Silence in the Church

[puzzleannie]

I checked yes because the pastor does stress the importance of silence over and over again. If you greet him inside he will not speak to you until you are both outside, and he explains why. however he is fighting a losing battle. I was pleased to see the the HS and JR Hi kids at Mass last night (we had a lot because it was CCD night) behaved very well, genuflecting, keeping silence, participating attentively, singing, and you could have heard a pin drop in their section after communion. (they were also their on time for the most part, something not true of their elders).

Unfortunately it is the older people, who should know better, who are the worst offenders. I like to pray LOTH before Mass but the constant chatter of those who come early, usually retirees, to get a good seat is intensely distracting. Also the culture here is that you must greet everyone enthusiastically even if you just saw them earlier that day. I won’t even describe the orgy of family feeling and emotion displayed at the Sign of Peace (fortunately non-family members are usually ignored so if I am sitting alone I will probably not be acknowledged). Also during the recitation of the rosary after Mass the youth stayed and prayed reverently, whil most of the oldsters did meet and greet and social club beginning as soon as the priest left the Church. Loud, even boisterous. How rude, as one of the little girls commented later.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Silence in church is the greatest manifestation of respect for, and awareness of, the Real Presence.

 

[Lover_of_Jesus]

My church is silent brfore Mass,
After Mass as people leave quite a few will be chit chating as they file out.But they do leave fairly quickly, so those that want to pray in silence have to wait juat a few minutes.

 

[lotusblossom]

I’ve attended many Catholic churches in my small lifetime. My current home parish is very good about the silence before mass and most people pray when they enter. We do have announcements right before the mass begins, but I don’t mind this. After mass, because the doors are open, you can hear everyone right outside of the church talking (we have a big parish and always crowded masses), but our organist plays beautiful music while we pray afterwards.

However, I’ve had my run-in with many parishes who do not follow this. My husband’s family’s parish is very difficult for me to attend because of many things. No one bows or genuflects, the tabernacle is placed in the chapel in the back of the church in the corner where it is not visible to anyone in the church, people talk until mass and directly after mass, it is a bare church that looks like a meeting hall with a plain altar and one little crucifix, the choir puts on a “performance” after communion which the congregation applauds many times. Anyway, sometimes I barely feel like I’m in a Catholic church, but Christ is present and that’s what’s important. However, I do wish people would respect those who do wish to pray. It’s not that difficult to take conversation to the parish hall or outside .

 

[CRW]

I checked yes because the pastor does stress the importance of silence over and over again. If you greet him inside he will not speak to you until you are both outside, and he explains why. however he is fighting a losing battle. I was pleased to see the the HS and JR Hi kids at Mass last night (we had a lot because it was CCD night) behaved very well, genuflecting, keeping silence, participating attentively, singing, and you could have heard a pin drop in their section after communion. (they were also their on time for the most part, something not true of their elders).

Unfortunately it is the older people, who should know better, who are the worst offenders. I like to pray LOTH before Mass but the constant chatter of those who come early, usually retirees, to get a good seat is intensely distracting. Also the culture here is that you must greet everyone enthusiastically even if you just saw them earlier that day. I won’t even describe the orgy of family feeling and emotion displayed at the Sign of Peace (fortunately non-family members are usually ignored so if I am sitting alone I will probably not be acknowledged). Also during the recitation of the rosary after Mass the youth stayed and prayed reverently, whil most of the oldsters did meet and greet and social club beginning as soon as the priest left the Church. Loud, even boisterous. How rude, as one of the little girls commented later.

We attended the Vigil Mass last night for All Saints day. The noise from the choir, mostly talking, was so rude that my wife got up to go to a side, smaller chapel, to finish her Rosary. She was followed by another man in total disappointment.

 

[roccoangelo]

Greetings,

Thanks for posting this subject CRW, as it is an important area of discussion. I’m part of the choir in our parish and we always have rehersal before Mass in the church. I’m going to bring this issue up with our meistress in order to change things to the way it should be.

Pax Vobiscum,
Rocco

 

[mary_bobo]

My parish has lots of talking before Mass and not quietly I might add. Choir practices before Mass and at the Our Father, if people don’t have hands to hold nearby, they get to the aisles to find one. And the “peace be with you” is another bobbing in and out of pews.

On the other hand, I went to another parish for Mass today because the time was more convenient. Totally different story. I have considered going there but went to school with the pastor and don’t feel comfortable with that.

