How late can one come to mass?

[Hereiam]

I’m no fan of the whole “stand and greet your neighbor” thing before Mass, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch to call it liturgical abuse or heterodox shenanigans.

I agree…this is one of the hazards of CAF…what we dont like becomes liturigal abuse and heresy instead of simple opinion.

 

[margaret42]

Yeah, that’s what i heard. i used to be that way, but if you missed the gospel, you missed mass

 

[CelticWarlord]

enough problems with people not understanding that the Church is a house of prayer and not a weekly social club, and I think having people greet each other prior to Mass could exacerbate such errant thinking.

This was one of the first things I loved about attending Mass. I can sit and be still and no one bothers me. In the previous church I attended the whole building was a cacophony of noise as people talked and gossiped prior to the start of things. In my last months there I tried to sit by myself for some quiet and reflection but everyone who saw me figured I was lonely and came and sat beside me expecting “fellowship”, a word I hate to this day.

 

[Seagull]

I never - ever - go to mass late. Ever.
It’s thee most important event during the week for me.

I sit close to the front…an hour before mass - prayer time etc -
I don’t care for those Catholics who enter, during mass, walking in late -
then sometimes, will march up to the very front of the church, before everyone… ?
a few times they have even sat directly in front of me, blocking my view ! ?
That ruffles my white feathers !

 

[Seagull]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

“You’ll be late for your own funeral”

Meaning: Your time keeping skills leave a lot to be desired

 

[Spyridon]

fellowship

I learned to despise “fellowship” when I was homeless. I realized that people who wanted that were mainly interested in niceties and not actual substance… They want “fellowship” so long as you’re in the Church building. It’s all a sham. If they want actual “fellowship” with real substance, why not all stay together the entire day at someones house? Or agree to go home with people and get to know their family?

I’ll tell you why they don’t do that. Because their “fellowship” is empty, a mere nicety.

I don’t have an issue with not having this type of “fellowship” - though I think the Church could use it - but please spare me of the niceties. I want to pray and worship at Church - not suffer through intolerable nauseating niceties.

 

[thistle]

Seriously how late can one come to mass?

I was always told to arrive at least 10 minutes before mass for a silent prayer and to ready myself for mass.

(Not sure what category this should be in)

There have been many threads on this but the reality is that the Church does not have any document defining this.
It is simply respectful to make sure you are there before Mass begins. If you can’t through no fault of your own this is not a problem.

 

[casslean]

What in the world?

Where in blazes do you live where such nonsense takes place?

Nothing like forcing people to “greet their neighbors…”

Besides, isn’t the Fathers house a house of prayer? Since when did it become a social club?

I love the Kiss of peace when it’s done soberly. But this greeting neighbors prior to Mass… No way. The Pax is a Rite of reconciliation and blessing, not social hour.

Has gotten reasonably popular in this area (not in our church, thankfully, but elsewhere). I’m incredibly shy and introverted, attend Mass alone, and HATE it. I left one church when I was still exploring Catholciism just to avoid it.

 

[casslean]

It happens all the time at lots and lots of Catholic churches. It takes 20 seconds. We look around and say, “Hello, good morning” and smile at each other before the music fires up and the priest comes down the aisle.

It’s no biggie.

Oh, it’s done quite differently here. The priest, after giving the opening blessing, greets everyone, tells them to turn to their neighbour, introduce themselves, and “tell the person you will pray for them during this coming week.”

Hate it. I’m not a mean person, but I want to focus on the Mass during Mass, not my neighbours. And inevitably it becomes an invitation for people to talk to me all during Mass.

 

[Maxwell03]

Reminds me of Father Dougal from father ted

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Eh these threads always turn into one big festival of complaining. Like we’re all so great that Mass should just be about everything we like. If it’s abput sacrifice, we can make a little sacrifice and put up with annoyances like people sitting in front of us, people making noise, or having to greet our neighbor.
Offer it up to that man on the cross in the front.

Mute thread time!

 

[Augustinian]

Hate it. I’m not a mean person, but I want to focus on the Mass during Mass, not my neighbours.

I don’t want to hear it during a lecture or other speech, in a museum or a library, when I’m having a meeting with my lawyer, accountant, broker or doctor either.

Being able to focus is the key.

 

[casslean]

One of the recent initiatives in the church has been to seek feedback as to what people like and dislike about their experience. While I don’t think we should be complaining about individuals, I don’t think it’s inappropriate to comment on whether we find a particular practice (like being told to introduce one’s self to your neighbor) off-putting.

There is a difference between complaining and constructive criticism.

 

[Spyridon]

Hate it. I’m not a mean person, but I want to focus on the Mass during Mass, not my neighbours. And inevitably it becomes an invitation for people to talk to me all during Mass.

That sounds like an actual liturgical abuse to me.

The Roman Missal in #3 for the Ordinary of the Mass reads:

“The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day.”

That’s it.

It doesn’t say “The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day and then command the people to greet one another and assure them of their mutual prayers.”

I don’t blame you for hating what this Priest is making you suffer through. It is an illicit liturgical abuse which should be stopped immediately.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Actually my wife and myself raised two kids who are now adults.

Our son has cerebral palsy so getting him ready for Mass took longer than other kids, especially getting him into the church.

Jim

 

[babochka]

Actually my wife and myself raised two kids who are now adults.

Our son has cerebral palsy so getting him ready for Mass took longer than other kids, especially getting him into the church.

Jim

Oh, it’s not a matter of getting there at any particular time. I’m good at getting my family where we need to be at the correct time. It is more about the practicalities of being early. What is the point? With 6 kids, I’m not able to spend that time in prayer and preparation. In this season of life, that has to happen at home if it is going to happen at all for me. It is enough to have a couple of minutes to send everybody to the bathroom and let them collect themselves briefly.

But if you arrived at church early when you had very young children and were able to spend that time in prayer and preparation with your children also sitting quietly, I’m impressed. I find it quite enough of a feat to get them to sit the length of the liturgy without extra time.