Before Mass Silence

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Before, and after Mass. :wink.
The 1962 Roman Missal has several pages of prayers for before and after. I pick and choose but before Mass prayers include several Psalms.
Just a fraction of the many treasures in the '62! Happy dance!
 
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I take my Missal to the OF Mass too. And I’ll take it along when I work with the Catholic kids in the OF parishes, yep! They need Latin!
 
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The noise of chatter is something that’s really annoyed me for quite a long time until I realised I was being a bit judgemental about it, and it’s not like I haven’t replied if someone asked me a question in there. I also figured that the liveliness isn’t so bad at the end of the day as it’s a sign there’s life in the Church.
anon10271182 said:
The 1962 Roman Missal has several pages of prayers for before and after. I pick and choose but before Mass prayers include several Psalms.
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That’s a great idea. I have a couple of old missals, a 59 and a 61, that my mum gave me, and you’re right, there are some lovely prayers and writings in there 🙂
 
I read that book and it is awesome. Cardinal Sarah points out very well the importance of silence in one’s life.
 
You know, the older parishioners with poor hearing are the loudest, as they inadvertently speak in a normal voice…but those folks don’t bother me. 😊 It’s the younger crowd who carry on a long conversation about day-to-day stuff or see a friend and sit down to catch up on the news. Those are the ones that I allow to get on my nerves. 😬 ……and then I don’t pray because I’m too busy being aggravated. :roll_eyes:
 
I get what you’re saying about the hard of hearing but–old or young, they shouldn’t be socializing in the nave at all.
 
Older people may not get out to see anybody except at mass. They also sometimes don’t have the energy to get to a social hour in the church hall.
I was always taught to greet good friends in awhisper or with a smile and to nod and smile at others.
My 85 year old aunt does this and so do her friends. Some of them whisper really loudly.
Then it is
on me to block them out.
Should people talk before mass in the nave. I don"t think so. Do they ? Yes.
Other people’s bad behavior is between them and God
My job is to do the best I can to concentrate on the mass.
 
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Seagull said:
I have always liked showing up to mass an hour and a half early.
Rosary is at 11:30 am. Mass is at noon.
Large church. Only an older woman in last row is usually there.
I read during this time. But a woman in her mid 70s soon arrives
and then a man in his mid sixties. Like clockwork.
They talk. Not a minute of pause between them. Not loudly.
He’s proud of it too, once saying “ I started up this tradition”.

They used to arrive at 11:10 am or so.
Now they are there at 10:30 am.
They talked today…obviously…one had a colonoscopy…etc …it’s just frustrating.

Can anyone sympathize with me ?
I usually sit in the 5th row. Today, I got up, and sat in the last row of the church. It didn’t help. Only difference, I could see them. As if they were on a park bench by the pond. Right up till rosary starts.
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Would not work at our parish. We have 10 Masses on Sundays and only 15 minutes between Masses.
 
Today was noisy. 10 minutes before the rosary - forget it.
Was I in a pew at church - or park bench outside after baseball game.
Then - one minute after rosary - noise level went back up -
The Pastor was at the podium - looking out at the people - in slight disbelief -
I know that look that he gave - lol

This is how I came to this forum - asking this question.
I’ve learned to be patient - and block voices out -
But when I’m reading - I’m still sensitive to certain words…
“ I’d never do that “ - someone said that phrase - that made me twitch.
“ you get what you pay for “ - etc etc

Pastor knows he’s got a noisy bunch.
It was good to see him - first hand - see it - immediately after the rosary.
 
Shame on those who disrespect what should always be a place of sacred and prayerful silence.
 
So one would assume if he thinks it is a serious enough issue, he’ll either mention it or put something in the church bulleting about it.
 
Bringing earplugs now. I put them in until Mass starts, and again right after the recessional hymn. They help, though they don’t block nearly all the noise.
 
I am more and more encountering what could be called The Rite of Hospitality. It could begin moments before Mass with the celebrant or other staff interrupting the personal prayers and casual chit-chat with some explanation on how the song board works–or the need to greet the stranger in one’s midst. It could just be “Please rise and greet those around you!” Then one is somehow obliged to stop praying, and get up to make clumsy insincere small talk with those you usually sit next to anyway. Thus the worship space becomes a meeting place.
 
So glad I haven’t been to a parish Mass in quite a while where the “pre-Mass meet and greet” occurred. And I’ve come to grips (no pun intended) with the “sign of peace” melee. I simply nod and smile to my left and right, saying “Pax Christi.” The only body pressing my palm is the Body of Christ, which goes straight from palm to mouth, no fingers. Sometimes people seem a little offended that I don’t shake hands, but that’s their choice.
 
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It was recently learned, thanks to either the apologists on Catholic Answers Live or Catholic Replies in The Wanderer, that the handshake is not specified in The Rubrics–only a sober wave. It has been observed that some in attendance simply remain seated or kneel until Mass actually starts rather tthan participate in the “Great Greet”.

We have noted that the Eucharistic Ministers get a dose of hand sanitizer upon entering The Sanctuary. This evokes the following bit of poetry at the Pax Christi: “There’s no Purell here in the pew. A sober wave will have to do.”
 
LOL I got tapped on the shoulder from behind at Mass recently. I turned, made eye contact, smiled and nodded and said “Pax Christi,” ignoring the outthrust hand. Maybe they thought I was rude but if so, that’s on them.
 
There seems to be some sort of implied permission to touch others in many parishes. One local pastor even encouraged others, in the church bulletin, to impose themselves on those abstaining from the Great Greet. I have seen people grabbed, poked, jostled, and even scolded. When tapped from behind once, I said “Bad Touch!” I’ve also set out on the pew nearby a small sign/large index card Fasting From Flirting
 
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As I’ve mentioned elsewhere…
poked with an old lady stilletto fingernail!
Yep! Because
I wasn’t linking up with the Our Father Human Chain, as mandated in the GIRM!
 
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