Talking before Mass

[KP3243]

I am a younger Catholic and l like the more traditional masses I see on EWTN however my priest who I think the world of is not as inclined to do a traditional mass. My poor mom asked on Sunday if she could start a rosary group before mass but he asked if she could do it after mass or 45 minutes before mass because people like to talk to one another before mass begins and he thinks that is nice for people to greet one another before mass. He added that it has been the tradition to greet one another and catch up before mass for 25 years and he had no intention of changing it. However some of us don’t like it because we are supposed to be preparing for Jesus. He also omits the Apostles Creed which I cannot figure out why. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

 

[albertus_magnus]

I am a younger Catholic and l like the more traditional masses I see on EWTN however my priest who I think the world of is not as inclined to do a traditional mass. My poor mom asked on Sunday if she could start a rosary group before mass but he asked if she could do it after mass or 45 minutes before mass because people like to talk to one another before mass begins and he thinks that is nice for people to greet one another before mass. He added that it has been the tradition to greet one another and catch up before mass for 25 years and he had no intention of changing it. However some of us don’t like it because we are supposed to be preparing for Jesus. He also omits the Apostles Creed which I cannot figure out why. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Sounds reasonable to me. I’m not sure how fast you can say a rosary, but I think allotting a good segment of time for it would be prudent.

 

[Richard320]

A Rosary takes about 25 minutes. I think the Priest is being both wise and reasonable. He didn’t forbid it; he only suggested you start earlier so you’re done before the crowds arrive. People WILL chatter before Mass. As much as you’d like to force them to prepare themselves with silent prayer, it just isn’t realistic.

What you do is schedule it 45 minutes before hand. There will be a handful of early arrivals who may walk in on it; they might get interested. Others might ask you why you’re always so early to Mass, which gives you the opportunity to tell them about the Rosary, invite them to join you, and explain the Plenary Indulgence gained.

Recite the Rosary (15 decades, or 5 decades without interruption and add devout meditation on the mysteries) in a church, oratory or recite in a family, religious community or pious association.

plenary-indulgences.webs.com/

If you can get the Rosary group established and steady in time, then you get it in the bulletin as a good Lenten practice.

Part Two of your post: the Apostle’s Creed. Do you mean the Nicene Creed? Is this every Sunday that he skips it? Does he substitute the Apostle’s Creed? If Baptisms are performed during the Mass, he is allowed to substitute the Baptismal promises.

 

[starsmurf]

I am a younger Catholic and l like the more traditional masses I see on EWTN however my priest who I think the world of is not as inclined to do a traditional mass. My poor mom asked on Sunday if she could start a rosary group before mass but he asked if she could do it after mass or 45 minutes before mass because people like to talk to one another before mass begins and he thinks that is nice for people to greet one another before mass. He added that it has been the tradition to greet one another and catch up before mass for 25 years and he had no intention of changing it. However some of us don’t like it because we are supposed to be preparing for Jesus. He also omits the Apostles Creed which I cannot figure out why. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

I respect your feelings on the matter but you don’t have the right to impose your spiritual needs on everyone else. When I go to Mass, it is the only time I get out of my home. The rest of the time, I’m stuck inside and don’t see anyone except when my priest comes and I can have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Much as he would like to stay and chat with me, Father is so busy that he simply cannot spare the time, it’s asking a lot of him to come over for confession as it is.

When I get into the church, I like to say hello to people and get the chance to chat. If 20 minutes or more is spent doing the Rosary before Mass, you are forcing people to stay quiet. They may not be preparing to receive Jesus simply because you are saying the Rosary. They may actually spend the time wanting to strangle those who took away their only social contact. It is also very difficult for many people to make it for Mass as it is, relying on other people, such as a neighbour. For some sick people, the hour for Sunday Mass is difficult enough to sit for, asking ninety minutes will be impossible. So that means that people will be arriving as Rosary is going on, hardly a prayerful experience.

You don’t mention what is happening before the Mass, when does the previous Mass (if there is one) finish? There needs to be a certain amount of time to allow people to leave and others to come in, it could be impossible. Also, what happens if you overrun, should Mass be delayed?

I think you have to accept that in this case, your priest is being reasonable in refusing to change something that the majority of his flock have no problem with and may actively look forward to. The happiness of having had people talk to me, to be able to share something I’ve been waiting all week to tell someone can be excellent preperation to receive Jesus, rather than feeling depressed and lonely I feel part of a community. For example, two weeks ago yesterday, my sister gave birth to a little boy, after a 40-hour + labour and an emergency caesarian. That made me an auntie for the first time, something that gave me immense joy. However, as it was the early hours of Monday, I had to wait six days to tell someone! The renewal of that joy was a perfect preparation to receive Christ.

