Before Mass Silence

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That would be a difficult situation, @KATRINA_68. Sounds like you handled it with grace and compassion. I pray the Holy Spirit works on that man’s heart. 🙏
 
Cecilia_Dympna said:
Excath:
If you were a follower of Jesus and not the Catholic church
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What do you mean by this? You do understand that Catholics are Christians? That Catholics are followers of Jesus?
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By ExCath’s username it is somewhat obvious that this poster was once a former Catholic. Though I don’t know for sure, I’d bet he/she may well now be a fundamentalist Christian. One always looking to “bad mouth” his/her former religious identity. When I realize the nature of these posters, I simply refuse to take the bait when they spew their “verbal vomit.” Suggest you do the same.
 
To be honest, at first I wanted to move, but then thought, better to stay, and set an example, and not make a big scene. There were 2 other adults(they all came in together) who sat in the front pew, playing a shove game back and forth for a few minutes. Father was doing the homily, and glanced at them. I thought about the deceased for whom this Mass was being said, and prayed for her, and them.
 
How sad, especially at a funeral Mass. You really have to wonder at adults who behave like that. 😥
 
I once read an account of a man who made a visit to the Holy Land. Going to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, he expected a beautiful, serene atmosphere. What he got was a crowd of vendors hawking cheap trinkets, beggars, street people, the whole spectrum. He was taken aback. Then in a reflection, he realized that this was the world Jesus was born into, one of noise, chaos, commerce and the daily run of life.
When I encounter the kind of behavior described in the post, sometimes I “enjoy” it realizing with all the Catholics who have turned their back on the church, I think the Lord is happy for the ones who haven’t, and if they visit a bit, so what.
And then, often I find that the distraction actually is an aid in helping me focus on where I am and what I have come for.
And occasionally, I get perturbed too, but then again, I’m sure I have “perturbed” others in my life.
Shalom.
 
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I’ve been pretty fortunate in that nearly every parish I’ve ever been in has been quiet and prayerful before Mass begins. Most of these churches had large vestibules where people could chat before entering the church; but once they entered the main church, silence prevailed. In some parishes there was a before-Mass rosary which was recited. My current parish has scriptural quotes on the main doors about the Lord’s house being a place of silence and prayer.

I did come across one parish when visiting a relative, though, which was chatty, although there is plenty of room in the vestibule to chat. People enter the church and sit down, mostly not kneeling for prayer. Then they start to chat. Fortunately, I don’t go there very often.
 
In my old parish the priest felt it was getting to noisy before mas and had signs printed up about being quiet before and after mass, you could speak to one another in the narthex. There is a parish I go to for daily mass. I get there early to say a rosary, yet while I am kneeling with my eyes closed, the deacon will enter the pew disturbing my prayer to shake my hand and welcome me. Unfortunately this kind of spoils the rest of mass for me. I too am not quit sure how to approach him.
 
At Sunday Mass we do have some assigned Mass greeters, but they greet people as they enter the vestibule, not the church. It seems odd to interrupt someone at prayer.
 
Yeah. This isn’t people doing legitimate work in the church, and it bothers me too. I also know the schedule of the talkers. I often wish I could close my ears as I do my eyes! I try to remind myself that this may be the only socialization these people get that day. All I can do is attempt to fold my unwitting eavesdropping into my conversation with Jesus, use it as an opportunity to work on controlling my responses, pray for them, and look forward to the weekdays when I can have some real quiet.

I will say that if someone approaches me and asks for prayer, I do have a conversation with them, so that means I also talk in church. And I haven’t always been so focused on Jesus in the tabernacle, so I’ve sometimes been guilty of being loud. I try to remember these things, too, when I start getting annoyed.

I feel for you.
 
The deacon does this to everyone as he makes his way to the narthex to greet parishioners. Another issue I have with him is that when he does greet me in the back of church, he likes to give hugs. I am not familiar with him since this is not my home parish and being a female I feel a bit odd. I have been able to hold out my hand and divert him at times, but I am not always successful.
 
well, ya either put your foot down, in one of two ways, politely, or bluntly. Same as with any public place, like a library or movie theater no one wants to listen someones conversation that is disruptive and too loud. You just have to be consistant and prepared for a show down. For the elderly,insane,and or lonely, the ole church becomes a place to socialize because that is the only time they get to regularly see people they know.

And the priest isn’t going to intervien because it is just as awkward for him to tell people to shut up as it is for anyone else.

Best bet just change your routine to have private prayer time some where else, be it at home in your custom made prayer room or corner / or find a nice quiet place in town like a park. God isn’t limited to just the physical brick and mortar Church even though the tabernacle and or adoration is there.
 
That’s my situation - I sit by an older lady and she tells me all the stresses of her week. She asks about my family and is one of my greatest prayer supports. She waits until I finish praying, which is very respectful.
 
