Frustrated with talking during Mass

[Jegudiel]

There will absolutely always be excuses.

God doesn’t ask us to be apathetic. In fact, apathy has done a real number on the Church over the ages or rather apathy has allowed some really bad things to take place.

I’m fairly certain that if someone has the means (no matter how small) to keep people from being driven away from the Church, God would be pleased if said person exercised that means.

Christ taught us not to worry about things which we have no control over.

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? (Matthew 6:27)

Worry amd despair are lack of trust in God.

The Holy Spirit cannot work in an enviroment of strife and anger and worry. Jesus does want us to be at peace. Peace was the first thing Jesus gave his Church when he rose from the dead.

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:12)

They slit the throat of Bishop Luigi Padovese in 2010. They fed Christians to lions and threw them in cauldrons. They shot Blessed Pope John Paul II. They nailed our Lord to a tree. What makes you think that people are not going to talk in Church?

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

There will absolutely always be excuses.

God doesn’t ask us to be apathetic. In fact, apathy has done a real number on the Church over the ages or rather apathy has allowed some really bad things to take place.

I’m fairly certain that if someone has the means (no matter how small) to keep people from being driven away from the Church, God would be pleased if said person exercised that means.

I’m not talking about apathy.

I’m talking about worry, dispair, frustration, anger and resentment, all of which have been expressed in this thread as reactions to the way people behave at Mass.

I’m talking about knowing what you have the means to control and if you don’t have any means to control it, letting go so that it doesn’t ruin your life, praying about it and entrusting it into God’s hands.

One person is not going to Change a parish overnight. But I wonder if anyone has ever got out of their regular pew and sat next to Chatty Cathy or Talkative Tom, introduced themselves, and invited them to Bible study or to pray the rosary after Mass.

Complaining about it on the Internet certainly isn’t a means for change.

-Tim-

 

[Jegudiel]

I’m not talking about apathy.

I’m talking about worry, dispair, frustration, anger and resentment, all of which have been expressed in this thread as reactions to the way people behave at Mass.

You are also talking about apathy. Too many have been far too apathetic in the Church for far too long. There is a huge difference between someone being self righteously angry because the priest used a crystal chalice from Stuben Glass (with the local bishop’s approval) that they believe contravenes the GIRM (based on comments here and on EWTN) versus being absolutely disgusted because of the way some people behave at Mass which keeps others away.

I’m talking about knowing what you have the means to control and if you don’t have any means to control it, letting go so that it doesn’t ruin your life, praying about it and entrusting it into God’s hands.

It’s not going to ruin my life, I wouldn’t allow it to become an obsession (as some of the “abuse hunters” do) but there will always be a deep sorrow for God’s Church as expressed by my local parish until thing improve. I will never (for example) agree with someone that everything is honky dory.

One person is not going to Change a parish overnight. But I wonder if anyone has ever got out of their regular pew and sat next to Chatty Cathy or Talkative Tom, introduced themselves, and invited them to Bible study or to pray the rosary after Mass.

It will never change if people remain apathetic.

Complaining about it on the Internet certainly isn’t a means for change.

You know what? “Complaining about it on the Internet” is actually a fairly effective relief valve for many people who endure some pretty difficult things. It might just keep them from being angry at Mass. Heck, it might even make it so that they can still endure the Mass. I’m not so sure that God didn’t provide venues like this at least in part for people to commiserate. What I do know is that I 100% reject what you just did – quietly inferring that people who reject what you suggest have necessarily never invited anyone to a Bible study or a recitation of the Rosary..

-Tim-

Apathy is a killer.

 

[MissRose73]

I know I get frustrated inside when people are talking before Mass and also not dressed decently for Mass. But I offer those thoughts to God, and hope He opens the hearts of those who feel that they must constantly talk before Mass starts and/or show up looking dressed for gardening (or going to a club or a sporting event).

I just hope my example of spending time in silent prayer/reflection before Mass starts and being dressed decently for Mass will rub off on at least one person (or more).