Perhaps you are right that modeling respect for the location takes priority over concern for the instigator’s well-being in another aspect. In many cases, though, and perhaps this one, it would be wrong to leave the child without direction and instruction.
Wow! That is awesome! Funny. Sorry. I would have probably done the same thing, sadly. But, like you I’d regret it and feel the better solution would have been to move. That certainly is what a Saint would have done.Well! I had a very sad and somewhat bizarre experience today at Mass. Let me explain.
A few of us go to Church 40minutes before Mass starts in order to say the rosary before Mass. There are about 5 of us, and we sit near each other but not exactly right next to each other. Anyway, we were halfway through to rosary, I was kneeling down in the usual place in the same pew I have been sitting in for some months. All of a sudden, I get a tap on my shoulder.
“Move up”, says a lady in her sixties that I did recognize but I hadn’t seen her at Mass in a while.
So I thought to myself oh she obviously wants to get in - and even though this Church sits about 250 people and there are currently 5 people in it now and you can choose anywhere to sit - I move my legs as one does so she can get past and sit next to me or wherever. She then says to me, “No, move”. Now, unfortunately I am an extremely confrontational person, and I stand up to everyone in the face of anything - something I am working on however! Anyway, I stood up and I tried my best, I said, “Sorry, but I am sitting here and there are many other places to sit”. This lady then gave me a stern look, and in her best Headmistress voice said, “My boy, I have been sitting here for years, now move”. I took my stuff, and sat far away. I continued the rosary, but not in peace. I was… I don’t know. I was shocked and sad more than anything. Usually that kind of thing makes me angry, and to be honest, if I wasn’t in Church I would have ignored her and just sat back down in my place. But I moved. I just thought this was unbelievable. I mean… It was actually bizarre. And she did it so rudely and gave me such an evil look. I mean seriously, she could have chosen anywhere along the rest of the pew, and anywhere in the other 80 pews in Church!
What would you have done? I felt very bad, I felt awful in fact, because instead of just moving up I stood up and said that I was sitting there, when I should have immediately just moved up and saved myself and her the trouble and the unsettling of our spirits before Mass. It kinda made me angry though too.
You can believe that but you would be wrong. This is pride pure and simple. He did not run away - he had enough humility to not act like a prideful peacock and enough respect for the church not cause a disturbance. This was Mass -hello?
Most definitely.
Of course she is out of line. Why she behaves this way we can’t presume to know. The point is why would we return that same kind of behavior in God’s house? Because one acts poorly does not mean we have the right to do also.
Yup.
No it was before Mass,a quiet no and not moving causes no disturbance whatsoever and now the woman thinks she can bully anyone she wants to, people weak in the faith will use her as an excuse to not go to mass at all end results been souls going to hell because of her and possibly with her.
She likes to sit in that place too - I would guess.I had something similar happen to me at daily Mass a few weeks ago. The church is pretty big, and only about half full for noon Mass, and I do have a spot I like to sit in (it is near the end of the pew). I had been there for about 5-10 minutes when this woman moves to sit next to me. Since I’m sitting at the end, I have to scoot down the pew for her to sit down. I looked around, and again noticed that the church was only half full, with plenty of spots near the ends of pews. Why did she make me move over to sit THERE? Who knows, but it was pretty weird. People can be strange.
I completely agree.
His grammar? Who cares about his grammar?
You really don’t that. I’m not saying she is. My mother is mentally ill and most people don’t that -she socializes and can seem completely normal at times and to certain people unless something triggers an episode. My Godchild’s grandmother is mentally ill, we have relatives in family - outsiders wouldn’t know. Not all mental illness is obvious like its portrayed on TV.Unfortunately, she is definitely not mentally ill. She socializes with her older friends after Mass before driving home (alone). Most likely she isn’t mentally ill I would guess based on that behaviour. Probably a bit old and set in her ways but I don’t think as far as mentally ill
The issue does rest with the OP, not with the lady. Agree.
Excellant points to bring to the discussion…I have not read all the treads in this topic so please excuse me if someone else has made this point…As a social worker that has worked with the older population, it is possible that this lady has some dementia or has had mini stroke in past. Often those in early stages of dementias start having some personality changes or exhibit behaviors such as rudeness that previously they would not have. Ministrokes and some heart diseases can also cause personality changes. Many of those in early stages of dementia do function well but have subtle changes. It is only after a long period of time that obvious impairments are noticeable. But then again she could just be an incrediably rude person.
OR anyone that struggles with OCD.
My sister suffered from dementia, some days you wouldn’t know it, other days it was very clear. Sometimes she accused all of us of wanting her to die, which was the worst thing to put up with, I would have sat by her bedside for years, in fact I was hoping for that.