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fred_conty
Guest
Yes or no.
It should be quiet in church before Mass begins and after Mass is over
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TK421
Guest
Sucks to be a newcomer that isn’t already part of the parish clique, but yes, it should be, for the sake of quiet personal devotion.
I feel like the entire setting of the parish is still built around a quaint foregone time period in Italy where there was the luxury that the entire village were 3rd cousins.
I feel like the entire setting of the parish is still built around a quaint foregone time period in Italy where there was the luxury that the entire village were 3rd cousins.
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Seraphignatius
Guest
Yes (but it won’t let me vote.)
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DaveBj
Guest
You needed a third option: Don’t care; whatever’s happening, I can tune it out.
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paperwight66
Guest
And a fourth option,‘quiet before Mass but not necessarily after’. Which is why I had to vote ‘no’.
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mountee
Guest
Our church has a rosary bring said 45 minutes prior to Mass, I am assuming you would not be including this.
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Razanir
Guest
Depends on what you mean. The question is very vague, and answers can be nuanced.
Before Mass:
Sure, I’ll agree that there shouldn’t be obnoxiously loud conversations. But at the same time, I won’t say there should be utter silence. Of course, you can say things you need to, as long as you keep it at a respectful volume. Like of course you should be able to talk if, say, you notice you’re sitting in a reserved pew. (Which happened to me once)
But at the same time, I won’t advocate total silence. That’s just too broad of a declaration. And not even for things like you shouldn’t not be allowed to panic in a medical emergency. Making a blanket statement that it should be quiet also prohibits the choir from singing. And I would say it’s perfectly fine to have the choir provide ambiance as people are arriving, especially if it’s a big occasion like Confirmation or a wedding.
After Mass:
Overall, the same things apply. Keep it at a respectful volume, but I won’t make blanket statements. Again, as an example, choral ambiance should be fine. Or on something like Candlemas, (I think I remember) we have the blessing of the throats after Mass has ended, and the pianist just provides instrumental ambiance during it. But things like that, again, aren’t allowed in a blanket ban. I’m also more lenient about conversation on the way out, especially if it’s about something church-related.
And finally, there’s the issue of location. It feels like this is operating under the assumption it’s actually in a church, and more importantly, that there’s a tabernacle. But what if it’s not? I’ve been to Mass in a outdoor chapel in a forest at summer camp. I’ve also been to Mass in a ballroom, since our Newman Center is undergoing renovations. (The chapel we have is too small for Sundays, so we move to the Union Ballroom) I’ve even been to Mass in an auditorium, when the ballroom was already taken.
And in all those cases, there was still the same level of reverence before Mass. Probably because people will pray before Mass no matter where. But I also feel like talking afterward is more justified in those locations, since it’s temporary, and there’s no consecrated Host to be especially respectful of.
Before Mass:
Sure, I’ll agree that there shouldn’t be obnoxiously loud conversations. But at the same time, I won’t say there should be utter silence. Of course, you can say things you need to, as long as you keep it at a respectful volume. Like of course you should be able to talk if, say, you notice you’re sitting in a reserved pew. (Which happened to me once)
But at the same time, I won’t advocate total silence. That’s just too broad of a declaration. And not even for things like you shouldn’t not be allowed to panic in a medical emergency. Making a blanket statement that it should be quiet also prohibits the choir from singing. And I would say it’s perfectly fine to have the choir provide ambiance as people are arriving, especially if it’s a big occasion like Confirmation or a wedding.
After Mass:
Overall, the same things apply. Keep it at a respectful volume, but I won’t make blanket statements. Again, as an example, choral ambiance should be fine. Or on something like Candlemas, (I think I remember) we have the blessing of the throats after Mass has ended, and the pianist just provides instrumental ambiance during it. But things like that, again, aren’t allowed in a blanket ban. I’m also more lenient about conversation on the way out, especially if it’s about something church-related.
And finally, there’s the issue of location. It feels like this is operating under the assumption it’s actually in a church, and more importantly, that there’s a tabernacle. But what if it’s not? I’ve been to Mass in a outdoor chapel in a forest at summer camp. I’ve also been to Mass in a ballroom, since our Newman Center is undergoing renovations. (The chapel we have is too small for Sundays, so we move to the Union Ballroom) I’ve even been to Mass in an auditorium, when the ballroom was already taken.
And in all those cases, there was still the same level of reverence before Mass. Probably because people will pray before Mass no matter where. But I also feel like talking afterward is more justified in those locations, since it’s temporary, and there’s no consecrated Host to be especially respectful of.
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tafan
Guest
Yes on both counts: people should be able to pray in silence to prepare for mass and after mass. And it should be silent so more people are encouraged to do so. Before mass, everyone needs to pray and do an examination of conscience as part of the preparation. After mass, many people like to pray also, since they have just received the communion.
I am not one of these who say no one should ever talk in church, but before mass and after mass: quiet. Definitely.
I am not one of these who say no one should ever talk in church, but before mass and after mass: quiet. Definitely.