 

[R_C]

I am a younger Catholic and l like the more traditional masses I see on EWTN however my priest who I think the world of is not as inclined to do a traditional mass. …] He added that it has been the tradition to greet one another and catch up before mass for 25 years and he had no intention of changing it. However some of us don’t like it because we are supposed to be preparing for Jesus.

The world? Last time I checked, the light came to the world, but the world did not recognize it (Jn 3:19)…last time I checked, the world hated Christ (Jn 15:18), but He has overcome the world (Jn 16:33).

There is an appropriate place for everything. The Church is not a place to “catch up” with anybody! We are at the presence of Jesus Christ! We are in the Last Supper, we are on Calvary, behind the Blessed Virgin! It does not matter how things are today, or how much worse they will be tomorrow: we will not have another St. Paul to admonish us through another First Letter to the Corinthians!

It breaks my heart to realize how poor has preparation for the Holy Eucharist become…Just try reading the 4th Book of De Imitatione Christi, or the advice of St. Francis of Sales on “Introduction to the Devout Life”, and realize just what little respect we show towards this most sacred mystical union…! Yes, we forget that this is the mystical union between Christ the Bridegroom and the soul, His mystical spouse…that “the two shall become one flesh”…and even after Mass, when we are Holy Tabernacles, we immediately stand up and leave or start chatting or laughing…can you imagine if someone walks into the Perpetual Adoration chapel, takes the Tabernacle in his hands, and starts shaking it around and carrying it around while talking to others or laughing? Yet this is what we see in many places, most of the time…

Most young Catholics do like the traditional Mass, even the extraordinary form (“Latin mass”) which is slowly being offered again in some places thanks to our Holy Father issuing motu proprio the Summorum Pontificum, according to which:

each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary."

My advice is to read those treatises on how to properly prepare for Holy Communion, and as for the prayers, greetings, etc. I can only offer the following excerpt from a letter of s. Padre Pio:

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/picture.php?albumid=2069&pictureid=13853

 

[Rich_C]

Your pastor doesn’t want prayer to interrupt the nice chit-chat in the church? You should repeat that back to him so he can hear how he sounds. Seriously.

 

[KP3243]

A Rosary takes about 25 minutes. I think the Priest is being both wise and reasonable. He didn’t forbid it; he only suggested you start earlier so you’re done before the crowds arrive. People WILL chatter before Mass. As much as you’d like to force them to prepare themselves with silent prayer, it just isn’t realistic.

What you do is schedule it 45 minutes before hand. There will be a handful of early arrivals who may walk in on it; they might get interested. Others might ask you why you’re always so early to Mass, which gives you the opportunity to tell them about the Rosary, invite them to join you, and explain the Plenary Indulgence gained. If you can get the Rosary group established and steady in time, then you get it in the bulletin as a good Lenten practice.

Part Two of your post: the Apostle’s Creed. Do you mean the Nicene Creed? Is this every Sunday that he skips it? Does he substitute the Apostle’s Creed? If Baptisms are performed during the Mass, he is allowed to substitute the Baptismal promises.

We say neither creed and he does Baptisms after Mass so I don’t know what he does or doesn’t do during the Baptism.

 

[R_C]

Your pastor doesn’t want prayer to interrupt the nice chit-chat in the church? You should repeat that back to him so he can hear how he sounds. Seriously.

Not that a loud prayer of the Rosary - a popular devotion - before Holy Mass would be much more appropriate.

 

[KP3243]

I respect your feelings on the matter but you don’t have the right to impose your spiritual needs on everyone else. When I go to Mass, it is the only time I get out of my home. The rest of the time, I’m stuck inside and don’t see anyone except when my priest comes and I can have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Much as he would like to stay and chat with me, Father is so busy that he simply cannot spare the time, it’s asking a lot of him to come over for confession as it is.

When I get into the church, I like to say hello to people and get the chance to chat. If 20 minutes or more is spent doing the Rosary before Mass, you are forcing people to stay quiet. They may not be preparing to receive Jesus simply because you are saying the Rosary. They may actually spend the time wanting to strangle those who took away their only social contact. It is also very difficult for many people to make it for Mass as it is, relying on other people, such as a neighbour. For some sick people, the hour for Sunday Mass is difficult enough to sit for, asking ninety minutes will be impossible. So that means that people will be arriving as Rosary is going on, hardly a prayerful experience.

You don’t mention what is happening before the Mass, when does the previous Mass (if there is one) finish? There needs to be a certain amount of time to allow people to leave and others to come in, it could be impossible. Also, what happens if you overrun, should Mass be delayed?

