I have left directly after communion on one occasion for a reason that would probably take this thread way off topic, but i do leave super fast after the mass officially ends i wait till the priest exits the church and then i scadoodle, because of the choir, and this is at both churches i swap between due to if i miss the morning mass i can go to the evening mass at the other, any how the choir either plays something moronic , or will start doing guitar riffs n drum solos after the priest leaves, or the priest leaves and some uppity in the choir feels it necessary to address everyone remaining in the church and play happy birthday for that person. I call it moronic because I see the physical church as a place to be treated with reverance, not a place for loud music or antics, if someone wants to form some music group outside of mass, fine, go for it, keep out of the church so others can pray in peace and silence, and if the choir wants to play a special song for someone having a birthday, fine take it to the Church hall, or hey throw a party for that person some where and do it.
That and for some reason everyone at the contemporary mass at a church in town i go to, feels it necessary to give a round of applause to the choir after they finish.
And I mean they are not that great, it isnt like we have some New York orchestra that people pay 50 bucks a pop to listen to.
A simple thanks by the priest would be sufficent for me after mass and they do most all the time thank them.
Also I don’t understand with all the chatter in church before and after mass, I would say 95% of those that attend the churches i go to, feel it necessary to talk about the goings on of the week or day, or the elderly love to talk about who is in the hospital, what medications they are on, or their irritable bowel syndrome. Point being innappropriate conversations in church… it is as if nothing is special, sacred,or deserving of reverance until the mass actually starts, and it ends directly the moment priest ends mass and begins walking down the isle.
another horror story.
The priest in my church had to bring the Eucharist from the tabernacle to Adoration one Sunday, people were leaving, some were still in the church, talking, and the priest announces via the pulpit (WITH MICROPHONE) what he was about to do and to kneel in reverance ( paraphrasing).
some of us heard and did, others acted as if nothing was going on, or they were too busy flapping their traps to have heard the announcement.
I can only imagine how a priest sees his congregation when saying the mass.
And incase you might think i am full of it, consider this…
in comparision, i have been to the Wall South Memorial as a teenager serving in the Army, in Washington Dc, there is a sign that reads something to the sort of no food, cell phones, and to basically mind your manners.
and at that time of day that i was there, it felt like i was at some holy place, it was quiet, people were in awe, and no one was on a cell phone.
Now people in church answer their cell phones to tell someone on the other end they cant talk because they are in church, that is after they let their cell phone ring 7 times.