Gabbing in church....a rant

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Our class made our First Confession together at a special morning service (individually into the confesisonal, of course). Parents were required to attend, godparents were invited.

But oh, how times seemed to have changed! Or perhaps we were so segregated in our our Catholic school class that we were drilled in decorum and the necessity of being quiet, so the adults naturally followed suit. Some parents offered advice and instruction to the children, very quietly, though.

I remember, as the pews before us were orderly (and slowly) exiting their pews, one of my classmates AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE asked, “Mama, why is that lady crossing her legs in church?” Her mother lowered her voice and explained it was uncharitable to bring it up, but the young girl persisted, “But you told me it was wroooooooong!”

Bwah! Still stuck with me.
 
today’s rant topic will be used kleenex left in the pews, disgusting. have to have the teen volunteers who straighten the church after the last Mass use gloves, esp. in cold and flu season. Will it kill you to tuck the tissue in your pocket or purse?
 
puzzleannie said:
today’s rant topic will be used kleenex left in the pews, disgusting. have to have the teen volunteers who straighten the church after the last Mass use gloves, esp. in cold and flu season. Will it kill you to tuck the tissue in your pocket or purse?
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Oh, in all seriousness, that is SO gross.

There should be hand sanitizer next to the holy water fonts for AFTER Mass. 😉
 
I agree that used Kleenex in the pews is disgusting, but getting back to gabbing, what about this one -

The offertory is just about to begin and young mother, her mama, and stroller-sized toddler (in stroller) finally make it to Mass (which, by the way, was a 7:00 P.M. Sunday Mass).

Where do they sit? Right behind me, of course. (Okay. Chill. Offer it up. :rolleyes: )

After receiving Communion, a cell phone rings. Where? BEHIND ME. And young mother’s mama proceeds to ANSWER IT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION!!!

I naturally am severely lacking in patience, and I believe that in encountering these things, the Lord is trying to teach me patience! 😛

P.S. If you think used Kleenex in the pews is bad, how about this that I have seen: used Pampers!
*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani
 
GemmaRose said:
After receiving Communion, a cell phone rings. Where? BEHIND ME. And young mother’s mama proceeds to ANSWER IT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION!!!

I naturally am severely lacking in patience, and I believe that in encountering these things, the Lord is trying to teach me patience! 😛
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Tell me, did you give a glare? I wouldn’t be able to help myself.
 
No, because quite frankly all my energy and attention was focused on not turning around and ripping it out of her hand or ripping her head off :mad: , neither of which are the best sentiments after receiving Holy Communion. I just tried to shut everything out and return my thoughts to Jesus.
*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani
 
GemmaRose said:
No, because quite frankly all my energy and attention was focused on not turning around and ripping it out of her hand or ripping her head off :mad: , neither of which are the best sentiments after receiving Holy Communion. I just tried to shut everything out and return my thoughts to Jesus.
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Bless you, GemmaRose. May I grow in patience as you have done. Involuntary thoughts are one thing - after all, in your mind you were defending the sacredness of the Mass and the Eucharist. But not responding would take more willpower than I could muster without the Holy Spirit smacking me over the head with a missalette.
 
My “favorite” encounter at Mass involved two people sitting behind me who chatted all the way through Mass. At one point the husband said something and the wife’s response was “Speak up. I can’t hear you over the choir.”
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
My “favorite” encounter at Mass involved two people sitting behind me who chatted all the way through Mass. At one point the husband said something and the wife’s response was “Speak up. I can’t hear you over the choir.”
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I forgot to mention the two women standing in the “crying room” (as I was since I had arrived a couple of minutes late due to the bus coming late) some years ago on a Saturday evening, both of whom were Eucharistic Ministers, catechists, on the evangelization team, etc. (and “pets” of the former pastor). They chatted during the entire Mass, sharing their imminent plans on going to 86th Street (the main shopping area), what stores they planned to visit and what they were planning to buy.

They did interrupt their conversation long enough to receive Holy Communion, not that this took much time since a priest came to the crying room to distribute Communion - no waiting on a long line.

Within a minute of receiving, they continued discussing their plans for the rest of the weekend.

I did glare at these two several times, but they were so engrossed in their conversation, they were clueless.