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tafan
Guest
A rosary before mass is a good thing, but it should certainly end at least a few minutes before the mass begins. So there should still be a period of quietness.
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TimothyH
Guest
It should be quiet but here in Georgia we haven’t been able to get the locomotive engineers to comply.
Same thing with the pilots over Queens, I guess.
-Tim-
Same thing with the pilots over Queens, I guess.
-Tim-
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laircy
Guest
Yes. My parish is loud. 
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MSSheBear
Guest
I didn’t vote because there wasn’t quite a category for how I feel. I accept that we are going to chat before our weekend Masses at our parish. I get very cranky when people chat before Daily Mass in the chapel. What really annoys me is when people chat during Mass.
If we don’t chat with people before or after Mass we are an unfriendly parish. If we do chat then we are are irreverent. So, yes, my inclination would be for silence before and after but that just isn’t going to happen.
If we don’t chat with people before or after Mass we are an unfriendly parish. If we do chat then we are are irreverent. So, yes, my inclination would be for silence before and after but that just isn’t going to happen.
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Graubo3
Guest
I don’t care anymore, even the crying baby, whining toddler, loud talking deaf old man, or the hacking old lady.
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OraLabora
Guest
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.
There are three churches in my (merged) parish. Two of them (in the same town) are like that; the third, actually in the town I live, is total mayhem before and after Mass. As a result I dislike going to Mass there (same priests rotate around the parishes).
There are three churches in my (merged) parish. Two of them (in the same town) are like that; the third, actually in the town I live, is total mayhem before and after Mass. As a result I dislike going to Mass there (same priests rotate around the parishes).
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pianistclare
Guest
I voted yes. People in my parish believe in the loud boisterous gathering or they perceive we’re not “welcoming” enough.
Pastors and Stewardship committees are always wondering WHY people don’t enter ministries, volunteer more, or come to classes. Aside from Mass and Holydays, people come to church to connect with their fellow parishioners. If you can do that before and after church, they see NO NEED to join anything. I’ll bet if we enforced a bit of “less noise, more quiet” we’d see people in the parish hall chatting, in plain view of the people soliciting volunteers for St. Vincent DePaul, or other ministries. They might even see that their friends are there as well.
Just my 2 cents.
Pastors and Stewardship committees are always wondering WHY people don’t enter ministries, volunteer more, or come to classes. Aside from Mass and Holydays, people come to church to connect with their fellow parishioners. If you can do that before and after church, they see NO NEED to join anything. I’ll bet if we enforced a bit of “less noise, more quiet” we’d see people in the parish hall chatting, in plain view of the people soliciting volunteers for St. Vincent DePaul, or other ministries. They might even see that their friends are there as well.
Just my 2 cents.
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Convert2013
Guest
I said yes. However the Rosary being prayed prior to Mass is ok as someone else mentioned it should end a short time before Mass to allow folks to come in and kneel and pray and prepare themselves spiritually for Mass.
The children in our parish school at their Mass are quiet. That is grades k- 8. If they can do it and that’s a few hundred children, then we as adults can do it. Sadly they will go to Mass on the weekend and get the bad example from the adults and think its ok.
If I know that particular Mass is going to be noisy especially within the 5 min before Mass, I will simply go much earlier and enjoy the silence and pray. The added benefit of extra time with Jesus is awesome!
The children in our parish school at their Mass are quiet. That is grades k- 8. If they can do it and that’s a few hundred children, then we as adults can do it. Sadly they will go to Mass on the weekend and get the bad example from the adults and think its ok.
If I know that particular Mass is going to be noisy especially within the 5 min before Mass, I will simply go much earlier and enjoy the silence and pray. The added benefit of extra time with Jesus is awesome!
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Razanir
Guest
But again, it’s such a broad statement. What would you think of having the choir sing as people are coming in and going to sit down? My home parish does that every year at Confirmation. Or what about the choir continuing to sing even if Mass is technically over, because they’re blessing everyone’s throats for Candlemas?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be quiet. I just dislike how absolute that answer is.
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simpleas
Guest
People can still be welcomed in a quiet manner. I think as little chatter as possible, so people can prepare themselves in a spiritual way, I find it hard to collect my thoughts sometimes, I don’t mind small children or babies etc, its mostly the adults that are having some strange conversations in the pews!!
I remember thinking people whisper and try as best to be quiet in the cinema waiting for a film to start more than they do in church
A lovely section of countryside is more engaging to find spiritual peace than some of our churches…
I remember thinking people whisper and try as best to be quiet in the cinema waiting for a film to start more than they do in church
A lovely section of countryside is more engaging to find spiritual peace than some of our churches…
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AnneElliott
Guest
My thoughts exactly.
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tafan
Guest
Having the choir sing, assuming its a proper hymn and style, does not intrude on one’s silence. It can enhance it. I suspect the reason why it is done at the confirmation mass is because it was simply needed to help keep the church quiet. At confirmation and first communion masses, the pre-mass conversations are way over-the-top. Friends and family show up and think it is a time to catch up with each other.
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