Is talking in Church disrespectful to Jesus?

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drafdog said:
Not particularly. We are in his Father’s house speaking with his brothers and sisters. Surely this is acceptable in your own homes, so why not here?
The parish I attend has, for lack of a better word, a convenor who calls us to center our attention before the liturgy begins. We have a moment of sacred silence. He has admonished us to turn off our cell phones (the excuse given is that they interfere with the sound system) and he says a word or two about the theme of the day’s readings. After a period of silence the cantor or choir director announces the processional hymn. The purpose of a processional hymn is to assist us in centering our minds and hearts on the liturgy in which we are about to participate. All of this gives ample time to collect ourselves.

Matthew
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I often go to daily mass. I try to arrive about 1/2 hour early to pray and prepare myself for Mass. There are several people who regularly attend this Mass, who think nothing of bring their outside conversation (in their outside voices) right into the church with them. Additionally, there are 2 women who attend this Mass every day and spend most of the time before and during the mass holding a whisperied conversation.
For those of us who arrive early to pray, this is quite rude. You may justify the behavior any way you wish, but it is still rude. If you enter a church and people are in quiet pray, be respectful. The church is the place for worship, outside or the parish hall are the place for socializing.
 
I have given up on trying to be meditative in church. There is usually someone chatting before and after mass. Last time I went to Eucharistic adoration, I had to put in ear plugs because someone was whispering aloud. It seems a lot of people just can’t be still. I’m going to try to be contemplative at home more often then I won’t mind the chattering in church, which can lead to feeling resentment toward your brothers and sisters in Christ.
😉
 
Yes I feel talking in church very disrespectful. As a child growing up I attended church with my grandparents. We did not talk out loud at any time as long as we were in church. Today I have tried to find a catholic church( in my area ) where people still respect this but have not been able to find one. I always like to arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes early for silent prayer but it is so hard to concentrate with others talking. I feel it is up to the priest ask parisioners to respect the silence in the chuch.

Mary
 
This past weekend we went to Virginia Beach and attended a Saturday evening Mass there.

In that particular church, I was amazed that the tabernacle was put behind the glass screen, in the cry room, at the back of the church.

So, when we sat in the church waiting for Mass to start, there was no tabernacle in front of us. I don’t know if that’s the reason for people becoming noisy and loud. When I was kneeling and praying, people was talking so loud all over the church, unbelivably loud. What do you say about that?
 
mary_bobo said:
I wish I could post this on the doors. I go early each Sunday to say a rosary prior to Mass, and often I cannot concentrate because people from the preceeding Mass are standing in the aisles socializing. A visiting priest was there with them last week. It’s all I can do to not say, “Take it outside”.
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One of the least reverent persons in my parish is a religious sister who goes from pew to pew chatting everyone up before the mass. It bears an amazing resemblance to someone trying to network at a cocktail party and it is hugely annoying when I am trying to pray a rosary before mass. This happens constantly.
 
mary_bobo said:
I wish I could post this on the doors.
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It has been done before. One priest went so far as to post a list of 95 errors and abuses common in the Catholic church. He wanted to make people aware of how badly the church had slipped from its traditional teachings and practices. It worked.

Matthew
 
drafdog said:
It has been done before. One priest went so far as to post a list of 95 errors and abuses common in the Catholic church. He wanted to make people aware of how badly the church had slipped from its traditional teachings and practices. It worked.

Matthew
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Rarely do I agree with your posts but kudos on a clever post.
 
Hello,

When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration. - Saint John Chrysostom
 
Once before Mass while I was out of town on vacation, two of the locals right next to me were chatting away about nothing of importance. Here’s how I handled it:

“Excuse me, I’m a visitor here. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the tabernacle up there in front?”

“Yes,” one of the chatters replied.

“Then why are you talking?”

It immediately became quiet.

~~ the phoenix
 
dailymass said:
At our church, before Mass (if the Rosary isn’t said), but especially after Mass, the “social hour” begins in earnest. People are laughing, chatting, and carrying on such that it is impossible to pray and give thanksgiving to God - I find it quite distracting! I remember from growing up the nuns always taught us that it is disrespectful to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to be talking while in church, except for prayer.

It seems that people have lost the sense of awe of the majesty of God while in church - it’s just another building…I believe that this has coincided with the great loss of faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
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It’s a sin to say the Rosary during mass. I see people doing it. There are in danger of losing there soul.:eek:
 
otjm said:
Then perhaps it might be wise to define what a sacred action is and what an everyday conversation is. When I speak to someone on their way out of Mass concerning their health and how the surgery went, is that everyday conversation? When I ask someone if they have been able to find a job yet and that I will keep their seach in my prayers, is that non-sacred?

Perhaps we can both agree that talking about how Oregon State is doing in the College World Series is not important; but are we not quick to also presume that all conversation is everyday, and not a sacred action?

What you do for the least of my…

Just a thought…
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Of course asking someone about his health is everyday conversation. No matter how high-minded or sober the motivation behind the question, that falls safely within the secular order. And telling someone you’ll pray for them is not a prayer. If we’re to the level of arrogating the level of sacred to me asking my grandfather about his gout then we’ve more than proven the supsicion of so many commentators that we’ve lost our sense of the sacred.

As if I could outdo St. John Chrysostom who already expressed the perennial teaching of our greatest saints and doctors, let me try to pin down some concrete guidelines.

