Leaving mass early

[thistle]

I don’t see where you get the idea leaving early is fulfillment of the required Mass. Unless there is just reason, one should not leave Mass until it ends. I leave when the Father leaves sight of the attendance.

If I leave earlier which I have, I feel uncomfortable in my mind.

I think the fact one cannot receive communion and thus is leaving is very telling in the spiritual struggle though.

Call me crazy, but I do see it this way. Pretty soon you will perhaps be sitting in back close to the door? Then possibly not attending at all?

I don’t know, its the line drawing game. I’m not good at it so I go with the lines drawn by Christs Church. I find within them is the path to Salvation.

You are being very judgemental about the OP which is very uncharitable.

You also seem to be confused. The obligation is not to fulfill Mass. The obligation is to participate in the Mass on a day of obligation or evening before. That means anyone who arrives late or leaves early has fulfilled the obligation. Arriving late or leaving early without good reason may be disrespectful but it is not a sin and it does not mean the obligation has not been fulfilled.

 

[Allegra]

Although I never have before, I’ve noticed that scores of people leave immediately after receiving communion, without even returning to the pews to kneel down. I guess my reasoning was, if that’s okay, it should be fine for me to leave right before communion, since I’m not receiving.

This was a one time thing, not a habit by any means. However, it also was not any kind of emergency that caused me to absolutely need to leave early.

If there was no emergency, then I think it was wrong of you to leave Mass early for that reason. It is also wrong for people to leave after communion for no good reason. I think instead, you should try to get your mind properly disposed for spending the entire time in prayer. If there’s a reason you can’t take communion, all the more reason to pray ferverantly in the pew! You can meditate on the mysteries of the rosary. You can pray for your intentions and the intentions of others. You can pray for others who can’t take communion at this time for whatever reason. You can thank God for the work he’s done in your life.

 

[englishredrose]

A bit of topic may be

But in our Church (anglican) the Priest and the Deacon stands at the back and shakes hands with all as they leave and that is when everyone in our Church leaves. Though some go in for coffee. Very rare do people go before then. Does it really make a differene that we are at Church because we want to be there and most people are there most weeks.

But for the opening poster if you have a spiritual director then please discuss the question there because as you have seen, we all become suddenly very moral and forget the actual question in hand. I can’t answer if it fulfills obligation but being anglican I don’t have that concept. If it is as you say a one of exception and that is why you are all over the place with it. I think the wiset thing to do is simply discuss it with your spiritual director or next time you are in confession and take their advice as the way forward. We can look too deeply into things I think and hope you find peace