Lingering After Liturgy

AnneMarie Miller explores the value of lingering in the church after Mass.

“I found the holy oils!” My young son walked up to me, a huge smile on his face. Mass had just ended, and after the priest processed out, my children began wandering around the church. I asked my kids to show me what they found, and they proudly pointed out the shelf where three glass carafes stood, containing the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of the Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism.

We had stayed after Mass for just a moment; yet in that span of time, we were able to explore and discuss the holy oils. It was a peaceful moment that contrasted wildly with what I often witness on Sundays.

I’ve attended many different Catholic parishes, yet I’ve seen a fairly consistent phenomenon: As soon as the recessional hymn ends, the church building erupts into a flurry of chaos. Toddlers bolt for the doors, eager to eat donuts. Older children dash to religious education classes. Music ministers gather their materials and prepare for the next liturgy. The sacristan and ushers dart up the aisles as they begin their post-liturgy routines. Other people immediately cluster by the pews to talk, or they rush to their cars.

I’ve joined in this chaos myself, happy to let my children run free outside or—let’s be honest—excited to get home and enjoy a large mug of coffee.

Yet, when we engage in this frenzied chaos, we miss out on so much. We miss out on a chance to spend a quiet, intimate moment with God—who we have just received into our bodies—by pausing to offer quiet personal prayers after Mass. We miss out on a moment that could be used for spontaneous family prayer or prayer with our spouse before the Blessed Sacrament. We also miss out on a chance to learn from the church building itself.

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For centuries, churches have been built so that they can offer praise and glory to God and reverence the sacred mysteries that take place. Churches also catechize the congregation by offering signs, symbols, and artwork that point to God and the saints. Stained glass windows depict scenes from the Bible or the lives of the saints. Statues offer reminders and instruction about our saintly intercessors, and icons provide a chance to quietly contemplate God and the saints as we glimpse heavenly realities. Reliquaries, tucked in alcoves or near side altars, contain the physical presence of the saints that intercede for us.

Churches hold many treasures that we can discover, as well as the physical presence of Christ, present in the tabernacle. However, I can’t easily stop by my church to wander around, look at the stained-glass windows, and pray. Many churches in my area are locked during the day for security reasons. Aside from weekend Mass, Confession, and possibly daily Mass (if it is held in the church), there aren’t really any opportunities to explore the treasures within the building. I could, theoretically, show up to Mass early and wander around with my young children before finding a seat, but we’re fortunate to arrive on time for Mass as it is. So, we stay after Mass.

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Let’s linger after the liturgy. Let’s take a few moments to wander through the church and explore the mysteries of God. #CatholicMom

We don’t stay long, and we don’t do anything complicated. We offer a prayer of thanksgiving at our pew, then often venerate a saint relic or look at some stained-glass windows before heading out. Yet, lingering after the liturgy—even for just a few moments—gives us a chance to pause and think about Who we have just received. It offers an opportunity to talk about the saints depicted in the windows or statues, look at the Stations of the Cross, or pray by the saint relics. It is a small, consistent way by which we can learn about God, the saints, and grow in our devotion.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that churches should “be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities” (#288). No matter how simple or ornate a church building is, it conveys heavenly realities in some way. Do we take the time to explore and contemplate the beauty and symbols conveyed within our churches?

In the year that stretches ahead of us, let’s linger after the liturgy. Let’s take a few moments to wander through the church and explore the mysteries of God. We may be surprised by how this simple practice draws us closer to God as we learn from the building and spend time in His presence.

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