Rant: When We Don’t Show Each Other Love, We Are Bad Witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

[TrueLight]

This is a major problem in the Catholic Church.

As Catholics lost this root, they also lost the friendliness toward others.

This is remarkable, because most protestant communities kept it, despite the social/cultural changes.

I’m curious as to why things might have changed for the most part.

There is this woman I know who is the head of the hospitality ministry at a reformed church. She is always smiling and friendly and I always found it amusing. But people in that church are normally friendly and loving. Now I see why such a ministry is important.

 

[TrueLight]

It’s kind of a NY thing, but happens everywhere else in the northeast. Are you a longterm resident of NY? The “neighborhood” parishes tend to be a little more friendly than the big churches.

Yes, I was raised in NY. I do not have a problem with iPods and staring at ads instead of speaking to someone next to you on the train. I do like all NY’ers do.

But church…

Find one church you like, and stick with it, and one Mass at that church and stick with it. I’d also recommend trying to get to a weekday Mass.

What started this rant was my experience at weekday mass today.

Instead of committing yourself to a parish organization, why not volunteer to work on a one-time event? You’ll get to know some people that way, without a long-term commitment to a specific organization.

Great idea!

And don’t forget to initiate a smile and a “hello.” If you wait for someone else in NY to do this (and I’m speaking as someone who spent thirty years in New York,) you may well be waiting till doomsday!

How’s that for a smile?

 

[TrueLight]

I tend not to talk to people after Mass unless I already know them, or they are introducing themselves to me… I dont know, I just come to Mass to pray. I generally don’t talk to anyone except if I see a friend. My intention is not to be uncharitable…I just don’t see it as an occasion to talk, I don’t know, I could be wrong…

How did you make this friend?

 

[TrueLight]

My dear sibling, these people are your own brothers and sisters in the faith. Perhaps they are thinking the very same things as you, no? Perhaps they are just too shy to speak with you openly. Maybe you should make the first move. Remember, what you see on the outside is often a very poor reflection of what is on the outside- they may seem to be individualistic, but they could just be used to having a closed relationship with God, and maybe you can bring them and yourself a step closer to heaven, and to yourself, by simply getting into a conversation with them and bringing your fellows into a new understanding of what it means to be a part of the Christian family. It may be hard or scary, but persevere and you will be rewarded with new friends and a better social circle. You all walk with God. Remember that and hold it in your heart.

These are encouraging words. Thank you.

When I go to mass tomorrow, I will be sure to speak to one or two people in the vestibule.

 

[TrueLight]

One thought I have here, is that traditionally in a Catholic church we were taught to enter, pray and when done praying be quiet because others were praying. I am always shushing my family because that is what I was taught. You enter and pray quietly. When leaving people sometimes stay and pray, so again you would be quiet. It just seems to me I always can remember waiting until we were totally outside before talking. We were taught to be courteous to those left praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In a protestant church that isn’t typically the tradition.

I understand the idea about it. Obviously one should not be talking in church. Do you think we take it too far?

If you feel more at ease or happier around people who are more outwardly demonstrative in their feelings of love for one another try a little harder to seek them out…

Okay. I will.