Do you typically sit in the same location for Mass?

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I sit near about 5 or 6 rows back, left-hand side as I enter the church. Depends which Mass I attend, but I’m usually in a row on my own. I like to be near the front to see everything clearly, I’m short and I can’t see over people’s heads!

Our (Victorian) pews are unusual because they have a divider running down the middle of each row, and I like to sit up against that. Aren’t we all creatures of habit? 😃
 
My sponsor when I went through RCIA always said “There are no reserved seats in God’s house”. This was in response to a question from a very shy girl who didn’t want to “take someone’s place”.
 
FrDavid96 said:
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Duesenberg:
Also, does anyone here know anything about generations past where Catholics would make a donation (typically to buy new pews) in some areas, and they would receive a certain number of pew spaces with their family’s name on them? When did that practice end? Was it widespread in the US? I think some churches even had “box pews”?
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Yes, that’s true.

When churches were being built, a family would donate the cost of a pew (and probably a little more to contribute to the overall construction), and it would thereafter be “their pew.” Some old churches still have the little plaques attached to the ends of the pews designating whose pew it was.

If the family was not sitting in “their pew” then it was available for someone else to use, but it was customary to drop a coin into a little box somewhere (sometimes even at the end of every pew) to “rent” it. The practice was even called “pew rental” and the money received was categorized as “pew rental” on financial reports.

There’s no single time that this ended. I suppose generally speaking, after World War II when our society became so much more mobile would be the general time-period.
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I grew up in the 50s and 60s and until the mid 60s at least they still did two collections at each Sunday Mass. The first was to pay for your pew ($0.10 is my first memory, then later that went up to $0.25).

My father died in 2004 at the age of 90 and he could still tell you who sat where when he was growing up, at a time when families would pay for their pew a year at a time.
 
We change seats seasonally. Most of the year, we sit in the second pew on the right. During the summer, when the air conditioner is running, we sometimes move to the left because we always forget to bring sweaters to church on a 100-degree day.

A few weeks ago we had a baptism and some guests took our spot. And nearly every other spot. 😄 It was wonderful to have our tiny church filled to overflowing.
 
Isca said:
My sponsor when I went through RCIA always said “There are no reserved seats in God’s house”. This was in response to a question from a very shy girl who didn’t want to “take someone’s place”.
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Except for the special people. The choir, people being baptized, people being confirmed, those attending their HS reunion, readers, EMsHC, yada, yada, yada depending on the parish.
 
Duesenberg said:
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Isca:
My sponsor when I went through RCIA always said “There are no reserved seats in God’s house”. This was in response to a question from a very shy girl who didn’t want to “take someone’s place”.
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Except for the special people. The choir, people being baptized, people being confirmed, those attending their HS reunion, readers, EMsHC, yada, yada, yada depending on the parish.
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I smiled when I read that.

It’s not uncommon on those full-to-the-brim masses to have some curious wanderers make their way up to the choir left. They see some empty chairs and take a seat, not realizing it’s not really “general seating” up there.

But our group of singers is small, and there are always extra seats, so we never tell them to leave.

Usually around the Gloria it sinks in that maybe they don’t want to be up there, but let’s face it – on Christmas, Easter, and Confirmation masses there’s no place left to sit down below. So our visitors usually stay.

Last May, when we had about 100 kids getting confirmed at one mass, this happened, and a couple sat uncomfortably up there with us. But when it came time for the confirmations, we invited them to join us at the choir loft railing so they could see better. They were touched and so very happy to accept the offer.

Anyway, except for the organ bench – where apparently only a couple lunatics want to sit – there really aren’t any reserved seats, even in the choir loft. 😄
 
I recently started sitting in one spot, second pew on the right. I sit there to avoid distractions and also because the right side is where the priest begins distributing communion (we use altar rail), and I just prefer to be one of the first ones to receive to avoid catching everyone’s germs.
 
I love your choir loft story! I’ve never seen that happen in our loft, although there are signs saying “Only Choir Members Allowed” on the staircase heading up. And the stairs are not in an obvious location either. It is an amazing view on the holidays. So many people, so many colors swirling below you!
 
I usually sit wherever there is space. I don’t care. I always thought that is was strange that people had to sit in the same spot all the time (not talking about elderly or handicapped that need to sit up front).
 
Sunbreak said:
I always thought that is was strange that people had to sit in the same spot all the time (not talking about elderly or handicapped that need to sit up front).
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A lot of people like routine, they sit in the same space on the bus, at a restaurant or bar, on a park bench, why not at church as well?
 
Augustinian said:
A lot of people like routine, they sit in the same space on the bus, at a restaurant or bar, on a park bench, why not at church as well?
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I suspect that for many people it’s an unconscious choice too.

Despite what many people profess, humans in general don’t really like making decisions from tons of choices. I remember a talk a few years back that said the more choices a person is given the more stress and dissatisfaction they experience. So if you walk into a parish with 500 seats and your “default” is available then it essentially is a choice between two spots: the default or somewhere else. If you choose “somewhere else” then it’s a new chain of choices. For many sitting in the same spot is just a short cut in the decision process. The same with having a list of preferred spots. Each one gives focus to narrowing the choices instead of deciding which of 500 seats to choose.
 
I remember one Christmas Eve when we all went to Mass. We usually sit in the back even on Christmas Eve. But this time, it was full up when we got there. And we were early. My mother hates sitting anywhere but in the back. (She’s extremely shy.) The front pews were reserved for the late comers. There were no more chairs and no alternative but to go up front and sit. I loved it. Mama was boiling mad the whole time.
 
From approximately September through June I normally sit in the same spot for Sunday Mass. But that is because I sing in the adult choir and we have assigned seating.

During the summer and when I attend Mass during the week I move around a bit more but I still tend to sit in the same general sections of the church.
 
Yesterday I thought of this thread, because I went to Mass and the left-hand side of the church was busy. So, I sat on the right. Different perspective, and I’ll try to be more adventurous in the future!
 
.Front left a few rows back, always sit in the exact same spot. Chosen several years ago because I didn’t like all the crowding and noise in the back. Couldn’t see good, couldn’t hear well, saw that the area where we sit now was always open, so one Sunday, many years ago, made our move. We don’t like it when someone takes our spot. I know that is sinful, but, that is the way it is. At least we haven’t slapped our body slammed someone, yet.
 
ELROD said:
.Front left a few rows back, always sit in the exact same spot. Chosen several years ago because I didn’t like all the crowding and noise in the back. Couldn’t see good, couldn’t hear well, saw that the area where we sit now was always open, so one Sunday, many years ago, made our move. We don’t like it when someone takes our spot. I know that is sinful, but, that is the way it is. At least we haven’t slapped our body slammed someone, yet.
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🤣

Well, yeah, I guess that demonstrates at least a bit of virtue on your part.

🤣
 
Our priest switches sides once in awhile. The line jumpers can’t plan ahead.
 
You are probably giving me to much credit, but, I accept it with a grateful heart.😂
 
I sit either near the back or next to a pillar. Something comforting about the pillar…
 
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