It should be quiet in church before Mass begins and after Mass is over

[Razanir]

NOTE: No one is saying you can’t talk in the lobby and of course there will be a little noise as a few hundred people all leave at the same time. But that’s not the same thing as simply hanging round the pews and chatting away after Mass.

Ah. That’s where we differ in how we interpret the question. I’m fine with people talking quietly on the way out, but I, at least, still count that as it not being quiet after Mass. And thus, given only “yes” and “no”, would have to choose “no”.

 

[Cat]

I think that all churches should be built with fairly spacious narthexes or lobbies that are temperature-controlled, and this is where the congregation should meet and greet each other.

I also think these narthexes and lobbies should be built in such a way that the noise in them cannot be heard in the nave by those who are attempting to pray or do some other discipline that is best done in a silent or very quiet place.

And I also think that this will probably not happen very often. Too bad. It’s what the Protestant churches do, and it makes so much sense. It allows a friendly atmosphere where people can chat and get to know each other, and a quiet nave where people can prepare their hearts to worship the Lord.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

People should not talk inside the nave of the church before or after Mass, but I don’t object to a quiet organ prelude starting a few minutes before Mass (nor to a loud one after the recessional).

 

[Phemie]

I would be a nervous wreck going to church with most of the people who are responding.

I would be afraid to breathe, cough, afraid the church bench would creek, etc.

Exaggeration, obviously.

We were brought up that you didn’t chat in church; like OraLabora’s parents mine also brought me up that chatting was something you did in the porch or on the church steps, in the nave you were silent unless responding as required. They didn’t teach me that breathing, even wheezing, coughing, or a creaking pew were a problem.

Every week I see a couple of people struggling to spend some prayerful after Mass. They’re quiet, on their knees and people ignore them totally as they continue to plan their week and where they’re going to go for coffee.

There was a former parish catechetical coordinator who, if she knew you and saw you in prayer before Mass, made a point of coming over to chat because she felt that pre-Mass wasn’t time for praying but for community building. I didn’t feel like building any community with her when she pulled that trick on me. I don’t mean that you have to completely ignore people around you. If someone slips into the same pew, even if you know them well, what’s wrong with simply a nod and a smile? You acknowledge their presence, you don’t have to engage them in conversation.

 

[pianistclare]

I think that all churches should be built with fairly spacious narthexes or lobbies that are temperature-controlled, and this is where the congregation should meet and greet each other.

I also think these narthexes and lobbies should be built in such a way that the noise in them cannot be heard in the nave by those who are attempting to pray or do some other discipline that is best done in a silent or very quiet place.

And I also think that this will probably not happen very often. Too bad. It’s what the Protestant churches do, and it makes so much sense. It allows a friendly atmosphere where people can chat and get to know each other, and a quiet nave where people can prepare their hearts to worship the Lord.

We have a set-up as you describe. It’s like a giant amphitheater. The noise is huge from the narthex…often disrupting the Mass. In addition we have a very large immersion cruciform font in the center of it. Making it a fairly useless space for anything else.
When we pipe the sound out into the Narthex, the effect is deafening. Sounds good, but seldom works unless you have double sets of doors. The ushers like to keep the doors open…so all that noise is clearly heard in the nave. We’ve tried to change the mind-set…but people see it as a “friendly” issue…not a conducive to Catholic prayer one.

 

[Miserissima]

Someone I know played the “all they do is chat about baseball before the Mass” card as an excuse not to attend a ‘very friendly’ parish. In actuality, the conversation was in whispers:

Joe: I haven’t seen you in a long time, Mike! Let’s talk after.
Mike: Yeah, I thought of you after the game last week.
Joe: What a game! Ok, we’ll catch up later.

Simple exchange (again, in whispers) but, the person I mentioned used it as an excuse not to go back to that parish, launching into a mini tirade to make this an example of irreverence as opposed to giving up twenty seconds of prayer in the name of charity.

Personally? I appreciate the silence, both before and after, but I don’t expect it. So, I try to get there before the place fills up, and stay after most have filed out.

If I can spare an extra fifteen minutes at either end of the Mass for yworship time, I’ll do it. I’ll try to practice “economy.”

 

[Convert2013]

I think that all churches should be built with fairly spacious narthexes or lobbies that are temperature-controlled, and this is where the congregation should meet and greet each other.

I also think these narthexes and lobbies should be built in such a way that the noise in them cannot be heard in the nave by those who are attempting to pray or do some other discipline that is best done in a silent or very quiet place.

And I also think that this will probably not happen very often. Too bad. It’s what the Protestant churches do, and it makes so much sense. It allows a friendly atmosphere where people can chat and get to know each other, and a quiet nave where people can prepare their hearts to worship the Lord.

That is how our church is built with a fairly large narthex and conversations are not heard inside in the nave. Unfortunately people look around when they get there, don’t see their friends and rush inside and choose to have extraneous conversations at a decent volume about the weather, going to the beach, grandchildren, you name it. This especially happens when most people get there a minute before Mass starts (which is fine) but can’t help themselves but to chat up a storm. Thankfully the opening hymn begins and drowns it out and cuts the conversation off!

None of this is about not making any noise whatsoever. As one person mentioned about being afraid to breathe. That’s a bit extreme. Most of us are just looking for some reverence in general and respect to those who may have a hard time praying and preparing with the gossip chatter going on.

