Have we become too casual in our approach to the Mass?

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I can tell you from experience, it takes more then two mins to change a kid…especially if all you have it 2 mins to do it.
 
Yeah. you are right. You could probably do it in about 7, depending on the age of the kid.😄
 
For many young parents, 7 minutes / child could be the difference between making it to church or not…
 
I think it’s intended that the kid would change after Mass into the soccer uniform.
 
Is it possible that the casual / careless behavior / demeanor reflects their true feelings? Isn’t there a pretty big percentage of Catholics who don’t believe in the real presence?
 
We are all called to be saints. We are all called to be detached from ourselves and our environment and we should all be communing with God, especially at mass.
My point is you dont have to judge the people in your parish doing these things as inferior and you shouldn’t, you dont know their reasons. True charity finds no harm in others and in fact dreads to find it, if it does find it then it makes a pleasing excuse for it and passes by… For example… Father forgive them for they know not what they do… if He can find a reason to overlook such deplorable behaviour can you not do the same thing?
You are called to be a saint and don’t have to judge them, your love and prayers (why not that exact same one). You still do not know their reasons, and you still should have your focus on God. Did you know that distractions and other people’ sins/ or perceived sins in particular are responsible for making us holy? God uses these to teach us to love one another and tolerance, patience, kindness, forgiveness, charity, faith etc.
 
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ontheway1 said:
Our typically casual approach to the Holy Mass is one thing that my non-Christian friends comment on when I invite them to church services.
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Sometimes I wonder about the reverence of those who spend so much time evaluating the piety of others at the Mass to see if it meets their standards.
 
ontheway1 said:
Plenty of people are rather lacadaisical about things.
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I would gently suggest that if there are lackadaisical people at church, they are not on CAF, so why bring up the topic here?

Most of us reading aren’t lackadaisical, and this sort of post comes off as either
a) something we can’t do anything about because we can’t really run up to our fellow Sunday Mass-goers and say, “Ahem, I noticed you came in 10 minutes late, talked to your friend during the homily, slumped in the pew, and are wearing slightly frayed athletic gear. Do you realize this looks really bad to someone not from our church who might happen in, and it suggests disrespect for the Lord?”

Or
b) a judgment on those of us who might have been late for some reason, slumped in the pew, or worn a frayed t-shirt to Mass, for any number of reasons.

Or
c) just another reason for a percentage of people to wring their hands because we aren’t at a TLM in our best duds kneeling through 2 hours and for communion as well.

These articles make me feel the same way as when Pope Francis criticizes people who pray all the time but aren’t sincere in his opinion. I take a look at myself, ask if I’m being insincere, say “No”, and wonder why I have to keep hearing about this, because the people to whom it applies - who to me would seem to be the minority because most people who bother to pray or go to church ARE for the most part sincere or they’d be out having a good time somewhere instead of praying or churchgoing - are not reading or listening.
 
Many don’t even know there is such a thing. If they did, why would they behave so …casually, in front of GOD ALMIGHTY.
 
ontheway1 said:
But, when you are encountering God, it is your comfort that trumps all.
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Not our comfort, but our just being there. We are called to love the Lord God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind…and I would submit to you, love can be shown whether wearing jeans or a tuxedo…our Savoir showed his love while nailed to a tree naked.
 
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OK I will say it again.
ontheway1 said:
Reverence - deep respect for someone or something.

This whole discussion is really about reverence. It is amazing how much push-back there is to this idea. You who insist on being “casual” are really showing reverence for yourselves, don’t you see. But surely, you are not going to church to pray to…yourself? Or, are you?
You have no trouble understanding the need to dress up when going to a job interview. This is showing respect.
But, when you are encountering God, it is your comfort that trumps all.
I give up. You win.
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Part of it is cultural…as has already been mentioned, our society (at least in the U.S. where I live) is far, FAR less formal than it used to be. Example: I wear a coat and tie to work every day, as required by my employer. When I get together with my peers in the same city in the same profession as mine, I am the only one with a tie on, let alone a suit. The only one. People used to wear a coat and tie to baseball games or football games. Check and see how many people are dressed that way today. This has no doubt affected our attitude about how we dress for church.

The other thing to consider for Catholics is that we have an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days. At least some Catholics are going to “punch their ticket” and that’s about it. Our Protestant friends do not have the same obligation; they are attending because they choose to. Those who are choosing to attend a service or Mass are going to have a different attitude than those who are obligated to go. If you want proof, check out the people attending a weekday Mass at your local parish. It’s a very different vibe than on Sunday (not to mention a a lot smaller crowd).
 
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Jesus has much to say about this…
Luke 11:39-40
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
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We are at Mass to worship and adore God, not to make sure that all the others in attendance are meeting our expectations.
 
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