Leaving Mass After Communion

[RedDuke50]

When I go to Mass, I see some people that leave early after Communion is given. I was wondering if it was bad to do this. If it is, then how bad is it?

Thanks!

 

[passus]

It is bad to do this, since Mass lasts through Communion, the closing prayer, and the final blessing and dismissal. It doesn’t end at Communion. One who voluntarily skips out on part of the Mass has not satisfied his Sunday obligation if it’s Sunday Mass we’re talking about. It’s also somewhat disrespectful, as it is proper and reverent to pray immediately after receiving Holly Communion.

 

[nicolep]

How bad is it to leave right after communion? Would anyone with any social skills even consider leaving a friend’s home immediately after finishing their dinner (and even before the others guests finished)? No one would unless there was an emergency of some sort. How much worse is it then to run out on God? Think about it for a minute. God humbled himself enough to die for us. God gives us the gift of His body. Seriously, hang out a minute, thank him and repeat at least one week later.

 

[Bearontherun]

After the priest says the dismissal, we should stay for the closing hymn as well. It is, after all, a prayer. Many leave during the closing song at our parish but our priest indicated that it is not right to do so.

 

[eegardner]

Very bad. No one should leave before the dismissal. In fact, no one should leave until after the priest has left. At my parish it is standard practice (for most) to stay until after the final hymn is over. Just like previously posted by Bearontherun, my priest has stated that Mass is not over until the Hymn is over.

 

[Barb3]

I always stay till the end of the Mass but there are times when people face certain problems and have to leave after Communion. Many years ago my husband was very ILL and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him. I did go to Mass every Sunday but would leave before the priest gave his final blessing. Remember that some of these people who do leave Mass early might be involved in a similar situation – please don’t be so judgmental.

 

[Corki]

After the priest says the dismissal, we should stay for the closing hymn as well. It is, after all, a prayer. Many leave during the closing song at our parish but our priest indicated that it is not right to do so.

Some closing hymns are prayers, some are not. The Mass ends with the blessing. If your priest wants you to stay through the hymn, that’s fine but it’s not a Church requirement.

When I go to Mass, I see some people that leave early after Communion is given. I was wondering if it was bad to do this. If it is, then how bad is it?

Thanks!

It’s rude to do so if you don’t have a good reason. I used to go to a Mass where the senior citizen van came at a time that was usually about 5 minutes before the end of Mass. That’s a good reason.

But if you leave because you want to be first in line out of the parking lot - not a good reason.

It’s not the proper thing to do but probably not a mortal sin either.

It is bad to do this, since Mass lasts through Communion, the closing prayer, and the final blessing and dismissal. It doesn’t end at Communion. One who voluntarily skips out on part of the Mass has not satisfied his Sunday obligation if it’s Sunday Mass we’re talking about. It’s also somewhat disrespectful, as it is proper and reverent to pray immediately after receiving Holly Communion.

Yes, the Mass ends at the dismissal. But there is no teaching that you must stay through the dismissal in order to meet your Sunday obligation.

 

[system]

It is very frowned upon. Maybe not by other parish members but certainly by our Lord. Look at it this way. He has just renewed your ever-precious life, given you one of the greatest gifts of the world, and you may be leaving without saying thank you! There’s not that much time between the communion and dismissal, so just ‘stick it out’ for the Big Guy. It’s worth it in the end.

 

[nickybr38]

This is the reason I don’t attend Mass during the week. The only way I COULD attend Mass during the week is if I left immediately after Communion but since that’s not possible I just attend Mass on Sunday when I can stay for the entire Mass.

 

[nicolep]

I always stay till the end of the Mass but there are times when people face certain problems and have to leave after Communion. Many years ago my husband was very ILL and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him. I did go to Mass every Sunday but would leave before the priest gave his final blessing. Remember that some of these people who do leave Mass early might be involved in a similar situation – please don’t be so judgmental.

No one in this thread has been judgmental.

 

[I_Thirst]

I always stay till the end of the Mass but there are times when people face certain problems and have to leave after Communion. Many years ago my husband was very ILL and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him. I did go to Mass every Sunday but would leave before the priest gave his final blessing. Remember that some of these people who do leave Mass early might be involved in a similar situation – please don’t be so judgmental.

This a good point and duly noted. But when there is a significant flight after communion, one wonders. Is it possible for so many folks to have such dire emergencies every Sunday? How is it that entire pews are empty after communion week in and week out?

There are allowances for missing Mass which excuse one from the Sunday obligation. If one has such a situation that makes it allowable, perhaps it would be better to refrain from going to Mass so that scandal is avoided by leaving early (even if one has a good reason)? In the current state of affairs in my parish and with the great numbers who leave early, even those who have good reason to leave will leave with those who don’t. You are known by the company you keep. Didn’t Judas leave the Last Supper early?

We shouldn’t judge, but we also shouldn’t be naive.

 

[eegardner]

I always stay till the end of the Mass but there are times when people face certain problems and have to leave after Communion. Many years ago my husband was very ILL and I had to have 24-hour a day help for him. I did go to Mass every Sunday but would leave before the priest gave his final blessing. Remember that some of these people who do leave Mass early might be involved in a similar situation – please don’t be so judgmental.

