Leaving Mass after receiving

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OK, so this is something I have seen a lot at Catholic Churches, specifically Latin rite ones. I have occasionally seen it elsewhere, but not to the same degree. So, what is with it?

After people go up for communion, they come back and instead of sitting through/participating in the rest of the liturgy, they just eave. They sometimes even take their coats with them so they can escape more quickly.

What is with this? My RC friend calls it the “magic cookie” effect, which is rather irreverent, but I wonder if that is part of it. Do people think getting the Eucharist is the only important thing, so they don’t need to be there for the rest? Do Catholics have very busy Sundays?
 
I must admit that I am guilty of this. I have done it twice not because I was bored with the Mass, but because I was supposed to be at work at 1 PM and the Mass usually goes until 12:30. I had to leave so I had time to change and drive to work.

Now, I told my boss that I wouldn’t be able to be at work until 1:30 on Sunday and he said he’s ok with it, so no more of that for me! 🙂
 
I have almost been trampled by people on my heels to beat it out the door after Communion. I can see if it’s an emergency, but otherwise…it appears innappropriate…IMHO.
 
I think RCs should remember that the ENTIRE Mass is part of receiving the Eucharist. But of course, it is from case to case basis. What is important is the intention of the Faithful in attending the Mass.

In essence, if a Faithful is really intending to receive the blessings and graces of the Mass and the Eucharist, then he/she would willingly and consciously attend the mass wholly and attentively. After the reception of the Eucharist (the body and blood of Christ), a blessing is always given by the officiating priest or bishop ending with “go in peace” (or variants of the same). That is the end of the Mass as it is also begun by the sign of the cross and a greeting of peace.

Personally, i leave the church once the entire company of officiating priest(s)/bishop(s) and other clergy (if present) has left the altar completely (normally the bishop/officiating priest as the last). This is in a way a gesture of respect to them just as we genuflect before we enter or leave the house of God in reverence to the Body of Christ in the Tabernacle.
 
Well if you want to know what happens after the Eucharist…
Everyone goes up and gets the Eucharist, so everyone has to wait for everyone to go. Then everyone prays/sits down (something until the final blessing), and then the final blessing is said… something to the effect of “The mass has ended let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.

Some people do not think that final blessing is important. I dont really know why, but I guess they think the extra 5-10 mins is a waste of their time.
 
This is a major pet peeve of mine. Honestly - someone can’t sit still, with the Creator of the Universe for five more minutes?? Are we really THAT busy??

The next time anyone is tempted to do this - just think of this:

You are invited to someone’s home for a very important meal - Think Christmas or Thanksgiving, or maybe even an intimate wedding meal in someone’s home.

You sit down to a beautifully prepared meal, you take a bite, and then walk out the door and go home.

How do you think that would make your host feel? How do you think Christ feels when you do the same thing?

This is the epitome of rudeness and selfishness and self absorption. If there is no time to stay for the entire Mass, then find a Mass that fits your schedule, or go to a Saturday vigil Mass. But whatever you do, don’t walk out on Christ. Give Him the time He deserves.

~Liza
 
IMO the reasons Catholics leave church right after receiving holy communion is to be first out of the parking lot and into Luby’s or IHOP

solution: install corral parking in your parish parking lot, so nobody can leave until everybody is leaving.
 
I agree. I don’t see anywhere near the level of this at our current parish, but it still does happen a bit. I truly think it’s related to getting out of the parking lot. I wonder if the larger protestant ‘mega-churcg’ places see this same phenomena of people rushing to get out?
 
After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion a thanksgiving is right and natural. It is good to remain even when the Mass has ended to visit with Jesus present in your body and soul for a few minutes. It is also a good spiritual discipline which enriches us with grace and gives witness to the real presence of Jesus.
It is very difficult to visit with Jesus as one hurries from the church with plans for the day in ones mind. It demonstrates an indifference to the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus and is a poor way to claim to have kept the Lord,s day holy.
The procession from the church begins with the Priest leading the people forth to go out and love and serve the Lord.
 
At the Mass I go to we don’t have lots of this, but there are the odd few who slip quietly out the door. I try not to judge but I too think it’s disrespectful when they seem to basically bolt for the door. Hey, you’ve just received Holy Communion, does that not mean something?
 
I don’t know why they do it. An opportunity to just sit and be with Jesus after communion is wonderful. But my roommate does cut out of mass just before the priest walks down the aisle. She can’t stand it when everyone stands up, turns toward the back of the church, and starts talking right after mass.
 
Judas left right after Communion, at the Last Supper. After the priest brought that up at Mass one day, the numbers of sneaker-outers decreased by more than half!
 
