We solved it by limiting conversations to the entryway, and strongly discouraged it in the Church proper. Our current Priest, though, is really, really bothered by anyone talking in Church, so he brings out the Monstrance, inserts the Holy Eucharist, and leaves it on the Altar for 20 minutes, which enforces silence within the Church. Not proper procedure, I know, but it sure was effective! (Don’t recommend going this far.) Ask your Pastor if the Bulletin could have a note in it for permanent inclusion that "greetings and casual conversation should be restricted to the Vestibule or entryway, and prayerful silence maintained within the Church prior to Mass). Silence after Mass is difficult, with so many people moving out, and children finally able to move about, but the type of reminder about conversations being outside the Church proper does seem to cut down on the noise.
Good point.
However, we really shouldn’t question a priest’s decision, as they possess something we don’t: Holy Orders. They have the wisdom and knowledge that comes with the sacrament in order to carry out God’s grace properly.I wouldn’t go so far as to say that… Sometimes priests do things they really shouldn’t do and it would be horribly imprudent to simply assume that they know something we don’t and must be doing the right thing. When a priest is unfaithful to the Church, it results in a spiritual infertility that the laity must fight in order to keep their faith and to help their children and grandchildren keep their faith.Good point.
About what?You got me a little confused here??
Good point.
Well, your second piece of advice seems to contradict your first. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were saying don’t question a priest’s decision UNLESS you disagree with it??
Well, the GIRM actually states that Sacred Silence is to be observed. Allowing people to talk is in disobedience to Rome. Rome is above a mere priest. But you never know, there could be some underlying reason why they won’t enforce it. Maybe allowing people to talk gets more Catholics to Mass.
You never know, it could be a good reason.Got it: we should respect a priest’s decision because “he has Holy Orders” when we think he’s right but not when we think he’s wrong even though he still “has Holy Orders.”Well, the GIRM actually states that Sacred Silence is to be observed. Allowing people to talk is in disobedience to Rome. Rome is above a mere priest. But you never know, there could be some underlying reason why they won’t enforce it. Maybe allowing people to talk gets more Catholics to Mass.
But, what judynurse’s priest did is not contradicted by the GIRM or any other document, so we should respect the priest’s decision, because, as I previously stated, he possesses Holy Orders and we don’t.
No. We should respect a priest’s decision, even if we think he is wrong. Holy Orders is a big thing. We shouldn’t treat a priest like any ordinary man. He is another Jesus, and has spiritual authority over us.Got it: we should respect a priest’s decision because “he has Holy Orders” when we think he’s right but not when we think he’s wrong even though he still “has Holy Orders.”
After communion that same third walks out. AAArrrrrrrrr. 
You must attend the same Mass as do I! It can have a rather irreverent atmosphere on Sunday mornings. Our town has a Sunday evening Mass, very quiet, very meditative with lights low, candles, incense and no “happy clappy” music (THANK YOU!) I love it and wish I could go more often.I have noticed that Daily Mass is much more quiet and solemn than Sunday Mass. Obviously because only a fraction of parishioners are there. But there is something special about the quiet time of Daily Mass and I find I enjoy it more than Sunday Mass. The overhead lights are off. The lit candles radiate a beautiful glow. It’s quiet. NO ONE talks whatsoever. I remember one time a man with a LOUD voice was chatting in the lobby/narthex with someone and opened the door to the sanctuary about three minutes before Mass was to begin…still chatting. His voice sounded like a plane crashing through the sanctuary. EVERYONE turned around and “shushed” him. It was kind of funny. But he sure did stop talking when he was “shushed”. One time I was wearing sandals that made a squeaking noise. I hadn’t noticed this until I walked into the quiet sanctuary. I sat in the back that day because I didn’t want to disturb anyone with my squeaking shoes.
On Sunday the church is PACKED which is a good thing. However everyone is socializing in the sanctuary before Mass as if they are at a party and it becomes very noisy. Teenagers are texting as they genuflect…(but at least they are genuflecting). Some women and girls are dressed in “spaghetti strap” shirts or dresses and/or really short skirts. A LOT of people are wearing flip flops. Babies are CRYING loudly for a long time during Mass and the mothers don’t take them into the cry room or out of the sanctuary. Sometimes I can’t even hear what the priest is saying. Almost one third of the parishioners are late which is very distracting…some even showing up during the homily.
Okay…I think I’m through venting now.
I have decided to attend a 7:30 Sunday Mass this week to see if it is quieter then the 11:00a.m. Mass. I have a feeling it is.
On yes…I forgot about the music at Sunday Mass. It’s okay. But it’s really loud!!! My church has a Sunday evening Compline Mass at 9:00p.m. It looks very interesting and relaxing from the website. The sanctuary is pitch black and only lit with candles. The men do a Gregorian chant. I’ve been meaning to go but by 9:00p.m. on a Sunday I’m worn out. Ha! Ha! I’ll get there one evening. He represents Jesus, in persona Christi, at times, but he is not ‘another’ Jesus, or Jesus. There is one Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Sounds wonderful! I know it’s late but I hope you can go sometime. Our meditative evening Mass was moved up to 8:30 which means I can’t get there often enough but it did let out pretty late for a lot of people. Really a great way to end a week!