I think you have to accept that in this case, your priest is being reasonable in refusing to change something that the majority of his flock have no problem with and may actively look forward to. The happiness of having had people talk to me, to be able to share something I’ve been waiting all week to tell someone can be excellent preperation to receive Jesus, rather than feeling depressed and lonely I feel part of a community. For example, two weeks ago yesterday, my sister gave birth to a little boy, after a 40-hour + labour and an emergency caesarian. That made me an auntie for the first time, something that gave me immense joy. However, as it was the early hours of Monday, I had to wait six days to tell someone! The renewal of that joy was a perfect preparation to receive Christ.

We only have one Mass on Sundays I live in the country and we wouldn’t run over time because he doesn’t even start Mass until ten after 9 which now people have become used to and walk in at 9:05 or later.

 

[R_C]

he doesn’t even start Mass until ten after 9 which now people have become used to and walk in at 9:05 or later.

This gets worse by the minute :sad_yes:

 

[KP3243]

This gets worse by the minute :sad_yes:

Well I won’t tell you that we sing happy birthday every week to parishoners who have birthdays during the week and he distributes horns for them to honk. The visiting priest we had a few weeks ago because my priest was out of town, was pretty old school so our deacon passed right over birthdays because the visitng priest moved the chair our priest sits in over to the side of the altar because it normally sits right under the tabernacle which prompted me to wonder why he moved it then I found out nothing is supposed to be infront of the tabernacle.

 

[Delaine75]

Your pastor doesn’t want prayer to interrupt the nice chit-chat in the church? You should repeat that back to him so he can hear how he sounds. Seriously.

I totally agree with this. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[mcw013]

I guess the timings are just the preference of your priest. The parish I currently attend has a horrible habit of talking in the church. It is terrible for people like me, who go there to pray because we have no other quiet place, only to be disturbed by people talking. Once the priest had to shout and say, “Over there, quiet down!”.

With that said, my current parish talks alot, but after the talking, people pray the rosary, and then the mass starts straight after. Maybe you could suggest this to your priest?

 

[R_C]

Well I won’t tell you that we sing happy birthday every week to parishoners who have birthdays during the week and he distributes horns for them to honk.

Then I won’t tell you that the Book of Blessings has an official liturgy for a Blessing on the Occasion of a Birthday It may be more “boring”, but perhaps a little more solemn (then again, the world is not as inclined to solemn…).

 

[maryjk]

Well I won’t tell you that we sing happy birthday every week to parishoners who have birthdays during the week and he distributes horns for them to honk. The visiting priest we had a few weeks ago because my priest was out of town, was pretty old school so our deacon passed right over birthdays because the visitng priest moved the chair our priest sits in over to the side of the altar because it normally sits right under the tabernacle which prompted me to wonder why he moved it then I found out nothing is supposed to be infront of the tabernacle.

So is the problem that he wants you to start the Rosary 45 minutes before Mass. Or do you have many issues with the priest and you used the comment about the Rosary as your opening?

From what you have said, starting the rosary 45 minutes before Mass, sounds like a great idea. That gives those that want to pray the rosary, the chance to do that. And for those that want private, silent prayer to prepare for Mass can have that time as well. It is a win, win.

Now, handing out horns for birthdays is a totally different topic.

 

[Dubay]

I think the Priest does not want Mary to be the primary focus of mass which is commendable

 

[KP3243]

So is the problem that he wants you to start the Rosary 45 minutes before Mass. Or do you have many issues with the priest and you used the comment about the Rosary as your opening?

From what you have said, starting the rosary 45 minutes before Mass, sounds like a great idea. That gives those that want to pray the rosary, the chance to do that. And for those that want private, silent prayer to prepare for Mass can have that time as well. It is a win, win.

Now, handing out horns for birthdays is a totally different topic.

I just want to be going to Mass the way Jesus wants us to. I have gone to my grandmother’s church and you could hear a pin drop before mass and they say the either the Apostles Creed or Nicene Creed and they don’t sing happy birthday.

 

[R_C]

I just want to be going to Mass the way Jesus wants us to. I have gone to my grandmother’s church and you could hear a pin drop before mass

Jesus would want us to attend Mass like the apostles attended the Last Supper, or as the Blessed Virgin and St. John attended on Calvary.

With the difference that at the very moment of Holy Communion He himself washes away our sorrows, as we become living witnesses of the Resurrection, like s. Mary Magdalene. s. Peter, and s. John before the Sepulcher.

 

[DarkLight]

Your pastor doesn’t want prayer to interrupt the nice chit-chat in the church? You should repeat that back to him so he can hear how he sounds. Seriously.

Some of us would resent the implication that our “chit-chat” isn’t a spiritual exercise. I consider my fellowship with other believers important - and sometimes before service is the best time for some good edifying conversation!

 

[johnnyc176]

I think the Priest does not want Mary to be the primary focus of mass which is commendable

The Rosary is a meditation on events in the life of Christ and His mother Mary.