The Recession

As they leave, the priest and the deacon venerate the altar with a kiss. The ministers reverence the tabernacle with a genuflection. The ministers leave in the order they entered with the cross, and the candle-bearers going before the deacon and priest.

The custom has become that there is a Closing Song. This is not required by the Roman Missal or the GIRM. There can be a closing hymn, an instrumental piece, or even silence. I fully support that the people have been told: “The Mass is ended,” and not “The Mass is ended…but first sing this song.” Still if there is a closing hymn, please stay and sing. If you must leave right after the dismissal, so be it.



Here at Holy Spirit, I have no choice but to rush (almost sprint) if I want to be able to greet people leaving Mass. With our church building, a leisurely procession would have me finding half the people gone by the time I got to the doors. Please stay around until the end of the song-- I’d love to greet you on your way out into the fields of the Lord.