Leaving Mass after receiving

[Claire_from_DE]

I’m an RCIA team member. Sometimes Catholics ask if they can sit through the sessions for a ‘refresher course’ and we allow that. More than one of them have been surprised to find out that the Eucharist is really Jesus. They honestly didn’t realize it was more than a symbol. These are mostly people in their 30’s and 40’s. Maybe that’s why some leave early??

Our pastor said that the priest should be the last one in and the first one out.

 

[I_Believe]

A Catholic Church is a place we practice Catholicism. It’s where we go to save our souls. It’s a place we beg for forgiveness in the Confessional, where we are Baptized, where we receive the Most Blessed Sacrament. It’s a place to practice personal devotions before and after Mass. Marriage, Confirmation, all the Sacraments. It’s where the Highest Prayer of The Church is prayed.

Placing ourselves before the Most Blessed Sacrament by entering a Roman Catholic demands we check the mundane at the door. If we let our minds wander from the fact we are before Him, we wind up ignoring Him.

Also, we are in the presence of the remains of Saints. There are relics in the Consecrated Altar. Losing touch with an awareness of this is to disregard what we profess in our Creed.

"A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, “Where have they taken him?” -Pope Pius XII

Here we are, trying to make sense of why someone would leave so soon. We are the one’s asking " Where have they taken Him ? "

It’s so sad that it’s all about us these days.

• shorts and untucked t-shirts
• immodest dress
• leaving after receiving Holy Communion without taking time for thanksgiving
• rude chatter and small talk after mass within earshot of the person kneeling in prayer trying to offer thanksgiving and due reverence

A Catholic Church doesn’t have a “Practice Catholicism” switch that we use to start and end the Mass. It’s a Holy Sanctuary, and not a very wise place to temp or anger Our Father. No place is a good place to do that of course, but to do it before the Real Presence is sacrilegious.

A priest can make his flock aware of this with a good homily.

jmho

 

[I_Believe]

I’m an RCIA team member. Sometimes Catholics ask if they can sit through the sessions for a ‘refresher course’ and we allow that. More than one of them have been surprised to find out that the Eucharist is really Jesus. They honestly didn’t realize it was more than a symbol. These are mostly people in their 30’s and 40’s. Maybe that’s why some leave early??

Our pastor said that the priest should be the last one in and the first one out.

hi Claire, does the RCIA program follow a strict curriculum ?

 

[m134e5]

Perhaps priests should remind people who the first disciple to leave the last supper was, if leaving Mass early is so problematic in their parishes.

 

[Lorrie]

This is a major pet peeve of mine.

Mine too, so much so to where I have to remind myself not to look up from the hymnal so I don’t see the people filing out while the rest of us are singing the recessional hymn.

I understand that some of the people are needing to get to work, etc. but 1/4 of the congregation leaving? It’s sad. Note to self: just stare at the hymnal!

 

[James_Miller]

Can anyone inform me what IMO means? (In most occasions?)
Can anyone suggest a meaning for IHOP - I do not think it stands for a religious congregation. I suppose it means “in hospital overlooking patients” Perhaps a justified reason to leave Mass early if it isn’t a Catholic hospital.

 

[lizaanne]

Can anyone inform me what IMO means? (In most occasions?)

In my opinion.

Can anyone suggest a meaning for IHOP - I do not think it stands for a religious congregation. I suppose it means “in hospital overlooking patients” Perhaps a justified reason to leave Mass early if it isn’t a Catholic hospital.

International House of Pancakes.

~Liza

 

[James_Miller]

Thank you so much. I did not know there was an International House of Pancakes.
I can find “pancakes” at google so they would be hurrying out of church to eat.

 

[ac_claire]

Thank you so much. I did not know there was an International House of Pancakes.
I can find “pancakes” at google so they would be hurrying out of church to eat.

Yeah, that’s one theory. Or to get out of the parking lot early to avoid the stampede at some of the big churches. I have another solution to that one; don’t drive to Mass if you don’t have to! You have two legs, in many (not all) cases you can walk, or you can take a bus/train.