Like many that have posted here it bothers and annoys me to see people rushing for the door after they have received communion. Would it really throw off their schedule for the entire day to wait an extra five to ten minutes for Mass to end? Are there really that many people in the church that traffic leaving the area is a nightmare? I suspect the answer in many cases are no. I think the phenomena of people leaving suggests to me that they are just coming to church because they think they have to or that’s what they have always done. I wish it didn’t seem to be such a prevalent occurence.

The one poster asked about the protestant churches having the same problem. I grew up as a United Methodist and believe me nobody left that church until the last word of the final hymn had been uttered. Some people would start to leave the pews before the organ finished the last few notes but more often than not they didn’t leave until after that too.

ChadS
 
ChadS said:
Like many that have posted here it bothers and annoys me to see people rushing for the door after they have received communion. Would it really throw off their schedule for the entire day to wait an extra five to ten minutes for Mass to end? Are there really that many people in the church that traffic leaving the area is a nightmare? I suspect the answer in many cases are no. I think the phenomena of people leaving suggests to me that they are just coming to church because they think they have to or that’s what they have always done. I wish it didn’t seem to be such a prevalent occurence.

The one poster asked about the protestant churches having the same problem. I grew up as a United Methodist and believe me nobody left that church until the last word of the final hymn had been uttered. Some people would start to leave the pews before the organ finished the last few notes but more often than not they didn’t leave until after that too.

ChadS
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I haven’t seen it as much in Protestant churches either. But there is often less emphasis on the Eucharist as the entire point, and more on the other aspects of the service - and of course in some, there is no Eucharist at all. So people have the idea that the whole liturgy is important. As well, some types of Protestant churches have a lot of fellowship activities, or Bible studies or prayer groups that meet after the service.

I have heard of people leaving in Orthodox Churches, but I don’t know how common it is. A friend of mine in a big Orthodox parish takes her kids out for a walk after they receive the Eucharist, because it takes over an hour and a half to distribute it to everyone! They do return for the rest of the service though.

The church I have been attending recently also has most people stay for the entire organ voluntary at the end - the few who leave tend to have small children. Perhaps if there was more Bach at the end of Catholic services, fewer people would leave.
 
Catholic1954 said:
Judas left right after Communion, at the Last Supper. After the priest brought that up at Mass one day, the numbers of sneaker-outers decreased by more than half!
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What a good way to do it. People who truly have to leave (emergency, restroom, work) wouldn’t feel pointed out, but the casual parts of the congregation who are more interested in seeing the pre-game show would take notice.
 
I was shocked by this when I first began attending Mass. Growing up in a Protestant church, you just didn’t leave until the service was finished, period. Watching it as an outsider at first, it seemed incredibly rude to me just because the service wasn’t finished, especially if others were still receiving. Now that I am Catholic and I have the privilege of receiving the Body of Christ I think those extra five to ten minutes are a great time to go back to the pew, kneel and reflect and pray on what I have just consumed into my body.

I did attend a parish once in Knoxville, TN while visiting family and the priest had a homily on Mass etiquette of sorts and discussed all manner of things including proper dress and NOT leaving the sanctuary until the priest has left. I actually really admired him for taking a stand.
 
This isn’t too big a problem at my home parish, but I’ve seen where it is. One church I visit on occasion has people put their coats on as they’re going up to receive so they can walk right out the door.:eek:

I think the main problem is, not everyone fully understands what is going on at any given moment of Mass. As Catholics the Eucharist has a much bigger part in each service, so people know enough to stay until receiving. But they don’t really understand what is going on so they just leave. It is terrible, but I don’t know how it could be fixed. Perhaps if a priest mentioned it in a homily when he could relate it to the readings - but then do those people listen to the homily?

🤷 I guess all we can do is pray Catholics start learning about the Mass and do our part to teach wherever possible.
 
Our parish must be pretty good on the matter. There seems that maybe one or two ppl leave directly after communion. I think our priest instituted the coffee and donuts after mass to keep ppl around for the full service. 😃 Just kidding. We do have that after mass though and most everyone attends. I really like that about our parish; it gives everyone the chance to speak with all the others we dont see outside of church.

God bless,
Jesse
 
My parish one had a “teaching” Eucharist, on a regular Sunday. The priest explained all the parts of the service as we went through. I hated it and I think it was likely not on from a technical/sacramental point of view, but I have to admit, many people seemed to really get a lot of new information out of it that was, to my mind, quite basic. They really appreciated it after.

I wonder if there would be a better way to do something similar that you could actually get people to come to?
 
Bluegoat said:
After people go up for communion, they come back and instead of sitting through/participating in the rest of the liturgy, they just eave.
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“Communion” implies they you sit with the rest of those who have received. Unless everyone has something better to do outside. 🙂
 
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