Are there rules about proper behavior before mass?

[Ruthie]

As a “young” baby boomer, and an ex-hippy… Even the conservative kids I knew were indoctrinated with “Do your own thing.” Being quiet and reverential before Mass could have been seen as too dictatorial. (I’m a 2006 convert, so I wouldn’t know.)

Thanks, Japhy, for posting the quote from Vatican II’s document on the Spirit of the Liturgy. I wish they had made it plainer that this: “something more is required than the mere observation of the laws,” didn’t mean they could adjust the Liturgy to their liking. I guess clown Masses and clappy campfire music might have gotten people “actively engaged in the rite,” but at what sacrifice?

Ah, well. Let’s all pray a Divine Mercy chaplet for them, and ask St. Jude for them (and me!) to get indestructible knees for kneeling on.

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.

Ruthie

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Thanks Japhy -

That does help.

At Easter Vigil service, there were two young men next to me. Prior to the service starting they were both playing games on their cell phones. They were quiet, holding the cell phones down in their laps, not making a scene or a distraction. I believe this to be inappropriate, but as I said they were quiet.

The lady behind them had noticed they were playing games when she knelt to pray, she then leaned forward and in loud whisper (in a very critical and judgmental tone)said “Do you realize you are in Church?” and then “I cannot believe you are playing video games.” The one young man didn’t say anything but did put the phone away. He was visibly embarrassed. The other one ignored her. She leaned up again and said “I want you to put that game away right now it is disrespectful.” He said something back to her, like “thanks” or something but continued playing. She and her mother then whispered back and forth in disparaging tones and eventually slid down the pew away from the young men. That other young man put his phone away a few minutes before mass began.

I was unsure as to her “right” and/or “obligation” to have said something. I also considered playing games to be inappropriate and irreverent, but I didn’t know if it would be my place to say something since their behavior wasn’t directly distracting me and the tabernacle was empty. That’s why I asked if it made a difference with the tabernacle empty.

My impression was that these young men were not fully aware that what they were doing was disrespectful. One could argue that they should have been, but sometimes things that seem obvious to some are not so obvious to others. I felt she was rather harsh. I’m sure she was offended by their lack of respect for God, but sometimes gentle correction can do a world of good, where a stern reprimand has the opposite effect.

So to round out my question here, is it our obligation to correct others in Church?

I don’t fault the young men. They had arrived early at the church for this very long service. The Blessed Sacrament wasn’t in the tabernacle. In this particular situation I don’t think they were doing anything disrespectful. It would be different if they were doing it during mass or in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. I’m in my 60’s and quite conservative but I don’t see what they were doing as disrespectful as long as they stopped before the service began. I think the woman who spoke to them was out of line in this instance and did more harm than good.