How much of the Mass must one be present for?

[JerrySeibert]

All of the Mass from beginning to end.
Source, “Noone can get to the father except through me.”
Souce name Jesus.
If you have to ‘think’ how much than you need more. At least with faith that is a good standard.

 

[jmcrae]

This is just an observation. There was a time when I attended different Protestant services over a period of years. Almost no one left early.

Same here - I had never even heard of anyone leaving early from Church until I started attending Mass.

I don’t even remember being told anything about it - it’s just not something that would have ever occurred to anybody in my Protestant church.

Arriving late was also extremely rare, and usually involved people who were arriving by bus - the usual reason was, “The bus was late/ the bus didn’t come and I had to call for a taxi.” We would sneak these people into the side aisle and hope that neither of the ministers noticed them being late.

But yes, even when we were very little, I remember my Mom getting us ready for Church an hour early, so that if anything happened, we’d still be on time for Church. Nothing was more important than that, and it didn’t occur to any of us that it could be any other way - it was more thinkable to be late for school or for dinner than to be late for Church (in the sense that these were things that could enter your mind and then be dismissed as silly - being late for Church didn’t even enter our minds at all).

 

[ChadS]

Same here - I had never even heard of anyone leaving early from Church until I started attending Mass.

I don’t even remember being told anything about it - it’s just not something that would have ever occurred to anybody in my Protestant church.

Arriving late was also extremely rare, and usually involved people who were arriving by bus - the usual reason was, “The bus was late/ the bus didn’t come and I had to call for a taxi.” We would sneak these people into the side aisle and hope that neither of the ministers noticed them being late.

But yes, even when we were very little, I remember my Mom getting us ready for Church an hour early, so that if anything happened, we’d still be on time for Church. Nothing was more important than that, and it didn’t occur to any of us that it could be any other way - it was more thinkable to be late for school or for dinner than to be late for Church (in the sense that these were things that could enter your mind and then be dismissed as silly - being late for Church didn’t even enter our minds at all).

I agree growing up as a United Methodist leaving church early was something that only happened if you were going to be sick. The pastor didn’t move until the choir was normally about half done with the last verse of the last hymn and the choir didn’t budge until they were finished with the last word of the last verse of the last hymn and the congregation didn’t budge until the last choir member passed their row of pews. Now, sometimes at Mass the church seems half empty after communion is finished. It’s something that really stuck me as odd when I first became Catholic.

ChadS

 

[KarenElissa]

I agree growing up as a United Methodist leaving church early was something that only happened if you were going to be sick.

I don’t know, I wonder if this isn’t becoming more and more of a problem in general with the modern culture. it unfortunately seems to be just about as common at concerts and sports games as it is at Mass.

As for Protestants, I was United Methodist before becoming Catholic three years ago, and while I don’t think it was quite as bad as in my current parish, it was certainly a problem there too. It was most noticeable on communion Sunday, they too had the communion procession out the backdoor.

I also wonder if part of this problem is there is a bit more of an obligation to go to Sunday Mass, even if you don’t have much of a commitment to the faith. In many protestant churches, especially the more main line ones, missing a Sunday here and there isn’t as big of a deal.

 

[FAB]

I heard some priest remind people not to leave until after the Final Blessing. For me that is the earliest I can leave Mass if I am in a hurry. Some people leave early to beat the traffic rush.

So you leave befor the final procession, beating the preist out the door. and not participating in the final prayer, the closing hymn. What is so important??? that you cannot spend that few more minite with the Lord and perhaps talk to a few of your neighbors.

 

[FAB]

I agree growing up as a United Methodist leaving church early was something that only happened if you were going to be sick. The pastor didn’t move until the choir was normally about half done with the last verse of the last hymn and the choir didn’t budge until they were finished with the last word of the last verse of the last hymn and the congregation didn’t budge until the last choir member passed their row of pews. Now, sometimes at Mass the church seems half empty after communion is finished. It’s something that really stuck me as odd when I first became Catholic.

ChadS

Perhaps the difference is that many Catholics see it as an obligation rather than a time to worship and be filled with the Lord in His presents. Thus this thread. Can I come after this and leave before that. The question should be when is the earliest I can come and do I really have to leave.

 

[jmcrae]

I heard some priest remind people not to leave until after the Final Blessing. For me that is the earliest I can leave Mass if I am in a hurry. Some people leave early to beat the traffic rush.

What they have forgotten is that there is not that much of a traffic rush if you stay to the end of Mass, and then hang around a bit and talk to people before you leave. As the previous poster asked, what is the rush? It’s Sunday; there is no work or shopping to be done.

 

[svid]

My mother told me there was a time, I don’t know when, the church doors were closed when Mass had started and no one was allowed in after the Mass had begun.

So folks couldn’t even honestly show up a few minutes late because they stopped to be a good Samaritan?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

So folks couldn’t even honestly show up a few minutes late because they stopped to be a good Samaritan?

That’s how I understood it to be. I also think it would have stopped anyone sneaking out early.

 

[CountrySinger]

I rely on public transportation, and the only Mass I can make is the Saturday night Vigil. If the Mass runs long, I have to leave midway through, otherwise I will miss the last bus of the night, and not be able to get home. so a minute difference can mean that I’m sleeping on the street. I usually sit in the back, and don’t make a lot of noise when I leave. I did have one woman who hissed “you can’t leave yet! Mass isn’t over!” So I asked “will you give a ride home so I can stay?” That shut her up.

As a side note, I’m thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, so Mass is hard enough even if I had a personal chauffeur.

 

[Bakuryokuso]

I rely on public transportation, and the only Mass I can make is the Saturday night Vigil. If the Mass runs long, I have to leave midway through, otherwise I will miss the last bus of the night, and not be able to get home. so a minute difference can mean that I’m sleeping on the street. I usually sit in the back, and don’t make a lot of noise when I leave. I did have one woman who hissed “you can’t leave yet! Mass isn’t over!” So I asked “will you give a ride home so I can stay?” That shut her up.

As a side note, I’m thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, so Mass is hard enough even if I had a personal chauffeur.

I’m sorry to hear you’re thinking of leaving. And yet you’re getting married in 4 months! Talk about big decisions. Well, I just joined the Catholic Church last Easter so I’m on the other side of the coin I guess.

 

[jmcrae]

As a side note, I’m thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, so Mass is hard enough even if I had a personal chauffeur.

I’m so sorry to hear that! We need you, you know.

 

[FAB]

I rely on public transportation, and the only Mass I can make is the Saturday night Vigil. If the Mass runs long, I have to leave midway through, otherwise I will miss the last bus of the night, and not be able to get home. so a minute difference can mean that I’m sleeping on the street. I usually sit in the back, and don’t make a lot of noise when I leave. I did have one woman who hissed “you can’t leave yet! Mass isn’t over!” So I asked “will you give a ride home so I can stay?” That shut her up.

As a side note, I’m thinking of leaving the Catholic Church, so Mass is hard enough even if I had a personal chauffeur.

Perhaps if you let someone know of your quandry, you might find very willing good samaritans willing not only to take you home but also to pick you up. It is unfortunate that there are people who see themselves as faithful are not charitable. We pray for them, that may may come to see the true message of Jesus. Love thy neighbor.