 

[James_Miller]

You would not find this kind of behaviour in Malankara Catholic Churches simply because so much of the Mass remains to complete (perhaps 10-15 more minutes).
I cannot remember how the Latin Rite goes but I think the last gospel is no longer said. So I do not think that very much remains: the purification of the priest’s fingers and the “ite missa est” and the blessing. I have never heard that missing these parts of the Mass is sinful.

 

[lizaanne]

You would not find this kind of behaviour in Malankara Catholic Churches simply because so much of the Mass remains to complete (perhaps 10-15 more minutes).
I cannot remember how the Latin Rite goes but I think the last gospel is no longer said. So I do not think that very much remains: the purification of the priest’s fingers and the “ite missa est” and the blessing. I have never heard that missing these parts of the Mass is sinful.

I believe you are talking about the Traditional Latin Mass. In the Novus Ordo Mass (which I believe is mostly the topic of this conversation) there is only about another 5-10 minutes at most after the distribution of Holy Communion. At a Latin Mass there is much longer until the true end of the Mass. But for the most part, if someone is going to a Latin Mass they are probably (on average) more reverent anyway and not just bolting out of the Church after receiving. Not too many people will sit through a fully blown Latin Mass if they don’t really “get” why they are there in the first place. These people will be much less likely to bolt to their cars to beat the rush.

~Liza

 

[Frosty]

I believe you are talking about the Traditional Latin Mass. In the Novus Ordo Mass (which I believe is mostly the topic of this conversation) there is only about another 5-10 minutes at most after the distribution of Holy Communion. At a Latin Mass there is much longer until the true end of the Mass. But for the most part, if someone is going to a Latin Mass they are probably (on average) more reverent anyway and not just bolting out of the Church after receiving. ** Not too many people will sit through a fully blown Latin Mass if they don’t really “get” why they are there in the first place. These people will be much less likely to bolt to their cars to beat the rush**.

~Liza

I was wondering when someone would get around to saying that people leaving right after Communion is mainly a feature of those who attend the OF. That idea is pure malarkey. In response to the bolded sentence in your post, I guess in the days before the introduction of the OF there were tons of people who really didn’t know why they were at Mass to begin with. Leaving after receiving Communion is not a recent phenomenon. In the parish I grew up in during the 1950’s and 60’s there often were times when only about half the original congregation was still in the pews at the end of Mass. In fact, on many occasions, the pastor would have the ushers lock the doors before Communion began so that people would not leave! Locking the doors didn’t resolve the problem except for the Sundays it happened. Regardless of how often the matter was spoken about from the pulpit, those who wanted to leave early still did. Fifty years ago, parking was not the problem it is today so trying to beat the rush couldn’t be used as any sort of justification… The Sisters at school used to tell us practically every single Friday to remind our parents that Mass was not over until the priest left the altar. How many of my classmates did so, I have no idea. Perhaps their parents just simply disregarded anything the kids had to say.

We can speculate on the reasons all we want but this is something that has always been a problem, more in some parishes than in others. In my current parish, there is only one family who leaves directly after receiving Communion. Oddly enough they are the only family that always kneels to receive and on the tongue. They also remain kneeling throughout the entire Liturgy of the Eucharist. I don’t know this family or why they choose to leave early. By their demeanor during Mass, one could be forgiven for thinking that they should know better. I only brought the matter of this particular family to point out that generalizations are just that, generalizations. It’s a trap that far too many of us fall into!

 

[Malkin71]

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?

This question came up in “Catholic Answers” and I do believe Jimmy Akin’s book “Mass Abuses”. The simular response is that the in the GIRM has no answer. Just maintain a period of silence. I found that strange. I was taught that you wait for the last Hymm to be sung and when the Priest is outside of the Church. The Priests and Bishops need to address this. A good homily and reminder in the buliten hopefully should help.

 

[Malkin71]

This question came up in “Catholic Answers” and I do believe Jimmy Akin’s book “Mass Abuses”. The simular response is that the in the GIRM has no answer. Just maintain a period of silence. I found that strange. I was taught that you wait for the last Hymm to be sung and when the Priest is outside of the Church. The Priests and Bishops need to address this. A good homily and reminder in the buliten hopefully should help.

