Sunday Obligation – Leaving Mass Early

[CuriousInIL]

Ok—A very technical question. At what point in the mass can one leave and still have fulfilled the Sunday obligation? Does it matter if you are not in a state of grace and therefore will not be receiving?

I understand that the preference is to remain until the last note of the recessional song (and sing along). And, I am not talking about a person that would do this every week. This is about a very rare event. I have found many opinions on being late to mass; but, I have not seen the same on leaving mass early.

So, there is the question—as I said a very technical one in the sense of looking for a “rule” and not a discussion of best practices or feelings about those who consistently arrive late or leave early.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

This would be the minimal rule in my household:

The priest is the last to enter the church and the first to leave.

 

[m134e5]

CuriousInIL:

Ok—A very technical question. At what point in the mass can one leave and still have fulfilled the Sunday obligation? Does it matter if you are not in a state of grace and therefore will not be receiving?

I understand that the preference is to remain until the last note of the recessional song (and sing along). And, I am not talking about a person that would do this every week. This is about a very rare event. I have found many opinions on being late to mass; but, I have not seen the same on leaving mass early.

So, there is the question—as I said a very technical one in the sense of looking for a “rule” and not a discussion of best practices or feelings about those who consistently arrive late or leave early.

You are obligated to go to Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation- whether you’re in a state of grace or not (but your reason should NOT be “because I have to”- I somehow doubt the obligation is fulfilled if that is the reason), and not be concerned about how long you have to stay to meet the obligation. If you go long enough with the mindset that all you’re doing is meeting an obligation, then it’s meaningless- as following rules simply for the sake of the rules is meaningless.

Ideally, you should get there before Mass starts to focus on what you’re about to do, and stay awhile after it ends, to reflect on what you just did. I understand life is not ideal- sometimes that just doesn’t happen- if you get there as soon as you possibly can, and stay until it’s over if at all possible- then you’re fine. If you’re late because of carelessness, or you are so late you cannot focus on the Mass, or if you run out to your car before communion to beat the rush, or right after communion as if to say “well, that’s over with- time to go eat”, I doubt the obligation is met. Going to Mass is about your relationship with God. How would you like it if you met a friend for dinner, they got there late, then left as soon as they were done eating without really taking time to talk to you? That’s how it is when you go to Mass late and/or leave early.

Remember- many Protestants go to church for 2 1/2 hours on Sunday mornings, often an hour on Sunday nights, sometimes an hour on Wednesday nights, and some go to things such as bible studies *at least *one other night a week- and their lives are just as busy- if not more so- as Catholics’ lives.

You mention this is a rare event- I wouldn’t worry about it. If you cannot help it, it’s not your fault. If possible, find another Mass to go to- so you can focus better, but if what causes this is beyond your control, then I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[Joan_M]

CuriousInIL:

I understand that the preference is to remain until the last note of the recessional song (and sing along).

I believe we are required to stay until the priest leaves. As far as I know, the recessional hymn is not required, but if there is one, it is for the procession of altar servers and priest. There is no requirement to remain to the last note - once the priest has left, we are quite free to leave.

However, since Jesus stays with us sacramentally for about 15 minutes after receiving Him, and the Mass usually finishes within 5 - 10 minutes after Communion, perhaps we should stay for five more minutes to talk to Him…

 

[RobNY]

or right after communion as if to say “well, that’s over with- time to go eat”, I doubt the obligation is met.

I would speak of this in degrees. Staying for the Liturgy of the Eucharist should be necessary to meet your obligation. However, if you skip out after everyone receives communion, does that invalidate what you’ve already done? I’d say not. You met the greater obligation, but flaunted a lesser one. Perhaps you are guilty of a lesser sin, but I think that you have fulfilled the obligation to be at Mass.

I don’t say this to encourage leaving Mass early, but only as my analysis of what has happened.

Remember- many Protestants go to church for 2 1/2 hours on Sunday mornings, often an hour on Sunday nights, sometimes an hour on Wednesday nights, and some go to things such as bible studies *at least *one other night a week- and their lives are just as busy- if not more so- as Catholics’ lives.

Certainly, we don’t “have free time,” we “make free time.” If you don’t try to make free time, you’ll find that you have none.

However, the comparison to Protestants is a bit invalid. It’s not about being at Mass for a set time, as the time component varies. You’ll find that the Divine Liturgy would take well in excess of your 60 minute Sunday Mass at the typical Latin rite Mass in America, as well as many historical liturgies, I would imagine, would be considerably longer. But time isn’t the component that meets the obligation of Mass, it is a non-essential part.

 

[Della]

To meet the obligation one ought not to leave before the final dismissal. However, if you have to leave to get to a job and that was the only Mass you could have attended, or some other such circumstance, you should get a dispensation from your pastor to miss some portion of the Mass or try to get to one that does not conflict with your work schedule or whatever the necessity.

My dh and I stay through the recessional hymn and say a prayer after that to both thank God and meditate upon what we have seen and heard at Mass. We aren’t any less busy than anyone else, so I can’t see why anyone should have to hustle out of church before the last chorus of the recessional hymn.

When I was an Episcopalian I never would have dreamed of being so rude to God and my fellow Christians by leaving before the service was completely over–it just wasn’t done. The lax attitude of many Catholics towards the Mass, when they come and when they go and their overall participation simply appalls me.

 

[cardenio]

I was told that, technically, you have to be there before the first reading and can’t leave until after communion.

 

[Kielbasi]

There isn’t a strict definition of this in the current code of canon law, but the old definition is that the faithful should be there for at least the 3 most important parts of the mass, the offertory, the consecration and the priest’s communion.