So why DO people leave Mass early?

[7armyrugrats]

But some people leave without receiving Communion. As soon as the priest steps down to start giving Communion people start rushing out. I don’t know if it is just this church or if I have only noticed at this church because we are in the back bit (Abraham’s Bosom? ) with the children.

There are many people for various reason who cannot receive Communion. Perhaps they feel more comfortable leaving than sitting alone in the pew as everyone else receives. These people are following the Church’s teaching by not receiving Communion unworthily, but maybe do not want others to see that they are not receiving. It could be there humbleness, or maybe their embarrassment, or perhaps they are overwhelmed with emotions. No matter what, they should be prayed for. After all, so many more go to receive Our Lord in a state of mortal sin without so much as a blink of an eye but most people never notice them at all.

 

[acadiANNA]

Jesus said to the apostles, “Have you not one hour to pray with me?” What about, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. I am thinking this applies here.

I do say a prayer for the people who leave early, that they know not what they are doing. Only God knows their reason, I do not. God is the judge, not man.

Being embarrassed for sitting out of Holy Communion is no reason to leave early. In fact, I don’t see it as being a reason to be embarrassed at all. People who sit are usually not Catholic or have not been to confession and cannot receive.

TEPO: You reminded me of a quote…My father didn’t teach me how to live, he lived and let me watch him do it. Clarence B Kelland

 

[SMHW]

But some people leave without receiving Communion. As soon as the priest steps down to start giving Communion people start rushing out. I don’t know if it is just this church or if I have only noticed at this church because we are in the back bit (Abraham’s Bosom? ) with the children.

I think this was probably how things worked back in the 1950s, 1960s, and earlier before people tended to receive at every Mass. The early leavers just got up and left at communion time (when those who were receiving stood up. In the old days people didn’t line up pew by pew; they all just stood up and messily made their way forward to the communion rail.) Now the early leavers often receive communion before they leave.

 

[ProVobis]

I think this was probably how things worked back in the 1950s, 1960s, and earlier before people tended to receive at every Mass. The early leavers just got up and left at communion time (when those who were receiving stood up. In the old days people didn’t line up pew by pew; they all just stood up and messily made their way forward to the communion rail.) Now the early leavers often receive communion before they leave.

Actually, in the “old” days, the Low Mass (which most of the Masses were) required you to stay for the Leonine Prayers, which technically were not even part of the Mass proper. So if you left before then, it was frowned upon bigtime. It seemed that when these prayers were omitted, people started leaving sooner. Just my observation, though.

 

[bitznbitez]

Back when we were just visiting and hadn’t started RCIA we would often leave at this moment simply because it was easiest.

For one person in a row to stay in their place, or file to end of row and let folks out and skip going up for communion is easy, two ok, but an entire family it was a logistical disaster. So we would sit in the back and when our row was dismissed exit to the narthex instead of going forward and usually stand there for the rest of mass, which was visible and audible thru the windows and glass.

 

[savedbygrace71]

Well, I know that when I was a caregiver for my mom (and dad), I needed the nourishment of Christ.

I didn’t feel like I was doing something so awful if I came a couple of minutes late and left after Communion, so I could get back to them.

It pains me to think that people were comparing me to Judas.

I’m sorry. I didn’t bring up this subject intending to hurt feelings. As with so many other subjects, I think in individual situations, there are always reasonable circumstances. It’s looking at the whole group that it seems a blur of folks getting out to somewhere else.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Actually, in the “old” days, the Low Mass (which most of the Masses were) required you to stay for the Leonine Prayers, which technically were not even part of the Mass proper. So if you left before then, it was frowned upon bigtime. It seemed that when these prayers were omitted, people started leaving sooner. Just my observation, though.

No. I was there, too. There were always those who left early. It is a long-standing custom. The Leonine prayers had nothing to do with it. There have always been those who just go out of “obligation” (after all, that is what we were taught) and leave as soon as they can. I distinctly remember people asking the priests at what point could the come to Mass late and still consider it having fulfilled their obligation, and at what point could they leave.

 

[7armyrugrats]

Jesus said to the apostles, “Have you not one hour to pray with me?” What about, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. I am thinking this applies here.

I do say a prayer for the people who leave early, that they know not what they are doing. Only God knows their reason, I do not. God is the judge, not man.

Being embarrassed for sitting out of Holy Communion is no reason to leave early. In fact, I don’t see it as being a reason to be embarrassed at all. People who sit are usually not Catholic or have not been to confession and cannot receive.

