Problem Getting A Seat At Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter attaininggrace
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I was raised to always think good of the other person until proven otherwise, so, if they say they need my seat, they need my seat.
 
TheLittleLady said:
I was raised to always think good of the other person until proven otherwise, so, if they say they need my seat, they need my seat.
Click to expand...
I’m not “thinking bad” of a person who demands my seat, I’m attending Mass. I have my own needs, which I don’t need to explain, either. And very rarely does one need a specific seat.

I will move out to give way access to the middle (if there is any). I will defer to someone elderly or handicapped, including children. But the notion that someone can just walk up and demand a seat is absurd.

Reserved seating went out with VII, thank GOD!
 
Last edited:
Those of us who attend the same mass know where people sit. We make a point not to sit where someone else likes to sit.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Those of us who attend the same mass know where people sit. We make a point not to sit where someone else likes to sit.
Click to expand...
That’s rather insular. So a visitor who comes 15 minutes early is expected to move because Sally, who’s 10 minutes late normally sits there? Yeah. That sort of behavior is why people leave the Catholic Church.

Ticking off people by sitting in “their seat” would be passive aggressive. Who has time for that?
 
TheLittleLady said:
I was raised to always think good of the other person until proven otherwise, so, if they say they need my seat, they need my seat.
Click to expand...
Someone would really come up and say I need to sit there? I find that hard to believe.
 
We have ushers so this is never an issue. If an usher asks me to move, I move.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Seems I have poked a nerve, sorry!
Click to expand...
We should all feel for people who are bullied!

I do think that people who demand “their seat” after Mass has begun just because they always sit there, is absolutely something that drives people from the Catholic Church.

Any person can understand that that, “Hey, could I ask you a favor and switch seats? My autistic son will only sit there” or “It’s the fastest way to the bathroom” or “I really need an end because I need to catch Fr. after Mass.”

But for someone to have the cajones to walk up and say, “Please move, you’re in my seat” without any reason or kindness is brutal.

It’s happened to me and its happened to a Catholic Blogger I read who was traveling with small children. And on her post, an insane number of people posted stories of them traveling and having someone demand a seat…often in an otherwise empty church. It’s not 1940 anymore. People do not own, reserve, or otherwise have a right to pews. It’s first come, first serve.
 
Actually, reserved pews/parking spots are well known fund raisers for parishes.

No one here talked about a demand. When someone uses the word “please”, that makes it a request, not a demand.
 
I think when there is a genuine need for people to have a certain seat it should be clearly marked reserved.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Actually, reserved pews/parking spots are well known fund raisers for parishes.

No one here talked about a demand. When someone uses the word “please”, that makes it a request, not a demand.
Click to expand...
A church-reserved pew is a far cry from the old days of paying for the nicest spots. Try again. I said people not the parish. The parish can reserve all it wants. Individuals, not so much.

“Please” very much can be a demand. It’s a niceity, not a magical word.
 
Last edited:
TheLittleLady said:
Those of us who attend the same mass know where people sit. We make a point not to sit where someone else likes to sit.
Click to expand...
But that’s really not what we are disputing. We are talking about people that ask others to move out of “their” seat.

And if you are visiting a church, or not attending the same time as you usually do, what are you going to do, wait until everyone else is seated to find a seat? Our pastor told us no saved seats.
 
I can’t imagine showing up for Liturgy, seeing an unfamiliar person sitting where I usually sit, and asking them (or anyone, really) to move. That would be such an unkind thing to do, and it would reflect so poorly on the parish. It wouldn’t matter if the request was peppered with 10 pleases. It’s just wrong.
 
Last edited:
Even I don’t know where I normally sit. I wouldn’t expect anyone else to. Visitor or not.

Now if (all 6 of us) tried to sit in the celebrant’s chair, the sound booth, or on the piano bench, someone would likely claim I’m sitting in their seat. 😆
 
Our OP wrote as if this is her regular parish, she did not say she was a visitor.
 
Pup7 said:
40.png
Irishmom2:
Our pastor told us no saved seats.
Click to expand...
The mere fact that he had to say this is mindblowing. Ugh. People kill me.
Click to expand...
Isn’t it? He also came out and told everyone sitting to move over into the middle so people that still would still be coming in for Christmas could find seats. Tough luck for the people that think they own their spot, haha! 😉
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top