Priest directing the congregation to meet and greet before Mass

[ConstantineTG]

Haven’t we recently discussed this in a different thread or am I thinking of someone else? The GIRM says that there should be sacred silence before the celebration.

I don’t know about you, but silence in front of Jesus in the tabernacle seems to me to be basic, simple respect. If that doesn’t concern you, at least acknowledge that once a week you come to speak to God and not to a friend - it can all wait. And if you don’t care about that, at least care for the fact that others care for it. The timing certainly does matter. If we were to chat in the Church except during Mass there’d by no need for Parish halls.

Don’t have idle, unnecessary talk in a sacred space. Especially not before Mass when you should be recollecting yourself to prepare for the Sacred Mysteries. That seems simple enough, and not too much to ask.

And how long is this sacred silence is for?

Also, Jesus said that we should make peace with our brother before going to the temple to make our offering. This fellowship time is a small gesture towards that.

 

[NewsTheMan]

And how long is this sacred silence is for?

Before Mass? I don’t know, it is up to the Parish priest I suppose - but it shouldn’t be something trivial like 2 minutes it seems, otherwise it defeats the purpose. My old Parish required that the Rosary, choir practice finish by 8.20 for Mass at 8.30. And all other times, unless praying with others (Rosary, devotionals, stations) you must keep silence.

Also, Jesus said that we should make peace with our brother before going to the temple to make our offering. This fellowship time is a small gesture towards that.

I may be remembering badly, but Jesus was saying that in terms of making peace with an enemy was he not? Even so, whatever the context, surely the “before” does not mean “seconds before a ceremony”. If we take it at face value, he would quite obviously mean that before we even set foot in temple we must make peace with our enemies. Not that mere seconds before the liturgy we should be making a hustle and bustle before lifting our minds to God Almighty.

Fellowship time can certainly be before Mass. Just not in the Church. If people don’t care enough to recollect themselves 15 minutes before Mass - fine. But do it outside. The perfect time for fellowship is after Mass, in the hall drinking coffee and having donuts. What’s with the rush towards condensing everything? We prepare for all manner of things in the appropriate way. Give the due time to God, not just the bare minimum. Our neighbor will understand that we don’t want to have a chat.

 

[trickster]

I think a certain amount of common sense needs to be exercised…when I go to Mass of course I say hi to people I know that is all good…but I also need a "centeing time"or “centering prayer” to focus on the Mass itself…

I require at least 15 minutes of silence and focus on what I am about to participate in and in this eucharist focus it does not serve the purpose of the church or mass to be “buiding communtiy” … rather buildiing Christian communtiy is based on authentic and deep relationships the people have with God, Jesus in the Eucharist and the gifts of the Holy Spirit…that as a beginning point will then naturally translate into action and expression through the “building community” exercises which I agree are just more enjoyable and meanigful over coffee and donuts in the parish hall…

That seems to make sense to me…but yes there is a time and place for both actions…I do support the exchange of peace exercise we do in the Mass, I know a lot of people find it a distraction,…but theologically I think it is a very wise thing to do…

Bruce

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I suppose that the priest is trying to encourage community, but, like you, I do not come to Mass to socialize.

As far as I am concerned, the time to meet and greet is after Mass and outside the church, not inside.

I agree. Perhpas he is though trying to get people to meet and therefore be more comfortable coming to the coffee hour after Mass.

To the OP, there is nothing wrong with what your priest is doing. If it is truly a problem for you to smile and say hi to the family next to you before Mass, than perhaps start sitting in the very front. There will be fewer people around you.

 

[the_phoenix]

When a priest places me into the situation of “turn to your neighbor in greeting and introduce yourself,” I’ve been known to respond:

“Hello, I’m a pro-life, conservative Republican.”

 

[sulkow82]

Hello
In my parish we do things with a bit more of an extended format.

1. A lay emcee leads the congregation in saying the novena to the parish’s patron saint
2. Then we have recognition (any new members of the parish, wedding anniversaries,etc.)
3. Announcements
4. Meet the person next to you.
5. The priest is announced and Mass starts as normal.

On saturdays, Confession is concluded before the novena. This is considered our chance for Sacred Silence. In other parishes I’ve been registered with, there has never been such an elaborate pre-Mass structure.