TEPO: You reminded me of a quote…My father didn’t teach me how to live, he lived and let me watch him do it. Clarence B Kelland

It is not our place to judge their hearts, particularly since we have no way of knowing their reasons or intentions. To you it may not be a good reason, but to another person it may very well be a perfectly good reason. For a cradel Catholic to miss Communion week after week, it can be quite devastating. That is why so many people ignore Church teaching and go on up with everyone else and not even think about it. This happens more often than the ones who leave early.

From my understanding, the Church has never set an amount of time that someone must be at the Mass in order to fulfill their obligation. I doubt they ever will because they realize life happens and we are in no way able to control how life plays out for us. It is so wrong of people being vilified and compared to Judas for coping as best they can in the circumstances in which they live. My mom and dad grew up during the depression. They told us that often times people would arrive at Mass late and leave before Communion. Many rarely received Communion. Many heard the Gospel and homily and that is it. But the lines at the Confessional were long–much longer than they are today. People didn’t leave the Church in the numbers they are leaving today either. The people who made it in time and stayed for the entire Mass felt they were lucky that they were in better circumstances. They knew they were blessed to have that opportunity. That is why my parents taught us we should always arrive early and stay until the end of the last hymn, but never assume that those who didn’t were bad Catholics or poorly catechized Catholics. There may be a day when we too will only be able to go for a few minutes at a time for reasons no one else knows or understands. Everytime I make it to Mass I am happy to be there. Thankfully I have only had to leave early twice. I’ve been late more often, probably about 20 times. Having a deployed husband and 7 kids to get ready and out the door is quite difficult at times. Before I starting homeschooling, my kids missed the bus quite regularly, so it isn’t just getting them ready for Mass that was hard. I have had to bring my kids out due to noise and behavior, so if that is considered leaving early than I have lost count of the true number of times over the last 20 yrs I’ve left early. I would hope that the OP decides to explain to her son that it is unkind to keep count of the number of people arriving late or leaving early, and explain to him that no matter where they sit they are still at Mass and the focus should still be on the altar. No one would ever notice what the people around them are doing if they were honestly focussed on what they should be focussed on.

 

[ProVobis]

I distinctly remember people asking the priests at what point could the come to Mass late and still consider it having fulfilled their obligation, and at what point could they leave.

And I’ll bet the answer was always the same, that is, after the priest left the altar. Unless you had a good reason, of course.

 

[MissRose73]

Beat the traffic out of the parking lot is my guess. Then again I remember the wise words (or similar) posted in a few places “Judas was the first one to leave the Last Supper”

 

[robwar]

It is not our place to judge their hearts, particularly since we have no way of knowing their reasons or intentions. To you it may not be a good reason, but to another person it may very well be a perfectly good reason. For a cradel Catholic to miss Communion week after week, it can be quite devastating. That is why so many people ignore Church teaching and go on up with everyone else and not even think about it. This happens more often than the ones who leave early.

From my understanding, the Church has never set an amount of time that someone must be at the Mass in order to fulfill their obligation. I doubt they ever will because they realize life happens and we are in no way able to control how life plays out for us. It is so wrong of people being vilified and compared to Judas for coping as best they can in the circumstances in which they live. My mom and dad grew up during the depression. They told us that often times people would arrive at Mass late and leave before Communion. Many rarely received Communion. Many heard the Gospel and homily and that is it. But the lines at the Confessional were long–much longer than they are today. People didn’t leave the Church in the numbers they are leaving today either. The people who made it in time and stayed for the entire Mass felt they were lucky that they were in better circumstances. They knew they were blessed to have that opportunity. That is why my parents taught us we should always arrive early and stay until the end of the last hymn, but never assume that those who didn’t were bad Catholics or poorly catechized Catholics. There may be a day when we too will only be able to go for a few minutes at a time for reasons no one else knows or understands. Everytime I make it to Mass I am happy to be there. Thankfully I have only had to leave early twice. I’ve been late more often, probably about 20 times. Having a deployed husband and 7 kids to get ready and out the door is quite difficult at times. Before I starting homeschooling, my kids missed the bus quite regularly, so it isn’t just getting them ready for Mass that was hard. I have had to bring my kids out due to noise and behavior, so if that is considered leaving early than I have lost count of the true number of times over the last 20 yrs I’ve left early. I would hope that the OP decides to explain to her son that it is unkind to keep count of the number of people arriving late or leaving early, and explain to him that no matter where they sit they are still at Mass and the focus should still be on the altar. No one would ever notice what the people around them are doing if they were honestly focussed on what they should be focussed on.

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[MissRose73]

I did leave Mass early at times if it ran past a certain time, and I had to be work on time as at the time I was required to work on weekends with a shift time that meant: either miss Mass all together or go to the 8am on, and make sure I got to work on time by 9:30am then work til 6pm on Sunday (same time as Saturdays).