Very true! We all know that sometimes there are occasions when people have to leave. We have first responders (police, firemen, EMT, etc.) and doctors that are on call in our parish.

But we all have seen and probably know people that leave so they can beat the traffic out of the parking lot, or get to the restaurant or their kids to the ball game/practice or the game on TV. This is very much abused and the majority of those that leave are not leaving for legitimate reasons. I have even been told that is OK to arrive late and leave early as long as you hear the Gospel and receive the Eucharist.

 

[Mumbles140]

It was Judas who was the first to leave the Last Supper after Christ instituted the Eucharist - the other apostles remained with the Lord…

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

IMO the time to leave is after the priest leaves, staying for the whole hymn is good too.

 

[passus]

Yes, the Mass ends at the dismissal. But there is no teaching that you must stay through the dismissal in order to meet your Sunday obligation.

Prior to Vatican II, the law provided that one must be present for the Offertory, Consecration, and Communion in order to satisfy the Sunday obligation. The law has been since removed but the spirit of the law remains in that it is legislated that we are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays. Not part of the Mass and not most of it. It is implied that we be present for all of it.

Someone who is unwilling to stay for the entirety of Mass because, say, he wants to be first out of the space at the back of the parking lot is behaving contrary to the spirit promoted by that law. Behavior contrary to a law constitutes breaking a law.

I stand by the interpretation I’ve put forward.

 

[Boulder257]

It was Judas who was the first to leave the Last Supper after Christ instituted the Eucharist - the other apostles remained with the Lord…

Ouch…

Honestly, this is one of my pet peeves. I try to just close my eyes while I pray after receiving so as not to notice the people leaving. I try to remind myself that I do not know their situation. I do not know why they are leaving early. I try to remind myself to be glad that they were even there.

I had to leave early once and it was for good reason. The ushers who were lined up at the doors (obviously to deter people from leaving right after receiving) gave me the coldest look. It was pretty uncharitable and hurt my feelings. I try to remember this experience each time I get annoyed because someone does the same thing.

I know that some of you will say, “but it’s the same people all the time.” Well, we still don’t know their situation. Instead, let’s be thankful we had the opportunity to commune with them while we did and hope that their situation and conscience will aid them in staying longer next time.

Pax

 

[smichhertz]

There are certainly acceptable reasons to leave mass early. However, given the frequency with which it occurs and the large number of people involved, its difficult to imagine that every single person that leaves early is doing so for a legitimate reason.

 

[exnihilo]

I’ve seen this mentioned as an issue before and I have to say I find it hard to believe. As a Protestant I can say almost no one ever leaves the service early. If they do they have a good reason such as something exceptionally pressing (and this hardly ever happens) or someone who is helping out in some capacity with something for the church happening right after the service. I wonder why someone comes if they are that eager to leave? I dont say this to be discourteous or brag. I just find it hard to imagine how this problem can be so pervasive.

How bad is it to leave right after communion? Would anyone with any social skills even consider leaving a friend’s home immediately after finishing their dinner (and even before the others guests finished)? No one would unless there was an emergency of some sort. How much worse is it then to run out on God? Think about it for a minute. God humbled himself enough to die for us. God gives us the gift of His body. Seriously, hang out a minute, thank him and repeat at least one week later.

A good way to think about it. Another good example I use is a wedding. You wouldn’t find people leaving a wedding before the bride! And you also wouldn’t find people wearing what many do to church at a wedding. They expect God to accept them however they chose to present themselves but make no such demand on their friends. That people are so disrespectful or inconsiderate to God is terrible.

 

[Mumbles140]

Ouch…

I didn’t mean to come off as uncharitable, nor do I judge those who leave early. Just like you, I try and not focus on people leaving, and when I see someone stepping out, I think they must have a legitimate reason.

What I meant by the inclusion of my comment was the precedent that those faithful to Christ remained with Him through the entire Last Supper. Obviously, there are emergencies where people need to leave mass early, and these are understood by God. But those who leave for ‘convenience’, or just because they had Communion and can check that off the list for the week, are turning their backs on Christ. It is our duty to educate them that mass continues after the Eucharist.

 

[Corki]

It was Judas who was the first to leave the Last Supper after Christ instituted the Eucharist - the other apostles remained with the Lord…

Yes, that’s a punch line to a frequently told joke.

Prior to Vatican II, the law provided that one must be present for the Offertory, Consecration, and Communion in order to satisfy the Sunday obligation. The law has been since removed but the spirit of the law remains in that it is legislated that we are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays. Not part of the Mass and not most of it. It is implied that we be present for all of it.

Someone who is unwilling to stay for the entirety of Mass because, say, he wants to be first out of the space at the back of the parking lot is behaving contrary to the spirit promoted by that law. Behavior contrary to a law constitutes breaking a law.

I stand by the interpretation I’ve put forward.

You are correct that it is expected that one will be present for the whole Mass. But that’s a whole lot different than saying that one’s obligation is not met if one attends 99% of a Sunday Mass but leaves before the final blessing. Leaving early may be rude and selfish, it may even be a sin itself. But it doesn’t equal missing a Sunday Mass entirely.

The legalism that would lead someone to say it’s better to miss Mass entirely than to leave early is exactly why there isn’t a minimalist requirement anymore.