Blah! Blah! Blah! ... All the talking during Mass

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Apryl

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Yes, this is another thread about those things which wouldn’t bother me if I was concentrating on what I’m supposed to be concentrating on…

… but I’ve found I can’t concentrate on those things because of the distractions.:mad:

I realize that this (the USA) is a ‘free country’ and all that, and I understand that ‘people will do what they want’, but the Mass is only a short time (45 minutes to an hour) to start off the week, and it’s the time when we are preparing for the reception of, and the reception of the Eucharist. :o

I can’t find a place in the church where I can sit and not be disturbed by the chattering around me. If the people aren’t talking about the world outside (which I think can wait until after Mass), they are talking with the priest… so I get this pseudo re-verb when he does the Eucharistic Prayers. :eek:

When it’s time for the Lamb of God, the conversations are more intense because of the rush to say what they want before Communion starts. Thank Goodness more are limiting their conversations once we are kneeling.

Then, people receive communion only to return to their seats and have another chatter conversation.

Lord, forbid if I choose to sit in the first row, I have people to stand over me, or touch me, to get my attention because of something they want to say when Mass is over.

Now, I realize that if I were as grounded as so many others, these things wouldn’t bother me. It is my shortcoming that I would like to be able to go to Mass for tranquility and for comfort and for a way to commune with God and have a prayerful time to talk with God. I guess I should apologize for that. :rolleyes:

Until I get to that point, what do I do? How do I address it? What can be done to encourage more people to cut their chattering and talking down, esp during the time of the Eucharist? :confused:
 
Lol. As they talk louder, pray louder. 🙂 “Oh my God, teach me to love thee… Make those in your church SILENT AND RESPECTFUL!!.. (Other people → :confused: ) During your hour hour of worship… Amen.”
 
Good heavens…I am astounded!!!:eek::eek::confused:

Do you not have hordes of old ladies with gimlet eyes and disapproving faces aimed at them? :Some skinny old dame with a gouty and sharp bony finger pointing at them in an intimidating way?:eek: Or infinitely worse…Brother to stand at the pew in a very pointed and silent and embarassing way??? How is it allowed? Is it a Tridentine Mass you attend? What is the homily if not for the instruction of the congregation when needful!!!:mad:

This is so bizarre I feel lightheaded…the congregation is so quiet you can hear a pin drop sometimes, or for me the anticipation of being part of a mystical and infinitely beneficial nourishment to the soul.
 
The T.L.M. seems to ingratiate people to silence simply because of its psychological gestures. When a priest is facing away from you up at the main altar, joining the eternal sacrifice of Calvary, you feel guilty making any noise as he communes with God. Since the really bad English translation of the Missal in 1973, however, emphasis is placed less on the Sacrifice than on the Meal/Table/Community. How can you expect anything other than conversation at a liturgy where the communal meal is more important than the sacrifice? Have you ever seen Catholics eating? They chatter like crazy! 🙂
 
ConstantineTG said:
Is there anything in the TLM that prevents people from talking?
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Yes! “Sacred Silence” is still valued in the TLM. That, plus the fact that the priest is not talking TO, praying AT us.Therefore no “cozy, chatting atmosphere” is present.
 
GloriousOrder said:
The T.L.M. seems to ingratiate people to silence simply because of its psychological gestures. When a priest is facing away from you up at the main altar, joining the eternal sacrifice of Calvary, you feel guilty making any noise as he communes with God. Since the really bad English translation of the Missal in 1973, however, emphasis is placed less on the Sacrifice than on the Meal/Table/Community. How can you expect anything other than conversation at a liturgy where the communal meal is more important than the sacrifice? Have you ever seen Catholics eating? They chatter like crazy! 🙂
Click to expand...
👍👍👍
 
Apryl said:
Yes, this is another thread about those things which wouldn’t bother me if I was concentrating on what I’m supposed to be concentrating on…

… but I’ve found I can’t concentrate on those things because of the distractions.:mad:

I realize that this (the USA) is a ‘free country’ and all that, and I understand that ‘people will do what they want’, but the Mass is only a short time (45 minutes to an hour) to start off the week, and it’s the time when we are preparing for the reception of, and the reception of the Eucharist. :o

I can’t find a place in the church where I can sit and not be disturbed by the chattering around me. If the people aren’t talking about the world outside (which I think can wait until after Mass), they are talking with the priest… so I get this pseudo re-verb when he does the Eucharistic Prayers. :eek:

When it’s time for the Lamb of God, the conversations are more intense because of the rush to say what they want before Communion starts. Thank Goodness more are limiting their conversations once we are kneeling.

