Talking along with the priest

[T1Catholic]

I have encountered people in mass who say the Priest’s prayers of the liturgy along with the priest. They do not whisper but say it loud enough for those nearby to hear. Yes I get irritated and I pray for patience. My question is, why do people do this and is there a problem with it?

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t know if it’s allowed or not, but I get annoyed by that kind of thing, too. There’s a reason it’s called a “dialogue Mass” - we say our parts, and the priest says his parts - there isn’t supposed to be any blurring of the lines, I don’t think.

 

[SeekerJen]

Oh man, that is one of my biggest pet peeves. I just want to turn around and tell them to get over themselves and let someone else talk for a change. Fortunately I have thus far managed to restrain myself when tempted with that course of action.

 

[mommyof4]

I’ve never seen or heard anyone do this in my parish, but I think it would irritate the heck out of me if someone aroiund me was doing this.

 

[netmilsmom]

I’ve never seen or heard anyone do this in my parish, but I think it would irritate the heck out of me if someone aroiund me was doing this.

Last Sunday I was seated in front of a couple.
The man (who is and Usher) was three beats ahead of everyone else as we said the Rosary. It messed me up totally to the point that I had to say the prayers in my head so no reflection on the Mysteries. Poo.

His wife warbled all the hymns. I almost had a giggling fit when she started.

If I hadn’t been in our wonderfully reverent parish and waiting for my girls to sing Latin, I may have walked out and tried a different Holy Mass.

Those who say the prayers with the priest are not too much different than those who use his gestures. Doing the orans at that time is not too much different really.

 

[YinYangMom]

a couple of possibilities come to mind, both of which are not offensive…

yes, the obvious explanation which most people jump to first is that these people are presumptuous and have egos equating them with the priest…but more likely it’s not as sinister…

a) they are recent converts from denominations wherein there is more active participation and they just haven’t got the message that our service is not like that. I picture them sitting at the computer complaining to their friends how quiet the rest of their new catholic congregation is, what an insult it is that more people do not throw themselves into the service

b) they are so caught up in the service they are not aware they are speaking laudibly. I know there are times I’m following the service so closely I find myself saying the priest’s part but it’s not loud enough for others to hear, though my kids will shoot me a look and then giggle at me.

Anyway, perhaps considering one of these other options may help you not get as irritated as quickly as before. Though, of course, after closer observance you may find these people really are presumptuous, and then you’d be driven to pray for them rather than get angry about it.

Good luck with that. It’s difficult, I know, but do you really think God takes offense when parishioners join in prayer with his priests? Somehow I think not, especially when you consider we are all joining the angels at saints with the Holy Holy Holy…who knows if they’re remaining silent at the appropriate moments??

 

[Stu]

In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.

Vatican Link

 

[netmilsmom]

Good luck with that. It’s difficult, I know, but do you really think God takes offense when parishioners join in prayer with his priests? Somehow I think not, especially when you consider we are all joining the angels at saints with the Holy Holy Holy…who knows if they’re remaining silent at the appropriate moments??

I guess that big “community” only goes when we are talking about holding hands but not when you are annoying others by mimicking the priest.

 

[mommyof4]

The man (who is and Usher) was three beats ahead of everyone else as we said the Rosary. It messed me up totally to the point that I had to say the prayers in my head so no reflection on the Mysteries. Poo.
.

Every week, I say the rosary with a group of people, most of whom are in their 70’s and 80’s. I’m the young one there - they refer to me as the “young lady.” I guess it’s all in your perspective, huh?

Anyway, there is this older gentleman who is ALWAYS about 5 words ahead of us on all the prayers - I’ve never heard anyone talk so fast and LOUD in my life. I really find it hard to concentrate and say the prayers correctly because he just throws me off so badly.

I’ve finally figured out that I just need to “offer up” my irritation. I’m sure I get some poor soul out of purgatory just by offering up my irritation.

 

[netmilsmom]

I’ve finally figured out that I just need to “offer up” my irritation. I’m sure I get some poor soul out of purgatory just by offering up my irritation.

Yep! I’m sure you have lots of friends in heaven right now just from this.