I am blessed now to have a time and schedule at work that allows me to go either on Saturday evening vigil or Sunday morning.

 

[pnewton]

But if you don’t KNOW…then it may well be a matter of rash judgment to assume wrongdoing when person “a” leaves early.

That’s my opinion and why I think this is best left to the priest. No one can know the motive of another. However, it is a fair bet that if half the parish has an emergency ever week, then not all have any reason better than beating traffic. It is perfectly fine for a priest to admonish his parish if he sees this, or any other sign that the people do not understand the proper respect due the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice being offered there. Priest have had this role through history. If we take up our role as the sheep, we will listen if addressed by our shepherd and respond accordingly. Maybe we are the one that has a valid reason. Maybe we are the one that needs our priorities straightened out. I know that I never have any reason to judge, either that one is being disrespectful,** or** judge that one has a valid reason.

 

[acadiANNA]

Leaving early because of children misbehaving is a valid and acceptable reason. I always sat in the back pew in case I had to leave suddenly. Only once did I have to do that when my son was age 4. We walked out quietly and went to the car and left. No lecture. It never happened again. Don’t be embarrassed to sit out of Holy Communion when you have to. What other people think of you is not important. You only need to be obedient to God.

 

[bitznbitez]

I think this was probably how things worked back in the 1950s, 1960s, and earlier before people tended to receive at every Mass. The early leavers just got up and left at communion time (when those who were receiving stood up. In the old days people didn’t line up pew by pew; they all just stood up and messily made their way forward to the communion rail.) Now the early leavers often receive communion before they leave.

Can someone educate me on this ? I was not aware there was a time when people didn’t receive at every mass. What was this about ?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I have had a couple of discussions with priest friends about this very subject. What most of them have told me is that while there are people who leave for “legitimate” reasons (work, illness, unruly children, care-giving responsibilities, etc), and that is never a problem, it is not the “usual”. One of my friends (again, a priest) believes it has to do with our “obligation” and I tend to agree.

Sadly, many Catholics in my area look at Mass attendance as ‘getting their ticket punched’- “go to Mass, get Communion and I’m good for another week”, kind of thing. It is something they*** “have to”*** do, instead of something they "want to" do.

And there in lies the challenge, IMHO.
We who understand the need for Mass and other spiritual means to get through life need to learn how to share with others why we do what we do, without looking down our noses at those who don’t do what we think they should do. In the end, it all boils down to catechesis, which sadly(at least in my area, for the most part) has been relegated to only the young, and as a requirement for obtaining the Sacraments. We can teach the kids all we want, but if those lessons are not re-enforced at home, we are always going to have the problem.

How to do that, well that’s another thread!

 

[7armyrugrats]

Can someone educate me on this ? I was not aware there was a time when people didn’t receive at every mass. What was this about ?

In Mexico people still rarely receive at every Mass. The Church states that faithful Catholics should receive Communion at least once each year during Easter season. I believe it is the 4th precept.

 

[ProVobis]

In Mexico people still rarely receive at every Mass. The Church states that faithful Catholics should receive Communion at least once each year during Easter season. I believe it is the 4th precept.

As do those attending Spanish Masses here. It’s not uncommon to see entire big blocks of families sit out communion, especially those sitting in back, with perhaps the smaller kids going for the blessing. In stark contrast to the English Masses where virtually everyone receives. Seems like either different catechises to me or the Anglophones are just more holy people.

 

[SMHW]

No. I was there, too. There were always those who left early. It is a long-standing custom. The Leonine prayers had nothing to do with it. There have always been those who just go out of “obligation” (after all, that is what we were taught) and leave as soon as they can. I distinctly remember people asking the priests at what point could the come to Mass late and still consider it having fulfilled their obligation, and at what point could they leave.

Yes.

I brought the subject up because CAFers often ask why people leave early as if it is something that started happening recently.

People have been leaving Mass early far longer than the oldest CAF poster can remember.

 

[cheezey]

Yes.

I brought the subject up because CAFers often ask why people leave early as if it is something that started happening recently.

People have been leaving Mass early far longer than the oldest CAF poster can remember.

it is still dismaying to see en mass mad dash to the door from mass.

Did I say that?

Saw it weekly and then some. And on a particularly solemn vigil, honestly can’t rmember which one, the Deacon must have announced it ten times that we were to leave silently. Out of 350 people, maybe 3 did so.
The others were yapping up a storm, taking pictures, talking on their cell phones, yelling across the great hall…
The Deacon threw up his hands and gave up. I felt badly for him.