 

[TimothyH]

Greeting each other in the name of Christ momentarily before the Mass is not socializing. It is not about getting to know the other person or “Hey, good to see ya again. How about them Bears, eh?”

We are all individual members of Christ’s body. We are one, in Christ. Every saint in heaven, every soul in purgatory, every member of your parish who stands in the pew with you, are all members of Christ’s body, with Christ as the head, and Mary as our Mother, and God as our Father. That we are all one body is not a metaphor. It is as real as the sandwich you ate for lunch and as concrete as your driveway. And we are the only religion left on earth which realizes that because we are one body, that shared suffering is redemtive for all of us, and that our merits can be given to others for their salvation, or to Mary for her to dispense as she sees fit for God’s greater Glory.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16)

Catholicism is the most biblical religion, and to a certain extent, the most literalist and the most practical and pragmatic. We take Jame’s words to heart, and do exactly what James commands us to do - what God commands us to do - at every single Mass.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

As members of Christs body with a supernatural link to each other, as family, and able to have an impact on each other’s salvation, we do exactly what James commands us to do, confess to one another and pray for one another. At least that is what we should be doing, unless we just say the words of the Confiteor out of habit and don’t really mean them. And so we - sinners - greet each other as brothers and sisters, as members of Christ’s body, as adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, and we confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. Next time the priest asks you to turn and greet the person next to you in the name of Christ, look at the person who you are shaking hands with and say to yourself, “I am a worse sinner than this person who is shaking my hand, and in just a moment this person is going to fervently pray for me, fervently pray for the salvation of my soul at the Holy Sactifice of the Mass.” And tell me that you won’t love that person for what they are about to do for you. And tell me that you won’t bow your head in contrition, and pray earnestly the words of the confiteor.

I confess to you my brothers and sisters, and *I ask you *my brothers and sisters to pray for me. **

That’s the essence of the penitential rite and the confiteor. Its really that simple. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not about coffee and donuts. For all this wrangling about what the Mass is or isn’t, for all the statements about how the Mass is Christ’s perfect sacrifice and how Heaven meets earth at the Mass, shouldn’t we be taking the words of the Mass seriously?

I would shake your hand if you were about to confess your sins to me, ask Mary to intercede for me, and pray fervently for the salvation of my soul. Heck, I’d even buy you a cup of coffee for it, or a McFlurry or something.

-Tim-

PS: How bout them bears?

 

[TheMc]

When a priest places me into the situation of “turn to your neighbor in greeting and introduce yourself,” I’ve been known to respond:

“Hello, I’m a pro-life, conservative Republican.”

Great!!! I ever decieded to actually participate when they do these things at other parishes when I visit, I will say that. I probably won’t have a chance, since I usually just drop to my knees when these sort of things happens.

(Not aimed at you, phoenix") These "meet and greet things. Ugh.
What a way to interrupt your preparation for Mass…

 

[Catholic90]

We are a community…some people never feel welcomed in their church community, so I think this may be a way of making people feel welcomed. I think it is nice.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

When a priest places me into the situation of “turn to your neighbor in greeting and introduce yourself,” I’ve been known to respond:

“Hello, I’m a pro-life, conservative Republican.”

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

I agree. Perhpas he is though trying to get people to meet and therefore be more comfortable coming to the coffee hour after Mass.

To the OP, there is nothing wrong with what your priest is doing. If it is truly a problem for you to smile and say hi to the family next to you before Mass, than perhaps start sitting in the very front. There will be fewer people around you.

Of course the time to socialize is outside, oooops, I am now trying to think i there is snow, hail, rain or a tornado !
Anyhow, here in Europe, in every village, after mass is meeting time.
In the Middle Ages, after mass it was market time that could last for hours…

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

I think what’s being forgotten here among all of the good intentions is that this meet and greet at the beginning of Mass is a totally empty gesture. As if saying hello to some stranger before Mass makes you feel connected? It’s a joke. It’s a distraction from what is about to happen and nothing is gained from it. Like others have said, that kind of stuff is for after the Mass and in another building.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

When a priest places me into the situation of “turn to your neighbor in greeting and introduce yourself,” I’ve been known to respond:

“Hello, I’m a pro-life, conservative Republican.”

How about, “Hi, I’m a pro-life, orthdox Catholic.” Being a Republican has nothing to do with your religion.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Greeting each other in the name of Christ momentarily before the Mass is not socializing. It is not about getting to know the other person or “Hey, good to see ya again. How about them Bears, eh?”

