Problem Getting A Seat At Mass

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Catholics are obligated to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Days of obligation(determined by ones local Ordinary or Bishop’s conferences). One only need to receive Communion once per year
 
babochka said:
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Xanthippe_Voorhees:
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babochka:
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Xanthippe_Voorhees:
After a quick peck with my husband, I spend my time ensuring my children don’t hurl themselves 3 pews down to get more handshakes than their siblings.
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Ah, the problems of outgoing people! My shy kids stay nice and close, practically hanging on me the entire time. I have to force them to be polite and shake hands with those who offer.
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Two introverts don’t make more introverts, apparently.
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We’re a mixed marriage, with mixed results. I’m an introvert, my husband is an extrovert. We’ve got 3 introverts and three extroverts.
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Time will tell. My husband was apparently painfully extroverted when he was small, now he’s all introvert. I was an ambivert who settled into more extroversion after college.
 
my 2 cents…I always get to Mass about 10 min early bc I have a favorite “spot,” in the pew under the stain glass window of Jesus being presented at the Temple. This window has a star of David, and being a Jewish convert it comforts me in some way (silly or not, whatever…). That said, I also always sit on the aisle bc almost every week I am a reader or EOM and we have been informed we need to get up there asap when it’s time. I just stand and let people in past me when they come in later. That said, one Mass, the confirmation kids had taken up most of the pews in the front half of the church and I could only find a seat on the right side of aisle, midway in ( I always sit left aisle), a family came in late, and the father whispers to me “excuse me, my family always sits here…” basically asking me to move when the mass had started. I was mortified…who does that?
Needless to say I now always keep to the left of the aisle… 😉
 
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I probably mentioned it because I thought that some people might suggest that I go to another church.
 
That was pretty awful, Brishen!

Thank you, everyone, for all of your replies. I have decided to try to just let things like this wash over me in future! After all, a lovely man told me to sit next to he and his wife.
 
That’s a great idea! Unfortunately, this church is quite small and it doesn’t have a choir.
 
Praise God that you can get a seat in the pew. If you are late at my cathedral, you will sure to be standing at the back or be sitting outside because the cathedral is always packed for the Sunday mass. We do not have the luxury to haggle about seat.
 
The closing hymn at the first Mass I attended on my own on my way to the Catholic Church was “Amazing Grace”. And it was at the Cathedral.

I have sung that at several of my Protestant family members’ funerals.

I felt like even my Baptist grandpa was saying, it’s okay that you’re here, and I’m glad you’re happy.

So I understand the comfort brishen sees in the familiar Star of David at Mass.
 
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That’s such a great story. Isn’t it so comforting when God sends us those special little “coincidences” to give us some extra peace when we need it?
 
It was amazing. I had had quite a spiritual experience during the Consecration - it was like everything I’d ever heard from my Catholic dad or experienced with him the times I went to Mass just suddenly made sense. “Amazing Grace” just capped the whole experience, so to speak (and not making light of any of it). I walked out of there feeling very at peace with the decision I was making.

“'Twas blind, but now I see” made my hair stand up on end as I sang it.
 
I bet it did…it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Thanks for sharing that special moment. How comforting to have them sing that familiar hymn, a private moment of reassurance between you and God that you were making the right choice.

People wonder how we can know God is real…but until you experience His tender care like that, it’s just impossible to describe.

I love the thought of the stained glass artist making that window who knows when, and including the Star of David, and God knew exactly when brishen would come along and find comfort in it. He cares for us so tenderly. ❤️

I tried to like your post but I don’t think it will stick…I keep running out.
 
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brishen said:
the father whispers to me “excuse me, my family always sits here…” basically asking me to move when the mass had started. I was mortified…who does that?
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That’s really terrible. I’ve never heard of or seen that done anywhere ever …I mean, not at Mass.

Anyway, it’s an opportunity to forgive someone. 🙂
 
Perhaps the family has a child who is “on the spectrum”. Routine can be very important to some kids, that includes sitting in the same spot.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Perhaps the family has a child who is “on the spectrum”. Routine can be very important to some kids, that includes sitting in the same spot.
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The it is on the parent to say that they have a member with special needs. Producing offspring alone does not entitle one to special treatment.
 
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It is not my duty to reveal everything to others.

Simple kindness, when someone asks for your seat, give it to them.
 
TheLittleLady said:
It is not my duty to reveal everything to others.

Simple kindness, when someone asks for your seat, give it to them.
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What?

No.

You want a seat, you get there on time.

You have special needs, you ask.

I do not move for giggles. I will if someone has a overriding need.
 
TheLittleLady said:
It is not my duty to reveal everything to others.

Simple kindness, when someone asks for your seat, give it to them.
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Really? Doesn’t simple kindness work both ways? If someone is in the seat you wanted, simple kindness says “oh well, guess I should leave the house earlier next time.” And they go sit somewhere else.
 
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