Lounging in the pews

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I’m sure we can all tell the difference between a slob who is lounging in a pew and someone who is relieving pain or discomfort by trying for a eased posture. My gripe is with the slobs, you know the kind: wearing jeans, one or both arms stretched across the pew back, ankle of one leg resting on the knee of the other.

None of us is an angel, able to ignore distractions and concentrate on the Mass at all times, and a lounger is a distraction.
 
Quick Time-Out please. Maybe it’s just me, but your comment about the “self-rightous prig” (snob) comes off as a personal attack and I am not sure that is how you meant it.
 
tjfitz said:
I’m sure we can all tell the difference between a slob who is lounging in a pew and someone who is relieving pain or discomfort by trying for a eased posture. My gripe is with the slobs, you know the kind: wearing jeans, one or both arms stretched across the pew back, ankle of one leg resting on the knee of the other.

None of us is an angel, able to ignore distractions and concentrate on the Mass at all times, and a lounger is a distraction.
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Is this thread for real???

Jeans are slobbish? Heh, I have very nice, expensive jeans and would wear them to Church in a heartbeat. And who are you the FASHION police? IS there a dress code for Mass, to be with Jesus, who didn’t care about such things?

This whole thread is ridiculous, up there with feet on the pew and noisy people. You all seriously need to get over yourselves and attend to the purpose of Mass–worshipping Jesus.
 
I’m afraid the neck veins of some posters to this thread are bulging dangerously.
 
tjfitz said:
I’m sure we can all tell the difference between a slob who is lounging in a pew and someone who is relieving pain or discomfort by trying for a eased posture. My gripe is with the** slobs**, you know the kind: wearing jeans, one or both arms stretched across the pew back, ankle of one leg resting on the knee of the other.

None of us is an angel, able to ignore distractions and concentrate on the Mass at all times, and a lounger is a distraction.
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Hah! You would absolutely DETEST my son then. Not only does he wear jeans and black biker boots to mass, usually with a hooded sweatshirt, he generally crosses his ankle across his knee. AND IT GETS WORSE…his HAIR…oh my goodness his hair…he is a 17 year old MALE and yet his HAIR which is a mass of waves, comes down to his shoulder blades! :eek::eek::eek: He ACTUALLY dares to attend mass like that! Not only does he attend mass EVERY WEEK, he actually has the GALL to be involved with the youth group looking like that! (oh , the horror - ) Not only is he involved with senior high youth, he actually has the NERVE to be a leader for the junior high kids (and looking so ghastly at that!) (He does frighten some elementary school kids).

What would you suggest he do? Cut his hair, wear khakis with nice loafers, and sit with his back straight and looking straight ahead? (But then he would not be my son, would he?) He also would not be nearly effective at doing what he does - he PORTRAYS a “bad boy” image, and it is by this very image that he is able to very effectively reach out to the fringe kids and bring them in. He is AMAZING at doing that(and he is only 17).

Watch out - he may be your parish’s Youth Minister one day! 👍 Watch for that long haired, jeans wearing, scary looking male bringing in kids who have no hope because everyone else has written them off as being “too weird” and “not proper enough”. Or, he could be the conservatively dressed, prim and proper, cookie cutter of every other prep boy out there who the fringe kids will never allow them to get close to?

Now, which one do you think JESUS prefers???
 
Two words, no reverence. Not judging, it’s just the way some parishes have become…no one cares, no one has reverence…cell phones ringing…people talking at full volume ‘unaware’ that there are people around them praying…

Sad, but that’s my take. And if there are no kneelers, it doesn’t ‘feel’ or look like a traditional pew. Resembles more of a long couch, now, or something. (in parishes here in Florida)

Couches are for lounging, so…😃

Sad, but true.
 
I don’t there is anything wrong with wearing jeans, to church…provided they don’t look like you just rolled around in the grass…but I actually don’t pay attention to what others are wearing. Only my kids. 😃 And they sometimes wear shorts. :eek: It can get hot and stuffy here in Florida, during mass…even with the a/c blasting.

But, the arms over the back of the pew…I just find it gross. Now, I’m going to lean over after you have had your sweaty, hairy arm all over the pew? :rotfl: It is a little on the ‘ew’ side.

I do think it’s irreverent though. Do people sit like that at work? Seems like people care more about how they look, dress, and act at work than at mass. Just sayin.’ If they are that way at work, I want to see where they work. lol 😃
 
tjfitz said:
I’m afraid the neck veins of some posters to this thread are bulging dangerously.
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People tend to get annoyed by pettiness…this falls under that category.

It is a petty concern in the BIG PICTURE.

