ironic - at best - and highly hypocritical - at worst.

The argument these extremists have against the NO is that it is too “horizantal” in its purpose - i.e., meant to cater to the emotions and feelings of the congregation, a show - instead of “vertical” - i.e., focused on worship of God almighty.

Yet, when I hear or read of the reasons these people give to justify walking out of Mass, it’s all about their own emotions and feelings. They offer no proof that the Mass is disrespectful to God, or is in fact illicit, aside from their subjective feelings.

I go to Mass/Divine Liturgy to be fed by Scripture and the Body and Blood of Christ. I don’t go for the music, I don’t go for the homily, I don’t go for the fellowship. These are all secondary. When you let consideration of such matters rule your attitude towards Mass, aren’t you guilty of the same things you so wish to criticize?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Erin_Anne]

They offer no proof that the Mass is disrespectful to God, or is in fact illicit, aside from their subjective feelings.

A disrespectful and/or illicit Mass would be the only reasons to walk out. If we simply don’t ‘like’ the Priest, or the particular Church - we just don’t return there, but blatant disregard for rubrics, and heresy are not tolerable – they shouldn’t be acceptable to any Catholic regardless of whether they’re a Traditionalist or not.

 

[mardukm]

A disrespectful and/or illicit Mass would be the only reasons to walk out. If we simply don’t ‘like’ the Priest, or the particular Church - we just don’t return there, but blatant disregard for rubrics, and heresy are not tolerable – they shouldn’t be acceptable to any Catholic regardless of whether they’re a Traditionalist or not.

Better to remain and speak to the priest about it afterwards, or the bishop if necessary. You remain out of respect for the Lord, if no one else. Leaving can cause scandal, especially if the matter is not that serious - and I’ve seen traditionalists make a stink over things that were altogether proper according to the rubrics. So I tend not to trust a traditionalist’s perception of what is “disrespectful” or “illicit.”

Blessings

 

[Erin_Anne]

Better to remain and speak to the priest about it afterwards, or the bishop if necessary. You remain out of respect for the Lord, if no one else. Leaving can cause scandal, especially if the matter is not that serious - and I’ve seen traditionalists make a stink over things that were altogether proper according to the rubrics. So I tend not to trust a traditionalist’s perception of what is “disrespectful” or “illicit.”

Blessings

You’re making a generalized statement as if this applies to all Traditionalists. It doesn’t. I’m sure there are people who go over-board in their judgment of a Mass, but most won’t. If a Mass is illicit based on Church Law, then it’s illicit and our leaving would be out of respect for the Lord. It would be safe to assume that since most Traditionalists attend Traditional Parishes (or at least TLMs), its not a widespread issue. It would apply more to Churches that we would be visiting and are unfamiliar with.

Frankly, in the end, no one is going to win in the Traditional vs. Mainstream battle. We as a worldwide Catholic community all have the same obligation(s) - #1 being to love, honor, and serve God in order to get to Heaven.

 

[mardukm]

You’re making a generalized statement as if this applies to all Traditionalists. It doesn’t. I’m sure there are people who go over-board in their judgment of a Mass, but most won’t. If a Mass is illicit based on Church Law, then it’s illicit and our leaving would be out of respect for the Lord.

I disagree. It is not respect for the Lord to walk out of a Mass. The proper approach would be to stay for the Mass, then approach the priest about it. If that doesn’t work, “take two or three witnesses” who are of like mind as you. If that doesn’t work, then you approach the bishop. That is Christ’s directive. To repeat, it is not honoring Christ to walk out in the middle of Mass which would cause more scandal. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

It would be safe to assume that since most Traditionalists attend Traditional Parishes (or at least TLMs), its not a widespread issue. It would apply more to Churches that we would be visiting and are unfamiliar with.

The way traditionalists complain about the NO with broad generalizations, you wouldn’t know that (granted, you don’t seem to be one of those types of traditionalist).

Frankly, in the end, no one is going to win in the Traditional vs. Mainstream battle. We as a worldwide Catholic community all have the same obligation(s) - #1 being to love, honor, and serve God in order to get to Heaven.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[roadsend]

… If a Mass is illicit based on Church Law, then it’s illicit and our leaving would be out of respect for the Lord. It would be safe to assume that since most Traditionalists attend Traditional Parishes (or at least TLMs), its not a widespread issue. It would apply more to Churches that we would be visiting and are unfamiliar with.
…

Concur. Illicit is illicit. However, each of us has to decide the point at which “illicit” becomes so disrespectful or sacrilegious that we must leave. A Mass such as Ljubim described above would certainly qualify as I see it. I would have been out of there as soon as I saw the bandstand next to the altar.
Most Traditionalists in my region of the country do not have the option of attending a Traditional Mass on a regular basis as many of us have to travel a six or eight hour round trip or more to do so. For us here in the land of OCP, it is often an illicit Mass or nothing.

 

[momor]

A disrespectful and/or illicit Mass would be the only reasons to walk out. If we simply don’t ‘like’ the Priest, or the particular Church - we just don’t return there, but blatant disregard for rubrics, and **heresy **are not tolerable – they shouldn’t be acceptable to any Catholic regardless of whether they’re a Traditionalist or not.

Heresy? That’s an offense deserving of excommunication and an awfully strong word to be throwing around. If any Catholic witnessed heresy at Mass and walked out and did nothing to correct it later, that, in my opinion, would be a grave sin.