 

[signit]

I was brought up by my parents and my (Catholic) school as a young lad to be totally quiet in church at all times. Talking was for outside on the steps.

I was taught that too; the church is “God’s house” and you had to be quiet.

I vote “yes,” too; I don’t believe in this socializing before Mass although it happens every week and I try to tune it out.

I can see, though, the role of “community building” or “welcoming” and (as someone seemed to suggest) it’s my understanding that they do that at some Protestant churches.

 

[byzantium]

It does irk me when people clap and carry on in mass.

The church is the house of the Almighty God, i always show deep respect and reverence while in a church.

 

[johnnyc176]

It is quiet before and after Mass at my church (not the lobby though). One of the reasons is that the Adoration Chapel is attached and so people pretty much realize to keep it down. Father also informs people that he quite often hears confessions before and after Mass. The lobby however gets pretty loud after Mass with all the people hanging out which is not a problem and great to see.

 

[Razanir]

It does irk me when people clap and carry on in mass.

Clapping after Mass is over? I suppose. I wouldn’t say it’s ideal, but I’m also not opposed to showing the choir thanks for what they do.

Clapping during Mass? The Mass is literally almost over. We just finished Communion. Do you really need to applaud the choir for the reflection hymn right this very moment?

 

[powerofk]

Clapping after Mass is over? I suppose. I wouldn’t say it’s ideal, but I’m also not opposed to showing the choir thanks for what they do.

Clapping during Mass? The Mass is literally almost over. We just finished Communion. Do you really need to applaud the choir for the reflection hymn right this very moment?

What about clapping after a baptism?

 

[johnmann]

The options should be “yes” and “I don’t care.”

Also, there’s a difference between quiet and silent. There’s also a difference between “It should be quiet” and “I would like it to be quiet.” I would like priests to say Mass ad orientem but I don’t think versus populum is inappropriate.

Also depends on the setting. Going to Mass at a monastery? Maybe observe absolute silence. Going to the closing Mass at World Youth Day? It wouldn’t be inappropriate to have a conversation. In most parishes, I think a low voice is okay outside of Mass. Yes, it can be distracting but the world doesn’t have to revolve around you.

 

[johnmann]

Clapping during Mass? The Mass is literally almost over. We just finished Communion. Do you really need to applaud the choir for the reflection hymn right this very moment?

Yes, because too many people leave before the choir can finish its exit hymn. But even if we didn’t “need” to, there’s lots of things we don’t “need” to do like “reflecting” after Communion.

Applauding the choir singing a hymn is inappropriate. It’s not a performance. But “a big hand for our choir” during announcements is no more inappropriate than, “I’d like to thank Fr. Z for concelebrating today.”

 

[bilop]

Yes, because too many people leave before the choir can finish its exit hymn. But even if we didn’t “need” to, there’s lots of things we don’t “need” to do like “reflecting” after Communion.

Applauding the choir singing a hymn is inappropriate. It’s not a performance. But “a big hand for our choir” during announcements is no more inappropriate than, “I’d like to thank Fr. Z for concelebrating today.”

I don’t understand this? Why do we need to clap for the choir at all?

And why does it matter if I leave before the choir finishes? The Mass is over when Fr. says “The Mass has ended”/“Ite Missa Est”. I wait until the priest leaves, out of respect for his sacred office. There’s no reason I need to wait for the choir to leave.

God Bless

 

[BarbG]

We have a terrific choir for our last Mass on Sunday at Noon, and somehow it has become the tradition that at the end of Mass we clap because they do such a good job.

 

[johnmann]

I don’t understand this? Why do we need to clap for the choir at all?

And why does it matter if I leave before the choir finishes? The Mass is over when Fr. says “The Mass has ended”/“Ite Missa Est”. I wait until the priest leaves, out of respect for his sacred office. There’s no reason I need to wait for the choir to leave.

God Bless

Sure, you don’t need to ever clap for anything. But it’s nice to show appreciation.

And I said didn’t say you can’t leave before the choir does. I stated the fact that people do which is why a show of appreciation afterwards is different than one before when everyone is still there.

 

[Phemie]

Yes, because too many people leave before the choir can finish its exit hymn. But even if we didn’t “need” to, there’s lots of things we don’t “need” to do like “reflecting” after Communion.

Applauding the choir singing a hymn is inappropriate. It’s not a performance. But “a big hand for our choir” during announcements is no more inappropriate than, “I’d like to thank Fr. Z for concelebrating today.”

Personally, I don’t think either of those is appropriate.

 

[Phemie]

We have a terrific choir for our last Mass on Sunday at Noon, and somehow it has become the tradition that at the end of Mass we clap because they do such a good job.

I don’t get why we should applaud them for doing what they are meant to do.

 

[Zeno11]

In my home parish in Ireland it is always silent before Mass. I was brought up to genuflect, kneel down and greet Jesus in the tabernacle and to pray to Him until Mass began.
However in my London parish, people feel free to have a good old chat with their neighbour and catch up on their social lives before and after Mass. They seem to have no recognition of the Real Presence, and I’ve noticed many people who don’t even pray after receiving Communion, but sit up and read the weekly newsletter instead. A nun once said to me that she thinks that people don’t truly believe in the Real Presence or they would behave differently and I think she is right. There are a lot of people going through the motions and think just following the form of the religion is going to guarantee them a place in heaven. Maybe our clergy should be making quite clear to them how they should be behaving and why?