Are Christians becoming lazy during Prayer?

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The amount of people during the end of mass blessings … looking around and cannot even be bothered to bow their heads… for Gods blessing…

Phones going off … Folk chatting during peace offering hand shake.

I could go on and name more things.
 
What is the thread supposed to accomplish?

Some people can’t kneel. You can’t read their hearts.

Kneel if you can. Don’t kneel if you can’t. And don’t worry about what others are doing. Focus on your own interior disposition.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Over 100 years ago, the London Times (reportedly) mailed to prominent authors, asking them:
“What is wrong with the world today?”
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To which Gilbert Keith Chesterton (reportedly) replied:
“I am.”
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We are not exempt. We are called to be faithful and reverence is a subset of that. If we cannot be a good example to others, at least we can be to the Lord.
 
I think that if this bothers you, you should pray for those people. That is the only thing you can do to help them.

I hope you go to my church so when you are bothered by my sitting instead of kneeling you will pray for me. My knees could really use the help 🙂
 
englands123 said:
But I have sat in prayer only to have to open my eyes from deep meditation listening to the priest . So late arrivals can push past.
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I enter the church and I see people sitting at the end of an otherwise empty pew.

Then I see some people sitting in the middle of otherwise empty pews.

One group gets interrupted so others can move into the pew; the other group presents a more welcoming aspect to newcomers by welcoming them into their pews rather than trying to block them out.

Not to mention leaving aisle seats open for parents of young children so it is easy for them to take their crying babies out…
 
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Indeed! If the Lord were not patient with us, global warming would be the least of our concerns.

As to the mass, I spend most of it with my eyes closed. It does not matter to my spirituality what others are doing or wearing. I listen to the readings rather than watching them be read, as I used to. When appropriate, I laser in on the Tabernacle, as I am now much more aware that my Savior resides there. I snap to attention when Father declares “Behold the Lamb of God!” Is this not what Saint John the Baptist declared to those at the Jordan? I view the mass secondarily (note that) as a Holy Hour in the Lord’s presence and conduct myself accordingly.

I consider myself to be the greatest sinner present, therefore I have much repenting, reforming and purification to undergo.
 
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I blew through my 60’s genuflecting, kneeling just fine. Somewhere in my 70’s, that became problematic. I second Fathers comments. Not everyone can kneel long. Thankfully, I can still bow. I am thankful I can still get to mass, and can spend time at Adoration.

At Mass, if I happen to note small children attending with their (harried) parents, I smile at God’s beautiful creations.

Our Dear clergy need support, not backhand comments to admonish them.

Sure, there are issues at times. That’s our fallen nature, hopefully improved because of Mass.
 
Another example… Mobile phone ringing in a bag, not once either (same phone) 2 or 3 times.

That is so disrespectful and lazy.

It’s a house of prayer.

Regarding kneeling I have already said Fr it’s different if one cannot not kneel. But I see young kids not kneeling.

Please answer that?
 
englands123 said:
Please answer that?
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I am trying to figure out how you notice so much of what is happening around you if you are so deep in prayer… I do not consider myself a deep pray-er, but still notice only the smallest percentage of what you apparently see.
 
Babies cry, it’s what they do. Frankly, admonishing parents for bringing their children to mass as they should be doing comes across a bit rude and judgmental.

I am grateful to have a parish priest who actually encourages parents to bring their children to mass even when they cry. As he reminded us all one mass, suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven.

After my surgery I was barely able to get down my stairs, let alone kneel or bow, yet I made it to mass. I wonder how you would have judged me for not kneeling?

You do not know who is unable to do certain actions, or who is coming to mass for the first time as does not know the customs. If you are this concerned about what other people do consider volunteering with your parish’s RCIA program, especially on the nights where they cover the walk through of mass.
 
At our church we are fortunate to have 3 different Priests.

8am mass (which is Quiet)
10.30 mass (main mass service with music)
6pm mass (which is quiet)

Both the 8am and 6pm masses have disruption during them. Its hard not to lose focus when the same family with a young child cries behind your seat.

I’ve had it also where a lady well known for her loyalty to the church. Phone kept ringing during service and finally the Priest stopped and looked over.

I have young children and would not allow them to distract others. My phone is always on silent.

A church is a place of worship. So yes I am not happy that our Lords house is not being treated correctly during prayer and service.

And PRIESTS CAN DO MORE.
 
englands123 said:
But I see young kids not kneeling.

Please answer that?
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Because they’re small children.

Seriously, stay in your lane. It is rare that I positively quote Thomas Merton, but this is apt:
One of the first things to learn if you want to be a contemplative is to mind your own business. Nothing is more suspicious, in a man who seems holy, than an impatient desire to reform other men.
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englands123 said:
I’ve had it also where a lady well known for her loyalty to the church. Phone kept ringing during service and finally the Priest stopped and looked over.

I have young children and would not allow them to distract others. My phone is always on silent.
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“O God, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector…”
 
I know this may sound very strange, but I think you should change churches. Go to a parish where the priest is not so stern and ask him how you can be less hard on yourself, how you can be more forgiving of yourself. Go to Confession and thank God for His mercy towards you.
 
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Annie said:
Go to a parish where the priest is not so stern and ask him how you can be less hard on yourself, how you can be more forgiving of yourself.
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I’m reminded of the words of St Francis de Sales, That we must be gentle with everyone, but first of all with ourselves.

We cannot possibly show mercy to others if we are not open to it ourselves. We cannot give what we do not have, still less what we do not desire to have.
 
@englands123. Yes, if only our culture was a culture of life but we lost respect decades ago. We are a culture of death and it comes out in billions of ways. It all starts in the home, teaching children to respect God, their parents and respect themselves.
I totally understand your sincere concern for a place where God is present in the blessed sacrament and in each other that reflects the sacred. In the Eastern rite they chant psalms before mass, allow children to be the child they are, the beautiful singing keeps the noise down, the priest also works hard in chanting, incensing and blessing the people. And the churches are absolutely beautiful. You might look around for an eastern catholic church and find the sacred space you sincerely desire right there.
 
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