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Immediately after confirmation, your priest gives you the secret handshake and your own copy of the Notre Dame playbook.

Hot dog!

Which reminds me- - -When I attended my first mass (just to find out what goes on in the secret rituals) the man in the pew in front of me was attired in shorts and a Notre Dame sweatshirt. His family was similarly dressed. After communion they headed straight for the door, not sticking around for the rest of the service. Not to cast stones, or anything, but isn't that kind of disrespectful? I have since noticed that this kind of behavior is not at all uncommon.

After communion they headed straight for the door, not sticking around for the rest of the service. Not to cast stones, or anything, but isn't that kind of disrespectful?

You learn quick, Homer. It is disrespectful. You aren't supposed to leave until the priest departs.

My ex-step-Mom was even stricter than that. We weren't allowed to leave until the choir finished singing.

I stay until the priest departs. Amd don't forget to genuflect when the priest and his entourage bow to the altar!

When I attended my first mass (just to find out what goes on in the secret rituals) the man in the pew in front of me was attired in shorts and a Notre Dame sweatshirt. His family was similarly dressed. After communion they headed straight for the door, not sticking around for the rest of the service. Not to cast stones, or anything, but isn't that kind of disrespectful? I have since noticed that this kind of behavior is not at all uncommon.

We ex-Protestants do have to go through a culture shock when we start attending a Catholic Church. I noticed the difference in dress between Protestants and Catholics immediately. During RCIA, I wore a suit and tie to Mass every Sunday, but I was usually the only one, except for most of the ushers.

Now, I generally wear a dress shirt and slacks. But I haven't become accustomed to the t-shirts, shorts and thongs worn by others yet. And the leaving after communion bugs me too. Makes me want to stand up and lecture them all -- but that would only happen in a Protestant Church. :-)

I sometimes have difficulty accepting authority. I tend to rebel against anything an authority figure says -- even when he's right. I have found the Catholic Church to be a help in this regard. I quickly realized that if I started questioning everything a Catholic authority figure tells me, I would never have time to practice Catholicism. As a result, I've become much more accepting, and it's carried over into my non-Catholic life in a positive way.

It's good to finally be humble! I'm really proud of myself for my newfound humility.

After communion they headed straight for the door, not sticking around for the rest of the service.

When I was just a wee hatchling, I noticed such behaviour one Sunday. My father observed that Judas Iscariot was the first man to leave Mass early. He added that he wasn't necessarily equating these people to Judas, but that leaving Mass early certainly doesn't put one in good company. I stay until the recessional is sung. If the organist starts playing Bach or something after, I'll stay for the free concert.