Our parish church was remodeled recently, so we now have a narthex large enough for some to sit and some to stand while socializing. It is closed off from the church, where people are praying quietly.

Also, once or twice a month we go to the hall which is right next door and have coffee and donuts while socializing with other parishioners. That is an important part of parish life, though not in the church.

PS - I love the book by Robert Cardinal Sarah “The Power of Silence”. Our prayer time needs to go further than skin deep to allow the Lord to truly change us.
 
Trying to find the right words to respond to this thread, but you said it so nicely, I need not say more.
Dlee said:
That’s my situation - I sit by an older lady and she tells me all the stresses of her week. She asks about my family and is one of my greatest prayer supports. She waits until I finish praying, which is very respectful.
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Responding to this thread is difficult. There are many reasons why people talk before Mass and your interaction is prayer…a prayer of support for both of you.
 
Below is an excerpt from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that would be germane to the discussion on this thread.

I don’t think this has been posted before on this thread. If it has, please accept my apologies.

Silence
45. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.[54] Its nature, however, depends on the moment when it occurs in the different parts of the celebration. For in the Penitential Act and again after the invitation to pray, individuals recollect themselves; whereas after a reading or after the Homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard; then after Communion, they praise God in their hearts and pray to him.
Even before the celebration itself, it is a praiseworthy practice for silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred celebration in a devout and fitting manner. (emphasis added)

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-wor...uction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2.cfm

Blessings
 
fredystairs said:
Even before the celebration itself, it is a praiseworthy practice for silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred celebration in a devout and fitting manner.
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Although a praiseworthy practice, adding to the church: The sacristy, vesting room, and adjacent areas is practically an impossibility. I know that you, fredystairs, did not write this, but it is a quote. I’m just glad it states that it is a “praiseworthy practice” and not a distinct directive stating, “must…” In the context of one speaking in a quiet voice:

Sacristy: communication is necessary for the EMs to carry out their ministry in who is to help pour the wine, place enough hosts in the ciborias and who is the sub for the absent EM and what station is that. I have a master key and are asked from time to time to open the closets that contain the wine and hosts. On special occasions, the priest or the deacon needs to give special directions to them; a partial list of any number of reasons why communication is necessary in order that the Mass flows seamlessly, before and after.

Vestry: For the same reasons for EMs, priests, deacons, ministers serving the Mass must also communicate. I have to go to the vestry many times to meet a visiting priest, or one I know to review the order of Mass as it pertains to what Acclamations are sung, which form of the Penitential Rite will be used, etc., especially during special Masses, funerals, Holy Days.

Adjacent areas: The vestibule is a gathering area where the ushers and greeters actually speak to and welcome people, especially someone they have not seen in awhile or new, as they enter out of courtesy; it’s part of their ministry. It is also a time for some to ask another, “how is your husband today? We prayed for him, is he home yet and feeling better? I’ll pray for him today at Mass.”

I’ll add: Music area inside the Nave: Again, communication to the musicians on what the priest or deacon just told me about a change, a review of the Psalm or song quietly as possible since we could not have a rehearsal that week. The reasons are many.

I guess the USCCB wants us all to learn sign language. Thanks for sharing what you found. I hope that you and others can appreciate the reasons why this “praiseworthy practice” is ideal, but rather difficult to accomplish.
 
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Joy, I hope you read my response above. When in the vestibule, I see no reason why you could not carry on a quiet, short conversation as per my example, with someone. You and I had posts together here, and I don’t see you as a one who would abuse the sacredness of the church. I do hope that you continue to say hello to your fellow parishioners and friends in the vestibule and communicate quietly when necessary. A swift change in your personality to follow a praiseworthy practice over it not being mandatory would make one feel rejected, something I know you would not want that person to feel. Be you. In doing so quietly and reverently, I personally don’t see how your actions would affect “the sacred celebration in a devout and fitting manner.”
This weekend we heard, “love one another as a commandment.” We hear it many times over the course of the year in all cycles. I don’t see that in action if someone like you would walk into church, avoid contact with people you know and go directly to your seat? Again, be you!
 
Joy, stop beating yourself up. You’re talking like you created heresy. I was going to mention that people would notice and ask, “we thought you didn’t like us anymore." But, I thought I wrote too much already and you would get my point. Yeah, we are all guilty of talking too much. If you feel that badly, limit the time of your conversations, speak quietly, and talk about non-ministry issues after Mass. Spreading your “Joy” in love to others is also fulfilling the Gospel teaching. You want to change, so be it; but, continue to be you with a few changes you mentioned to make you happy. I am sure that Father would agree, IMO.
 
No problem. I just felt the need to respond to you after my response to fredy and the USCCB quote he provided and then your response of what I felt that your felt so terribly bad about.
 
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