A Gripe I Have

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Lorrie

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Why do people feel the need to “visit” and talk in Church before Mass??? People are kneeling praying, focusing on God, etc. This is most people’s “peace time” with God. Yet people walk in talking loudly and are obviously not aware of their surroundings.

I’m sorry for the gripe, its just so rude and irritating. When I enter the Church for Mass I try to be as quiet as possible. Making sure to tip-toe if I’m wearing heels, if I see someone I know I wave hello…I don’t run up to them and give them a hug while yelling “How are you!!”

I just wish people would be more considerate and realize where they are and why they’re there.
 
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Lorrie:
Why do people feel the need to “visit” and talk in Church before Mass??? People are kneeling praying, focusing on God, etc. This is most people’s “peace time” with God. Yet people walk in talking loudly and are obviously not aware of their surroundings.

I’m sorry for the gripe, its just so rude and irritating. When I enter the Church for Mass I try to be as quiet as possible. Making sure to tip-toe if I’m wearing heels, if I see someone I know I wave hello…I don’t run up to them and give them a hug while yelling “How are you!!”

I just wish people would be more considerate and realize where they are and why they’re there.
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The problem is that people don’t have a sense of where they are. All of the polls I have seen suggest that the vast majority of Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Apparently, for most, going to Mass is just a family tradition. The number #1 problem we have in the Church is that the majority of baptized Catholics are nominal in their faith. We live in one of those times where only a small, remnant faithful exists.
 
It’s not just before Mass. It happens after Mass as well. If they want to visit, they should move outside. I find that even our most active people are guilty of doing this. It’s awful.
 
Michael Welter:
It’s not just before Mass. It happens after Mass as well. If they want to visit, they should move outside. I find that even our most active people are guilty of doing this. It’s awful.
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I couldn’t agree more. One time I actually saw (and heard) our RCIA teacher talking after Mass IN the church. A very very bad example.
 
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byzmelkite:
We live in one of those times where only a small, remnant faithful exists.
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And BXVI thinks it’s going to get smaller before it gets larger.
nianka
 
I think we need to start with the song leaders. No warming up and practicing before Mass. If we want others to be quiet, the various ministers should be a good example.
 
Deacon Tony560:
I think we need to start with the song leaders. No warming up and practicing before Mass. If we want others to be quiet, the various ministers should be a good example.
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Obviously you’re not a musician. You can’t expect them to do a good job at Mass if they haven’t warmed up beforehand.
 
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Lorrie:
Why do people feel the need to “visit” and talk in Church before Mass??? People are kneeling praying, focusing on God, etc. This is most people’s “peace time” with God. Yet people walk in talking loudly and are obviously not aware of their surroundings.

I’m sorry for the gripe, its just so rude and irritating. When I enter the Church for Mass I try to be as quiet as possible. Making sure to tip-toe if I’m wearing heels, if I see someone I know I wave hello…I don’t run up to them and give them a hug while yelling “How are you!!”

I just wish people would be more considerate and realize where they are and why they’re there.
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This is one of my biggest pet peeves…the other thing that really gets at me is right after Mass is over and the recessional have left…everyone erupts into chatter…not even wispering, shouting almost. I wish someone would tape a sign on the doors as you go out that says something like “Did you respect those who stayed to pray?”
 
You know, address this issue to the priest.
He might smack down the gossip before mass.
Institute a lunch/coffee hour after mass. This is a gripe I would have at a Roman Church. Wait until after mass, outside or in the parish hall to get the gossiping done.
Tell the priest. A good priest will listen and correct this situation. There is nothing more rude than people talking about what their neighor did last night while you are on your knees rappin’ with Jesus.
 
