Rude Adults (Seniors Who Should Know Better) During Mass

[Hopeful23]

It’s sad for me to say that my mom does the same thing and I believe that it really has to do with the fact that most people don’t view the chapel as a place of reverence anymore. I read a blog by a Catholic priest a while ago that I can’t remember much of but that I do remember said that because so much of the traditional practices in the Church have diminished that many people no longer realize that it’s still as solemn and reverent a place as it was before the reforms. Having grown up after they took place and having just come back to my faith in the last few years, I have a habit of doing it too, but generally only when I’m sitting with my friend who has a visual impairment because she doesn’t understand very much about people wanting to pray before mass due to her just recently starting the RCIA program. I’m starting to try to wean her off of talking to me before mass but she tends to just turn to one of our other friends and they aren’t as dedicated to stopping this behavior. Does anyone else have problems trying to communicate why we should be silent before mass to someone with a disability? What do you do?

 

[Newbie2]

For me it was the 30 somethings in front of me on Mother’s Day. They spent the entire service cooing at the baby who was next to me on her mother’s lap, chatting amongst themselves or giggling with their children who were looking at football magazines. The children began to engage the children next to me in loud, inappropriate play for Mass (encouraged by the 30 something parents) to the extent that the parents (next to me) had to move their own children to help ease the distraction.

While it was very annoying, I dealt with it by praying and singing at a volume just above their chatter. They even turned around to see who was interrupting their conversation! The family next to me followed suit! I think they got the message.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

If you’re leaving early yourself I’m not sure I really sympathize with your critique of others’ behavior.

If other people distract you from the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries I guess I’d offer that it might help to reflect on why you go to Mass and what your expectations are (not to mention why you leave early).

I think you misread. They did not leave early, the rude people did. You need to re-read the post.

 

[xyneshia]

Thankfully we don’t seem to have this happen at my church. We do have an area just with table and chairs (you can still hear and see service because of the intercom and large glass windows) that a lot of families with small children sit at. I have a son with autism and on the **very rare **occasion that he is bothered and needs to stim we sit out there. 99% of the time we sit in the chapel. Except for the musicians, everyone is silent before mass, even the little kids. My own kids sit in silence and pray or mark the pages that we will be singing from. If we did have a problem though I might ask (very politely) to have the office manage maybe put something in our bulletin (sorry I cannot spell today to save my life) reminding people to be silent and reverent during service…maybe something like this would remedy the situation in your home parish? Best of luck to each of you who have to endure this.

 

[dad_o_six]

Seniors do seem to be some of the worst culprits, especially because they presumably come to mass of their own volition. If a grown adult cannot sit still and be quiet for one hour, something is wrong. For that matter, anyone over the age of four cannot be quiet, then there is also a problem. To excuse this behavior as “just being human” is setting the bar way too low. One of the things that distinguishes us as Catholics is that we believe it is possible for humans to aspire to sainthood. If we do not believe that it’s possible to sit still and be quiet, then what else are we incapable of? Fidelity? Abstinence? Avoiding birth control? Avoiding abortion? Not lying? Not stealing? Charity?

 

[Eddie_Mac]

If you’re leaving early yourself I’m not sure I really sympathize with your critique of others’ behavior.

If other people distract you from the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries I guess I’d offer that it might help to reflect on why you go to Mass and what your expectations are (not to mention why you leave early).

I left early to attend to the Eucharistic Adoration Ministry table to recruit new members at the express instructions of our parish priest. I am not a Judas that habitually leaves early. I sat in the back BECAUSE I needed to attend to parish business.

I am sorry my commitment to the Eucharist is causing me to set a bad example, but then I doubt any reason I give you would not relinquish your need to bust my chops.

Eddie Mac

 

[sarahraegraham]

My husband and I encounter this at our parish as well, it’s 90% the older people. I think it’s twofold, in that they probably have difficulty with their hearing so they don’t realize how loud they are, and second, that they think they “own” the church sotospeak and can do whatever they want. That’s our take on it anyway.

 

[Ockham]

I left early to attend to the Eucharistic Adoration Ministry table to recruit new members at the express instructions of our parish priest. I am not a Judas that habitually leaves early. I sat in the back BECAUSE I needed to attend to parish business.

I am sorry my commitment to the Eucharist is causing me to set a bad example, but then I doubt any reason I give you would not relinquish your need to bust my chops.

Eddie Mac

Don’t let digger bother you. He trolls around looking for arguments. Your point was well presented unlike his.

 

[Eddie_Mac]

Don’t let digger bother you. He trolls around looking for arguments. Your point was well presented unlike his.

Thanks.

I try not to use the T word. I sometimes just think that the individuals have not developed good reading skills or are maybe suffering from an impairment like dyslexia. Some people have problems when they are out in public and are not taken by the hand and given preprinted voting guides and other conveniences so they don’t have to think.

I am learning my way around and I appreciate those who have helped me in my short time here.

Eddie Mac

 

[diggerdomer]

I left early to attend to the Eucharistic Adoration Ministry table to recruit new members at the express instructions of our parish priest. I am not a Judas that habitually leaves early. I sat in the back BECAUSE I needed to attend to parish business.

I am sorry my commitment to the Eucharist is causing me to set a bad example, but then I doubt any reason I give you would not relinquish your need to bust my chops.

Eddie Mac

I’m sorry. I ddin’t mean to come across that way. I wish I could delete my remark but I can’t so I’ll have to settle for retracting it by saying so. Again, sorry.

 

[Eddie_Mac]

Thank you, Digger. Peace be with you!

Eddie Mac

 

[top_cat]

Why should he have to tolerate this. No one should be talking at all before Mass. Do you realise how hard it is to tell my young children to stay quite and pray before Mass when a forty year old couple are gabbing at full level like they are in a bingo hall. I attribute this to poor training by there parents.

You are making a judgement without knowing the complete set of circumstances .

Actually I agree with you - but we do not know WHY they were talking.

Also I have always understood that ‘seniors’ are a good deal older than 40.