How close I came to suggesting they take it across the street to the little restaurant over a cup of coffee!! :eek: At least they could have sat down and been comfortable. :rolleyes:

P.S. Thanks Miserissima, but I still have a long way to go in the patience department!
*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani
 
OH MY GOODNESS. All of this is just beyond belief! :nope: :bigyikes: :ouch:

Ok, I have a theory. Not all of us present day Catholics were blessed enough to have attended parochial school. I’m guessing that most of these folks were not under the watchful eye of Sister William Ann (a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet). We were all afraid of Sister, then… but she taught us how to BEHAVE in God’s House. Today I have found a new appreciation and love for her. Sister, if you’re out there… THANK YOU and God bless you.:nun1:
 
if I could find one of those pointers the nuns used to use in my school ostensibly to point to vocabulary words and math problems on the blackboard, but also to instill discipline and proper deportment and posture in church, I would certainly use it as standard equipment (along with plastic gloves and a cup to collect gum from those in the communion line). If I can find an inexpensive cell phone scramber, purse size, I will definitely buy one.

and crickets
one click to stand still, 2 clicks to genuflect, one click to move silently in to the pew.
and we practiced lifting and replacing kneelers silently
 
puzzleannie said:
if I could find one of those pointers the nuns used to use in my school ostensibly to point to vocabulary words and math problems on the blackboard, but also to instill discipline and proper deportment and posture in church, I would certainly use it as standard equipment (along with plastic gloves and a cup to collect gum from those in the communion line). If I can find an inexpensive cell phone scramber, purse size, I will definitely buy one.

and crickets
one click to stand still, 2 clicks to genuflect, one click to move silently in to the pew.
and we practiced lifting and replacing kneelers silently
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lol…now THERE’S a trip down memory lane!!!:rotfl:
 
puzzleannie said:
(along with plastic gloves and a cup to collect gum from those in the communion line).
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Sister took our gum in her bare hand! And we never made it into the Church with the gum. For that matter, we didn’t make it into the classrooms with gum either!

Did any of you “march” into class to music? That is where we were checked for chewing gum!:rotfl:
 
MarieVeronica said:
Sister took our gum in her bare hand! And we never made it into the Church with the gum. For that matter, we didn’t make it into the classrooms with gum either!

Did any of you “march” into class to music? That is where we were checked for chewing gum!:rotfl:
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I had a teacher (not a nun) who could tell if you just had the teeniest wad of gum in your mouth…whether or not you were chewing. It was amazing.

As for nuns–at my Catholic high school, Sister Gertrude Marie wouldn’t even talk to you unless your uniform was spot-on–skirt at the right length, collar just so, socks pulled up. It usually took the freshmen a couple of weeks to catch on. 😉
 
catherineajt said:
I had a teacher (not a nun) who could tell if you just had the teeniest wad of gum in your mouth…whether or not you were chewing. It was amazing.
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I tell you, they had radar. It’s just the only explanation! :rotfl:
*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani
 
puzzleannie said:
if I could find one of those pointers the nuns used to use in my school ostensibly to point to vocabulary words and math problems on the blackboard, but also to instill discipline and proper deportment and posture in church, I would certainly use it as standard equipment (along with plastic gloves and a cup to collect gum from those in the communion line). If I can find an inexpensive cell phone scramber, purse size, I will definitely buy one.

and crickets
one click to stand still, 2 clicks to genuflect, one click to move silently in to the pew.
and we practiced lifting and replacing kneelers silently
Click to expand...
Sister Angelita :dts: made do with a rolled-up church bulletin… rolled up tightly, it made an excellent pointer and she could also whack gigglers, gum-chewers, and whisperers on the back of the head without causing lasting damage (of course, no one ever dreamed of telling Mom and Dad that Sr. Angelita whacked them with a rolled-up bulletin because THAT would mean admitting you were misbehaving in church… and Dad would use something a little more intimidating than a rolled-up church bulletin on your fanny!)

Sister Jeanette :tsktsk: was the “kneeler Gestapo”… woe to anyone who stubbed their toe on the way out of the pew and made it sound like the kneeler had been dropped, because that whole grade (we sat by grade, of course) would be kept in church to raise and lower the kneelers 50 times silently (and if it slipped and dropped… 50 more!)

Those were the days! :yup: Why can’t we get a nun with a ruler smiley???
 
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