I am pretty sure God is more concerned with the position of people’s hearts than the position of their knees or what clothing they are wearing on those knees.

Let’s take Mugabe from another thread…Proclaimed Catholic, dresses well, looks professional, dictator - murderer, torturer, thief, scumbag…

A person dressed in jeans, teaching religion to others, living a good example in life by always being honest, helping others, being kind and polite, but tends to assume a more relaxed posture when sitting…

Hmmmm…
 
tjfitz said:
My gripe is with the slobs, you know the kind: wearing jeans, one or both arms stretched across the pew back, ankle of one leg resting on the knee of the other.
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From the “Ask an Apologist” forum, Peggy Frye:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=14848&highlight=jeans

“There’s nothing wrong with wearing jeans to Mass provided they are neat and clean with no holes or tears. Even St. Peter’s in the Vatican, which has a very strict dress code, permits women to wear jeans…”
 
Luke 10
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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Last night I was at adoration and thought of this thread. I sometimes “feel” so overwhelmed by the day and being in Adoration is such a blessing. Sometimes I even find myself lying on my face on the floor. I have knelt, lounged, layed down, sat up straight, stood, walked around, etc. In each posture I was aware of Our Lord. I was praying. When I was lying on the floor last night, :eek: I thought of what one of my best friends always says to someone who is hurting, “Run… and bury your face in the mane of the Lion of Judah!”

I know that Mass is not Adoration, but I’d like to think that Jesus holds me up no matter what I look like.

in Christ
Steph
 
I just read this from today’s “Prayer for the Evening”, Magnificat magazine:

Romans 12: 3,10,16

By the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.

Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.
 
Maybe I was more confident than I should have been in my original posting that readers would understand that I was referring to lounging men who are at least of an age to be mature and be respectful of the feelings of others in the church, and who are behaving and dressed in a way that does not convey a respect for their fellows and an understanding that they are in a holy place.

Surely it is not pharisaical to expect mentally- and emotionally-unchallenged mature people to render a decent respect by observing decorum in behavior and dress.
 
tjfitz said:
Maybe I was more confident than I should have been in my original posting that readers would understand that I was referring to lounging men who are at least of an age to be mature and be respectful of the feelings of others in the church, and who are behaving and dressed in a way that does not convey a respect for their fellows and an understanding that they are in a holy place.

Surely it is not pharisaical to expect mentally- and emotionally-unchallenged mature people to render a decent respect by observing decorum in behavior and dress.
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Uh, yeah, whatever. I think if YOU are that hung up on how people sit or what they wear, then that is YOUR issue, NOT theirs! Personally, I am just glad they are there, and that they are nice people! Don’t really care WHAT they wear, whether it is jeans, a 3 piece suit, or shorts and sandals.

Sorry, that is my opinion. (and YES, I am one who wears capris, dress shorts, dressy tank tops, sleeveless blouses, and flip flops to mass in the summer). 😃
 
So Tjfitz…
Methinks if this is all the stuff you have to worry about, life is pretty darn good for you!:rolleyes:

Let’s see, you’ve complained when the choir sings…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4161192#post4161192
“As usual, I kept my mouth shut and grumbled internally at every delay of the Mass.”

You’ve complained when people are clean…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4051608#post4051608
“…was astounded, shocked and annoyed …”

You’ve **complained **when kneelers go up and down and have even “jammed your foot” so others can’t move them (nice).
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=4051284#post4051284

You’ve complained about parents rocking their babies…
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=267880
"Last Sunday at Mass there was a youngish mother a few pews ahead of us, and while we were standing, she began to sway back and forth and bounce her baby in arms. It got a little distracting, I thought.

I’ve seen this kind of over-zealous baby or child rocking before (it generally seems to be done up in the front pews) and wonder if it wouldn’t be better to just take the baby to the back of the church or to the crying room."

Now you complain about this…

Do you have anything GOOD to say? :confused:
You seem to do this a lot, this grumbling thing. How about focusing on the POSITIVE? IE. Young parents are at mass with their children, people are singing and participating, and even jean-wearing folks attend mass! Be an OPTIMIST, not a PESSIMIST.
 
tjfitz said:
It’s good to know I’m making people think about decorum.
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No, you are just annoying people. How does any of this make people better Christians?
Answer: It doesn’t.

Stop complaining about petty things and stop annoying people. You obviously have way too much time on your hands. Recently retired?

Edited to add that the pharisees complained about petty things too. I think you are missing the BIG picture.
 
Temper, temper.

Just trying to do my part in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.
 
Sorry, I get annoyed with ANNOYING people! I don’t like complainers who have nothing better to offer!
 
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