I can’t watch the Rosary from the Holy Land on EWTN for the same reason. There is one man in the front going faster than everyone else!

 

[hoosiertoo]

I mouth along with the celebrant all the time, although I don’t believe I’ve ever been loud enough to be overheard, except possibly by my wife.

It helps to keep my focus on the Mass and, particularly during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, I find the wording to be beautiful and love to reflect on the Body and Blood of our Lord.

I occasionally get irritated by what goes on around me, and then realize that the problem is usually just me.

Our priest urges those of us not blessed with perfect pitch to sing all the louder. Hey, we can’t all be Pavarroti.

I don’t think God much cares if I get the liturgy exactly right.

 

[netmilsmom]

I mouth along with the celebrant all the time, although I don’t believe I’ve ever been loud enough to be overheard, except possibly by my wife.

It helps to keep my focus on the Mass and, particularly during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, I find the wording to be beautiful and love to reflect on the Body and Blood of our Lord.

I occasionally get irritated by what goes on around me, and then realize that the problem is usually just me.

Our priest urges those of us not blessed with perfect pitch to sing all the louder. Hey, we can’t all be Pavarroti.

I don’t think God much cares if I get the liturgy exactly right.

Did you get to this part of the thread?
"In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity. "

 

[hoosiertoo]

Since I don’t presume to be presiding and don’t use gestures or actions proper to the celebrant, I don’t think I have much to worry about.

 

[Stu]

Since I don’t presume to be presiding and don’t use gestures or actions proper to the celebrant, I don’t think I have much to worry about.

Actually you do. Saying the priests prayers from the pews during Mass is not proper for the laity and is exactly what the cited document is speaking about. We all have our roles to plays in worship and the blurring of such lines has created confusion in the ranks. I realize many do not mean anything wrong by doing this, but nonetheless it is not proper.

Vivat Iesus,
Stu

 

[netmilsmom]

Since I don’t presume to be presiding and don’t use gestures or actions proper to the celebrant, I don’t think I have much to worry about.

Well you may not presume to be presiding but how does Pete in the Pew next to you know this?
Really, when one talks about community, those of us with more information are responsible for being examples to others.

If we all did what we “felt” was right, we wouldn’t have much unity, would we?

 

[decn2b]

I catch myself mouthing some of the Eucharistic Prayers myself. It is unintentional. I make no audible words but I catch myself lipsyncing them very subtly. In No way do I intend to be heard or seen doing this. It is a focus thing for me. I get caught up in the words that I start mouthing them without realizing it. Perhaps my parish priest who constantly harrassed me in H.S. about becoming a priest…was right.

 

[hoosiertoo]

If Pete in the pew next to me is reading my lips, then he’s got a bigger problem than I do.

I don’t see this as a problem at all, but if you want to worry about for me, feel free.

Peace to you all.

 

[Morning_Star15]

Those who say the prayers with the priest are not too much different than those who use his gestures. Doing the orans at that time is not too much different really.

I’ve noticed a lot of people, especially younger people, doing the orans during the Our Father - sometimes at smaller weekday Masses it feels like I’m one of the only ones (sometimes the only one) not doing it! I think most of the people are just automatically copying the priest’s hand gestures at this point without thinking about it.

In light of the Vatican document cited, how seriously should I take this? Should I try to do something about it (i.e. talk to some friends I’ve noticed doing it, etc.) or let it be?

Any thoughts?

Karolina

 

[Boso]

It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.

The last part of the sentence is very important. I have seen this happen – a laywoman led the congregation through the penitential rite, the creed, maybe other parts I don’t remember, while the priest sat by. This is a completely different animal from a person in the pews murmuring the priest’s words.

It seems like the quoted document may have other practices in mind, like the orans posture at the Our Father, but it seems like the language of “grave abuse” is applied to situations where the priest’s role is actually usurped.

 

[Holland]

It is encouraged in the local church. The priest says"all together now," right before the Concluding Doxology. We are also encouraged to say the entire Eucharistic prayer right along with the priest. This is the result of some sort of workshop the Diocese had with a visiting Bishop. At any rate, I do neither, and I feel like I am alone in the wilderness at times.