We are all individual members of Christ’s body. We are one, in Christ. Every saint in heaven, every soul in purgatory, every member of your parish who stands in the pew with you, are all members of Christ’s body, with Christ as the head, and Mary as our Mother, and God as our Father. That we are all one body is not a metaphor. It is as real as the sandwich you ate for lunch and as concrete as your driveway. And we are the only religion left on earth which realizes that because we are one body, that shared suffering is redemtive for all of us, and that our merits can be given to others for their salvation, or to Mary for her to dispense as she sees fit for God’s greater Glory.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16)

Catholicism is the most biblical religion, and to a certain extent, the most literalist and the most practical and pragmatic. We take Jame’s words to heart, and do exactly what James commands us to do - what God commands us to do - at every single Mass.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

As members of Christs body with a supernatural link to each other, as family, and able to have an impact on each other’s salvation, we do exactly what James commands us to do, confess to one another and pray for one another. At least that is what we should be doing, unless we just say the words of the Confiteor out of habit and don’t really mean them. And so we - sinners - greet each other as brothers and sisters, as members of Christ’s body, as adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, and we confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. Next time the priest asks you to turn and greet the person next to you in the name of Christ, look at the person who you are shaking hands with and say to yourself, “I am a worse sinner than this person who is shaking my hand, and in just a moment this person is going to fervently pray for me, fervently pray for the salvation of my soul at the Holy Sactifice of the Mass.” And tell me that you won’t love that person for what they are about to do for you. And tell me that you won’t bow your head in contrition, and pray earnestly the words of the confiteor.

I confess to you** my brothers and sisters, and *I ask you *my brothers and sisters to pray for me.

That’s the essence of the penitential rite and the confiteor. Its really that simple. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not about coffee and donuts. For all this wrangling about what the Mass is or isn’t, for all the statements about how the Mass is Christ’s perfect sacrifice and how Heaven meets earth at the Mass, shouldn’t we be taking the words of the Mass seriously?

I would shake your hand if you were about to confess your sins to me, ask Mary to intercede for me, and pray fervently for the salvation of my soul. Heck, I’d even buy you a cup of coffee for it, or a McFlurry or something.

Amen.

 

[Mudboots]

I happen to be one of those who see the meet-n-greet as something that belongs outside, whether before or after The Holy Sacrifice. Of those of us who see this, how many of us actually take this opportunity to be part of our community rather than arrive and leave without a word to another parishoner?

Some Priests will tell you that very few do, and thus they attempt in other ways to help us communicate so we can grow spiritually from one another. The person asking “how 'bout them Bears” may grow well if someone responded “I did’t watch the game, but let me discuss my meditation on the Passion during Communion last week.” The conversation may end abruptly, but a seed will have been planted.

Pray for Priests…increase in humility and holiness…

 

[chickenhawk1022]

How about acknowledging the presence of Christ in each of your neighbors as you greet them in a few seconds before Mass?

We do this at our parish - for some people who come to Mass - elderly people who live alone - this might be the only ‘conversation’ they have with someone else during the day. It’s not a difficult thing to do and I think the point is that it is a pleasant thing to do and for a few seconds, surely it wouldn’t kill any of us to be pleasant and offer a warm smile to our fellow parishioners as we come together to celebrate?

 

[fall_fox]

Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass

fall fox

Does Father want to eliminate the sign of peace during Mass?
Ours is a very friendly Parish, after Mass, it is difficult to get through the Narthex because of people stopping and saying hello. I think it is kind of nice.

 

[the_phoenix]

Great!!! I ever decided to actually participate when they do these things at other parishes when I visit, I will say that. I probably won’t have a chance, since I usually just drop to my knees when these sort of things happens.

(Not aimed at you, phoenix") These "meet and greet things. Ugh.
What a way to interrupt your preparation for Mass…

Quite all right, TheMC.
Dropping to my knees is an approach I hadn’t considered …
In any case, you sound like someone well worth meeting …
in a more appropriate setting than a pre-Mass meet and greet thing, that is!

 

[the_phoenix]

 

[the_phoenix]

How about, “Hi, I’m a pro-life, orthdox Catholic.” Being a Republican has nothing to do with your religion.

So? The priest asked me to introduce myself.
I complied.