In a church you can:
  • conduct a liturgy
  • engage in corporate devotion
  • engage in private devotion (these last two, if not actually scheduled, should be conducted so as not to interfere with others devotions - it’s public space after all)
  • practice for liturgy or devotion when this cannot be done in another place (good examples would be organ practice or rehearsals for a special liturgy)
Even if you don’t care that traditionally (and by this I mean long, well-established traditions) the only thing coming out of your mouth in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament should be prayer, can’t we all agree you should at least have the common decency to not disturb others who are trying to pray?
 
If people talk in a movie theater they are hushed - is the movie theater a more sacred place than church? I don’t understand why people can’t just shut up - they are either ignorant or rude or both.

When my parish got a new priest (praise God!) last year, he began leading by example - he would kneel at the edge of the sanctuary and pray for a good 20 minutes before Mass. The talkers were silenced and took the hint. Now it’s completely silent and reverent - the chattering is gone - so are the chatterers - they have been replaced by full pews of silent, prayerful reverent people. If talking is a problem in your parish, see if the priest can help get people to be quiet, with reminders, or by example.
 
dailymass said:
At our church, before Mass (if the Rosary isn’t said), but especially after Mass, the “social hour” begins in earnest. People are laughing, chatting, and carrying on such that it is impossible to pray and give thanksgiving to God - I find it quite distracting! I remember from growing up the nuns always taught us that it is disrespectful to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to be talking while in church, except for prayer.

It seems that people have lost the sense of awe of the majesty of God while in church - it’s just another building…I believe that this has coincided with the great loss of faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
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you bring up a very valid point and iam glad you did. yes, talking in church is very disrespectful to our Lord.church is NOT a social gathering. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is exactly that. people do not go there to chat it up like they would in a club or cafe.

its meant to worship our Lord and remind us of what He did for us all. its not a place to disregard God and put the emphasis on ourselves.
 
I don’t know if it’s disrespectful towards The Lord, but it sure is disrespectful towards those of us that are trying to pray, instead of “chattin’ it up”.
 
At our parish we have a priest who leans ok falls left. He says before mass that we should be talking to eachother at our Lords table becuase we are the body of Christ and should not act like strangers. I find this not only annoying but subversive to the Mass.
 
drafdog said:
I most certainly am in my own home. My Father’s house is my house because I am His son.
While it is impolite and irreverant to talk to one another during the liturgy, it is much the same as talking while grace is being said. In fact it is exactly the same. It would certainly be disrespectful.
Talking to one’s fellow parishioners outside the liturgy is not disrespectful.

Matthew
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I’d really like to get this straight, so we all understand what you’re saying. We know what a church is - a space set apart so that it is removed from any profane use. So, when you contest that the church is most certainly your home, are you trying to imply that after a bishop came and blessed your home you were only allowed to use your home for sacred purposes and you were thus canonically forbidden from doing such things as taking a shower, eating pizza, playing games, and making cakes in your own home? In short, the confusion must be about what is proper in a home or in a church, and since I doubt the confusion surrounds the home it most likely is affecting your understanding of what a church is.
 
I’m sure you don’t really believe that conversation is on an equal moral footing with engaging in commerce. I seem to recall that Jesus went so far as to call them thieves indicating that their commercial practices were somewhat disreputable. No one on this forum really believes that casual conversation is comparable to the offences that upset Jesus. Remember that He himself was engaged in discussion, teaching and preaching in the Temple while the Temple sacrifice was going on as usual.
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Scripture records that Christ threw out the “moneychangers” but
can we assume ONLY the “moneychangers”?

Don’t forget also the Temples had the Holy of Holies which was entered into by a high priest only and only once a year. This was VERY sacred. The Church, by eliminating the barrier between the sanctuary and the congregation, has pretty much opened up the Holy of Holies to all. I would think the whole Church is now very sacred and should be respected as such. If you think casual conversation in the pews is ok, then I’ll go find another church, sorry.
 
In a word: yes.

It is also disrespectful to those of us who are there for prayer and worship. I don’t want to chat with friends before Mass; that can wait until after, when we’re outside walking to our cars. I’m glad to talk with them then. I also don’t want to hear other people’s conversations. Great, your granddaughter did this, or your neighbor said that, but I don’t want to hear about it, I don’t know you, and I’m trying to pray. :mad: It kills me that most of the children in our parish are better behaved than a lot of the adults during Mass. I understand that older people may have hearing problems, but weren’t they raised in the pre-VII generation? Shouldn’t they, of all people, know how to behave in church?
 
Honestly, I think many Catholics have lost the sense of worship and have fallen into a more Protestant mindset of fellowship, which would justify the chit chats and socializing that occurs. However, my opinion is that talking in church is not only disrespectful to Christ but to those who come to worship. If I want to socialize I’ll go to the church hall and chat up my friends there. I’m at Mass to worship my God and receive his Body and Blood.

This thread reminds me of a person who once said her favorite part of Mass was the Our Father because she was able to hold hands with her fellow parishioners and pray. If one’s favorite part of Mass is anything other than receiving the Eucharist they’re missing the point of the Mass. That sense of the Real Presence should bring all conversations to a halt. My pastor cited a statistic he once read where only 1/3 of Catholics believe in the Real Presence. :bigyikes: If that’s true it explains why our churches are so noisy.

In Her Heart,
Catherine
 
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