This is my number one pet peeve. It seems to happen especially at our 5pm Saturday vigil Mass. And the majority of the offenders aren’t who you would usually suspect: the “seniors” (people over the age of 65 or so). They talk about EVERYTHING! “Oh, didja hear about Joan? She had her hip replaced”
“Oh no, didn’t her husband have a heart attack 2 months ago?”
“Oh, yes, he had to have quadruple bypass”
“How’s your hip?”
“Oh, this weather makes it ache”
“Oh look, there’s Bill and Rose, they just had a baby”
“Really? When”
Yelling: “HI JOE! WHEN DID YOU GET BACK FROM ARIZONA?”
(just a sampling of what I heard around me the last time I was at the 5pm Saturday Mass. And I was trying NOT to hear)
I understand when you get older, your hearing gets worse and you speak louder than normal, but NOT BEFORE MASS!
Why can’t people talk in the “gathering space”? Isn’t that what it’s there for.

The only way I can deal with it (other than not attend that Mass) is what St Therese of Lisieux did once when a sister’s clicking rosary beads were driving her crazy: She offered up all her irritation for the benefit of that sister. That and make reparation to Our Lord Jesus Christ for the horrible way He is ignored at Mass.
 
Yes, that bothers me as well. Another thing that bugs is people talking and laughing in the confession line. I am trying to pray and reflect. geezzzz
 
Michael Welter:
It’s not just before Mass. It happens after Mass as well. If they want to visit, they should move outside. I find that even our most active people are guilty of doing this. It’s awful.
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I have actually seen this DURING MASS! I feel like turning to these people and saying “SHUT UP!” But I usually just glare at them. It’s like Mass starting was an inconvienience to their social hour.
 
Yes, many of the seniors gossip the whole mass. then have the nerve to tell you that it was poor parenting because your kid asked you a question or two during the mass. That incident almost made me give up church. A young kid has the right to lean over and whisper a question to his/her father. My kid sits still sings, etc…
The elders sit together and talk the whole mass, loudly to say the least. And yes, you end up knowing the gospel was from Matthew, and that Joan had a double knee replacement and Fred’s prostrate is enlarged.
 
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Spooky7272:
This is my number one pet peeve. It seems to happen especially at our 5pm Saturday vigil Mass. And the majority of the offenders aren’t who you would usually suspect: the “seniors” (people over the age of 65 or so). They talk about EVERYTHING! “Oh, didja hear about Joan? She had her hip replaced”
“Oh no, didn’t her husband have a heart attack 2 months ago?”
“Oh, yes, he had to have quadruple bypass”
“How’s your hip?”
“Oh, this weather makes it ache”
“Oh look, there’s Bill and Rose, they just had a baby”
“Really? When”
Yelling: “HI JOE! WHEN DID YOU GET BACK FROM ARIZONA?”
(just a sampling of what I heard around me the last time I was at the 5pm Saturday Mass. And I was trying NOT to hear)
I understand when you get older, your hearing gets worse and you speak louder than normal, but NOT BEFORE MASS!
Why can’t people talk in the “gathering space”? Isn’t that what it’s there for.
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These are some of the EXACT conversations I have heard at Mass. With different names of course.
 
Excellent post and a topic near and dear to me.

I just switched parishes about 8 weeks ago, then registered there 4 weeks ago. It is a traditional, orthodox parish.

One of the many wonderful things I’ve discovered at this parish is SILENCE.

It is nurtured by the parish priests too. In fact, I’ve seen notes on the doors stating that silence should be observed in the church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament.

Not only is there silence, but people don’t really have contact with each other inside the church. It is not unusual to have not eye contact with folks while walking around from front to back, for example. It is far from cold too - they are praying and they are cognizant of the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

This is a real problem - the lack of silence in churches.
 
Deacon Tony560:
I think we need to start with the song leaders. No warming up and practicing before Mass. If we want others to be quiet, the various ministers should be a good example.
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Amen! Of course one way to get rid of this problem is to get rid of songs 😉 hence getting rid of song leaders. 😃
 
Michael Welter:
Obviously you’re not a musician. You can’t expect them to do a good job at Mass if they haven’t warmed up beforehand.
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They can warm up in the parish hall or in the gym. Nothing irritates me more than musicians and others walking around, laughing, making noise, while people are trying to go to confession and say their penance.

Of course, the real solution I think, is just to get rid of musicians and stick to plain chant sung congregationally.
 
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