I ment “The Catholic Answer” magazine from “Our Sunday Visitor”.

 

[lizaanne]

I was wondering when someone would get around to saying that people leaving right after Communion is mainly a feature of those who attend the OF. That idea is pure malarkey.

And I was wondering when someone would get around to totally twisting around what I said to imply I’m picking on those who attend the NO Mass.

First of all - we are talking about 2009 - not 50 years ago. So let’s set that straight right now. I have no desire to discuss ancient history. I really couldn’t care less how people acted, it’s not relevant to my previous post.

Second - just because someone goes to a NO Mass does not automatically mean they are less reverent, or they don’t “get it”. I NEVER said that. You are drawing that conclusion on your own. What I AM saying is that if someone voluntarily chooses to sit through a full blown Latin Mass when they have the option to attend a equally reverant NO Mass, probably is not going to be the type of person to bolt for the car.

Get it? I’m not picking on those who attend the NO Mass, so stop thinking/saying that I am. I’m saying that today - in 2009 - if someone makes the choice to sit through two hours of Latin, the chances are pretty high that they know why they are there and are not going to do the bolt.

~Liza

 

[dixieagle]

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.

Gotta beat those Baptists to the buffet line!

 

[Frosty]

And I was wondering when someone would get around to totally twisting around what I said to imply I’m picking on those who attend the NO Mass.

First of all - we are talking about 2009 - not 50 years ago. So let’s set that straight right now. I have no desire to discuss ancient history. I really couldn’t care less how people acted, it’s not relevant to my previous post.

Second - just because someone goes to a NO Mass does not automatically mean they are less reverent, or they don’t “get it”. I NEVER said that. You are drawing that conclusion on your own. What I AM saying is that if someone voluntarily chooses to sit through a full blown Latin Mass when they have the option to attend a equally reverant NO Mass, probably is not going to be the type of person to bolt for the car.

Get it? I’m not picking on those who attend the NO Mass, so stop thinking/saying that I am. I’m saying that today - in 2009 - if someone makes the choice to sit through two hours of Latin, the chances are pretty high that they know why they are there and are not going to do the bolt.

~Liza

If I misunderstood you, I apologize. However you did say:

But for the most part, if someone is going to a Latin Mass they are probably (on average) more reverent anyway and not just bolting out of the Church after receiving

.
If that is not a generalization, totally subjective on your part, then I don’t know what is. In all fairness how is one supposed to repond to that? Ignore it? Try to read what is in your mind as to what you really meant to say?
You may not care what occurred fifty years ago and that’s fine and it may or may not be relevant to the discussion.My point was simply to show that leaving right after Communion is not a recent phenomena, that is has been a problem for a long time. no matter what form of the Mass one opts to attend.
The EF has been available in my diocese for many years and I have attended it perhaps a dozen times. I can assure you that on all those occasions, there have been a few who have left early. These were not two hour Masses either, by the way. Rather, Low Masses which lasted forty- five minutes at the most.

 

[TCostello]

I attended a mission held by Fr. Larry Richards this past year and he referred to this insulting behavior of leaving immediately after Communion as “the Judas Shuffle”…He says that he told his parish that anyone that leaves like that and cannot wait another five minutes for Mass to end is basically spitting in Christ’s face and if they have the nerve to do that then they are not welcome back in that Church. Very bold! He is highly respected in his diocese and by his bishop and known for his “attention getting” techniques.

 

[kimbaichan]

I usually go to Vigil Mass at a church that’s in a retirement community. The people I’ve seen leave early were usually the relatively younger folks. I’ve always thought maybe elderly mom or dad is home sick and they want to get there as quickly as possible. Truth is, I have no idea at all where their going, it could be to a restaurant or to get home before their favorite TV program starts. For my own piece of mind I’ll probably continue to think they don’t want to leave an aged parent home too long with the home health aid.

 

[mark_a]

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.

One of our priests (not saying that particular mass) will occasionally wait at the door and hand bulletins to the folks leaving early!!