 

[DiscerningDave]

We attended the Vigil Mass last night for All Saints day. The noise from the choir, mostly talking, was so rude that my wife got up to go to a side, smaller chapel, to finish her Rosary. She was followed by another man in total disappointment.

I know exactly what you mean. I went to sunday evening mass this past sunday and arrived 1 hour early to recite the rosary, pray, and reflect before mass. We generally have one person on piano and one person leading the songs for the congregation. The guy playing piano was practicing the hour before mass and messing up the same piece over and over. It is very hard to focus and concentrate onthe mysteries with someone playing the same piece and hitting the wrong keys over and over. It was ll I could do to not leave.
For all of you choir people and musicians. I love you guys, I really do. But, I am in a band and we play regular shows. We practice once a week and usually several days before our shows. I would never dream of arriving at our show early and practicing an hour or so on stage before the show. So why do you guys do it before mass? Get together, practice another day and practice the music at home. Please.

 

[CRW]

Greetings,

Thanks for posting this subject CRW, as it is an important area of discussion. I’m part of the choir in our parish and we always have rehersal before Mass in the church. I’m going to bring this issue up with our meistress in order to change things to the way it should be.

Pax Vobiscum,
Rocco

Thank you and I trust the choir will find your comments in charity. You can quote my OP and I recommend The Eucharistic Mystery Calls For Our Response by Cardinal Francis Arinze. Do a google search and you will locate it.

 

[jmcrae]

We have some quiet chatting before Mass - “Nice to see you - may I sit here? - Watch your toes, please, I’m lowering the kneeler - Would you mind doing the First Reading this morning” - that sort of thing - but for the most part, people are respectful of this time of prayer.

We don’t actually forbid the choir to practice before Mass, but normally, they rehearse downstairs and then come upstairs - the only one that doesn’t do that is the Saturday evening choir, and I think the reason is that they can’t get into the rehearsal space, because of something else going on in there at that time. Usually, they just tune up a bit about 20 minutes before Mass, and then they’re quiet until it’s time to start the first hymn.

We also have times of silence during the Mass itself, after each of the readings, after the Homily, and at other appropriate times.

Music plays softly after reception of Holy Communion, but people are not expected to sing at that time - everyone at our parish is on their knees praying in thanksgiving.

After Mass is a bit of a different story - this seems to be when people get caught up on all the news, etc., and they often forget to move to the Narthex or to the social hall to continue their conversations.

 

[CRW]

We have some quiet chatting before Mass - “Nice to see you - may I sit here? - Watch your toes, please, I’m lowering the kneeler - Would you mind doing the First Reading this morning” - that sort of thing - but for the most part, people are respectful of this time of prayer.

We don’t actually forbid the choir to practice before Mass, but normally, they rehearse downstairs and then come upstairs - the only one that doesn’t do that is the Saturday evening choir, and I think the reason is that they can’t get into the rehearsal space, because of something else going on in there at that time. Usually, they just tune up a bit about 20 minutes before Mass, and then they’re quiet until it’s time to start the first hymn.

We also have times of silence during the Mass itself, after each of the readings, after the Homily, and at other appropriate times.

Music plays softly after reception of Holy Communion, but people are not expected to sing at that time - everyone at our parish is on their knees praying in thanksgiving.

After Mass is a bit of a different story - this seems to be when people get caught up on all the news, etc., and they often forget to move to the Narthex or to the social hall to continue their conversations.

IMHO 20 minutes of practice means 20 minutes of noise for those wishing to pray. Thanksgiving after Mass is a key part of Holy Communion; however, it is noise and a mad rush to see who can get to their first.

 

[jmcrae]

IMHO 20 minutes of practice means 20 minutes of noise for those wishing to pray.

NO NO NO!!

They don’t tune up FOR 20 minutes - rather, they take A FEW SECONDS to tune up (or how ever long it takes them - usually not very long), 20 minutes before Mass is scheduled to begin - that is, before most of the congregation has arrived, yet. So there is actually 20 minutes of silence before the Mass begins.

I hope that clarifies my original statement.

 

[CRW]

My parish has lots of talking before Mass and not quietly I might add. Choir practices before Mass and at the Our Father, if people don’t have hands to hold nearby, they get to the aisles to find one. And the “peace be with you” is another bobbing in and out of pews.

On the other hand, I went to another parish for Mass today because the time was more convenient. Totally different story. I have considered going there but went to school with the pastor and don’t feel comfortable with that.

Thanks for you vote and (name removed by moderator)ut.