Is talking in Church disrespectful to Jesus?

[scylla]

1/3rd? That many!

I would be surprised if it was 5% who truly believed out of the 1.2 Billion Catholics in the world.

We think too good of people as most Catholics are very trusting and erroneously attribute good will to most people. Though that is a good thing it sometimes skews what really is the truth.

Do you think that the religious sister who tries to give a homily discourages piety and wants to be a priest really truly believes that Jesus is present there.

We shouldn’t be worried about what people truly believe as it would probably horrify us and we should work on our own personal walk with Jesus.
So I then try to focus more on my little circle which I can influence such as my wife and kids.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[BobP123]

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.

Not to undermine your reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, but actually it’s the priest’s communion that fulfills the requirement of attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Your other points are well-taken.

If that’s true it explains why our churches are so noisy.

As our nuns used to say, empty heads make the most noise.

 

[AveCorMariae]

Not to undermine your reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, but actually it’s the priest’s communion that fulfills the requirement of attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Your other points are well-taken.

As our nuns used to say, empty heads make the most noise.

Excellent point of clarification, BobP! Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[Magnum_V8]

I’m a late comer to this thread. I haven’t read the responses to the original poster, so I apologize if this is redundant or digressing from the direction of the thread.

In my 1962 Daily Roman Missal, the examination of conscience section says the following:

3.) Have you kept holy the Lord’s Day, and all other days commanded to be kept holy?..[lists a few things not relative to this discussion]…Talked, gazed, or laughed in church?..

I realize we don’t use the 1962 Missal anymore. But I wonder if the church has made a more recent clarification on this issue.

 

[anne1948]

Agreed. I love the song, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - that sums up my feelings…

I think that there is more thn one way of looking at this subjest. God yes of course is in the Blessed sacrament but when we say Amen to receiving his Body and Blood, we are saying "MEN to becoming more like him - none judgemental, accepting people for who they are and what satge of the faith journey they are at. Its nice nd comfortable to come into Church with a big DO NOT DISTURB MY prayer. But we also have to recognize that for some who live alone, it may be the only chance of having someone speak with them and listen to them … God is also in our neighbour and tolerance is important.

 

[anne1948]

Agreed. I love the song, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - that sums up my feelings…

I think that there is more thn one way of looking at this subjest. God yes of course is in the Blessed sacrament but when we say Amen to receiving his Body and Blood, we are saying "AMEN to becoming more like him - none judgemental, accepting people for who they are and what satge of the faith journey they are at. Its nice nd comfortable to come into Church with a big DO NOT DISTURB MY prayer. But we also have to recognize that for some who live alone, it may be the only chance of having someone speak with them and listen to them … God is also in our neighbour and tolerance is important.

 

[anne1948]

Agreed. I love the song, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - that sums up my feelings…

I think that there is more thn one way of looking at this subjest. God yes of course is in the Blessed sacrament but when we say Amen to receiving his Body and Blood, we are saying "AMEN to becoming more like him - none judgemental, accepting people for who they are and what satge of the faith journey they are at. Its nice nd comfortable to come into Church with a big DO NOT DISTURB MY prayer. But we also have to recognize that for some who live alone, it may be the only chance of having someone speak with them and listen to them … God is also in our neighbour and tolerance is important.

 

[anne1948]

Agreed. I love the song, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - that sums up my feelings…

I think that there is more thn one way of looking at this subjest. God yes of course is in the Blessed sacrament but when we say Amen to receiving his Body and Blood, we are saying "AMEN to becoming more like him - none judgemental, accepting people for who they are and what satge of the faith journey they are at. Its nice nd comfortable to come into Church with a big DO NOT DISTURB MY prayer. But we also have to recognize that for some who live alone, it may be the only chance of having someone speak with them and listen to them … God is also in our neighbour and tolerance is important.

 

[SLCFranciscan]

I think that there is more thn one way of looking at this subjest. God yes of course is in the Blessed sacrament but when we say Amen to receiving his Body and Blood, we are saying "AMEN to becoming more like him - none judgemental, accepting people for who they are and what satge of the faith journey they are at. Its nice nd comfortable to come into Church with a big DO NOT DISTURB MY prayer. But we also have to recognize that for some who live alone, it may be the only chance of having someone speak with them and listen to them … God is also in our neighbour and tolerance is important.

If people want to talk, they can do so in the foyer or after mass. There is never any excuse for interrupting another’s worship.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

SLCFranciscan"There is never any excuse for interrupting another’s worship." Are you serious. How about asking an elderly person if they are feeling better after you know they have not been well and knowing you may not see them after mass. And I hope I never get sick in church near you for having committed the sin of interupting the mass. Mercy trumps piety.

 

[SLCFranciscan]

SLCFranciscan"There is never any excuse for interrupting another’s worship." Are you serious. How about asking an elderly person if they are feeling better after you know they have not been well and knowing you may not see them after mass. And I hope I never get sick in church near you for having committed the sin of interupting the mass. Mercy trumps piety.

Yes, I am serious. Perhaps that elderly person is getting solace from prayer and does not want to be interrupted. Surely you could take two minutes after mass to converse with them, perhaps invite them for a cup of coffee, befriend them? It seems to me that many novus ordus Catholics are looking for reasons to justify irreverence. Of course, there are reasons to interrupt mass–would I give CPR in the middle of mass? Yes I would, and have. But to chit-chat because someone might be lonely? No, I would take them for coffee or a meal afterwards.

 

[Netty313]

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.

This is inspiring to read. The priest, indeed, is the leader of his parish and there can be no better way than to lead in prayer. (Cool parish you belong to.) I find that most chatting happens on Easter and Christmas in our parish, by people who only attend a couple times a year. I’ve seen people sleeping, talking, drinking beverages, eating candy, etc. There lack of attendance shows in their actions. The best way to “feel” the Lord and respect him with silence, go to Mass every day, not just on Sundays. Many will say it’s not practical; I would say after decades of daily Mass attending, it’s impractical to NOT go every day. The Love of the Lord is in His Body and Blood. Frequent reception can’t be beat!

Netty313

 

[hilde_the_dog]

SLCFranciscan Actually I found out this person was not feeling well on Sat when he joined us for coffee after the 9am mass as part of our regular group. Thus on Sunday I wanted to see how he was doing. Now asking him after mass would have been going against the stream of people on Sun. You know how people rush to leave.

A short quiet respectful question is no problem. A protracted conversation is a No No.

Then there is the elderly lady with a hearing problem who talks very loud in church when she walks in. I know I can wait 60 seconds for her to get to her seat.

 

[sphilomena]

Depends if it’s done at the right time.
To quote from Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite By Msgr. Peter Elliott

**#233. The church should be open well before the liturgy for those who wish to pray privately. Silence is the best preparation for the celebration of the liturgy. Apart from suitable music, no intrusion on the people’s right to tranquillity before the Eucharist should be tolerated, for example, musical or choral rehearsals, announcements which could be given later, or distractions in the sanctuary or elsewhere. People may meet and talk before Mass, but in an area set well apart from the place where the liturgy is about to be celebrated.

**

I love this book! Did we forget - “My Father’s house is a house of prayer.” What does it say to Jesus when people enter church and visit with each other, ignoring our Blessed Lord? Who is put in first place and priority? What about being considerate of those who look for silence to pray and seek union with Jesus?

 

[sphilomena]

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?

Sounds like St. Gregory’s! My mother lives there. Moving the tabernacles was a step in the wrong direction. Most people notice the correlation between that and decreased reverence.