Then, people receive communion only to return to their seats and have another chatter conversation.

Lord, forbid if I choose to sit in the first row, I have people to stand over me, or touch me, to get my attention because of something they want to say when Mass is over.

Now, I realize that if I were as grounded as so many others, these things wouldn’t bother me. It is my shortcoming that I would like to be able to go to Mass for tranquility and for comfort and for a way to commune with God and have a prayerful time to talk with God. I guess I should apologize for that. :rolleyes:

Until I get to that point, what do I do? How do I address it? What can be done to encourage more people to cut their chattering and talking down, esp during the time of the Eucharist? :confused:
Click to expand...
I used to get annoyed at the little things as well until a deacon friend told me to imagine all of the distractions there where when Jesus was actually carrying his cross. Focus on the reason for the celebration and the little things won’t matter. Everybody is in a different place on their spiritual journey.
 
I also find that talking before, during, and after Mass is annoying. I just try to ignore it and and be charitable about it. 🙂
 
GloriousOrder said:
The T.L.M. seems to ingratiate people to silence simply because of its psychological gestures. When a priest is facing away from you up at the main altar, joining the eternal sacrifice of Calvary, you feel guilty making any noise as he communes with God. Since the really bad English translation of the Missal in 1973, however, emphasis is placed less on the Sacrifice than on the Meal/Table/Community. How can you expect anything other than conversation at a liturgy where the communal meal is more important than the sacrifice? Have you ever seen Catholics eating? They chatter like crazy! 🙂
Click to expand...
this has to be the dumbest statement defending the TLM mass I have ever heard. The priest facing away has nothing to do with how people talk. If anything it encourages it, becuase the priest will not notice who is talking.

The whole second half of your statement is an opinion with not factual evidence at all. You have one testimony in this thread, and no one to speak for the parish. If your trying to put the NO mass on trial, at least let me be its defense attorney, most people here are prosecuters.

At the Church I go to, the wild things that (appear to happen to every other NO mass in america by the way it is posted on here) people complain about have never occured. The people are reverent, quiet, and for the most part genuinely want to be there (some are kids who just want doughnuts, but come on). We have a wonderful music program, with a pipe organ (I guess thats something you TLM people like?) which I am ok with, since I do not like the sound of guitar put into Church music, but at the same time, I think it can be just as reverent.

The 4 TLM masses I have attended at separate parishes have been the exact opposite of what you describe. There are no missals provided so if you are not fluent in latin, you can still follow along, there was rampant talking at both services, most of the talk had nothing to do with the Mass, but about weekend plans. There were some kids, who even had the audacity to make a spitball, and start using it in Church! OBVIOUSLY (just like you TLMer love to point fingers at the NO mass) this was CAUSE BY the TLM mass.

I will admit, the music was quite nice, but I felt secluded, and not part of a community of believers (Catholic means worldwide, not individual). The whole thing both times was a complete disaster, and I find it ironic, if not plain stupid, if TLM people assume that the NO mass is the cause of talking during Mass.
 
dmelosi said:
I used to get annoyed at the little things as well until a deacon friend told me to imagine all of the distractions there where when Jesus was actually carrying his cross. Focus on the reason for the celebration and the little things won’t matter. Everybody is in a different place on their spiritual journey.
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But are these ‘little things’?:confused:
 
Apryl said:
But are these ‘little things’?:confused:
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They should be “little things” compared to the reason a person is at mass.

I am only talking about myself being distracted because of those little things. (I used to) I myself would not say anything to the distractors…some may though.
 
I feel your frustration OP. At my parish the ‘modern’ choir, yes complete with electric drums, rehearses before Mass AND folks are talking up a storm. There is zero chance to pray even for a moment, in silence. It is just plain disgusting.

Peace
 
Apryl said:
But are these ‘little things’?:confused:
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These are NOT little things and there is nothing wrong with you.

You have been given the grace to realize that chattering is highly disrespectful if the Mass is truly Our Lord’s Sacrifice. These people most likely don’t even realize what it is they are assisting at and, more than likely, the atmosphere created in your parish Mass is one of a confused mix between prayer and conversation.

I would search for “extraordinary form” Masses in your area. They are much more conducive to meditative prayer and the faithful who assist there are typically more reverent.
 
Dysmas1 said:
I feel your frustration OP. At my parish the ‘modern’ choir, yes complete with electric drums, rehearses before Mass AND folks are talking up a storm. There is zero chance to pray even for a moment, in silence. It is just plain disgusting.

Peace
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Dysmas, I would RUN not walk to a parish that actually has reverence.

Rock music is nothing more than sacrilegious at Mass.
 
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