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aboverubies
Guest
I guess I can’t understand how prayer could ever be considered inappropriate or excessive.
Can one ever “over pray”? 
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Can one ever “over pray”?
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KatieD
Guest
One Sunday, as chatting began after Communion, our pastor gently said, “And we continue our prayer in silence.” That quieted everyone down. It was wonderful, and after Mass I complimented him on the “teaching moment” he had given us. I think if there was more of this, many would appreciate it, and those who don’t know better would appreciate learning.
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LSK
Guest
Nope, you are not alone…I kneel after the song is sung and recite the prayer to St. Michael.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
You can’t over pray, but if you chose to pray while you’re in the middle of a crowd of talking people, don’t complain about being distracted.I guess I can’t understand how prayer could ever be considered inappropriate or excessive.
Jim
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
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InLight247
Guest
I usually leave with the crowd after Mass. But I stop at the church to pray everyday after work. Since I have lot of daily quiet time with Jeus in the sancuary, the after Mass noise does not affect me.
Try to go to adoration some other time, your privacy with the Lord will be fulfilled.
J
Jan_Wakelin
Guest
When I am at a Mass where the priest gives us a full minute or two (not seconds) after communion to pray silently and give thanksgiving for having just received our Lord in the Eucharist, I do not feel a compelling need to remain long after Mass to pray silently.
Unfortunately, that is not often the case. One priest who celebrates Mass where I sometimes attend Saturday morning Mass rushes to the point where I have not even gotten back to my seat after receiving the Eucharist, when he is starting the closing prayer.
On Sunday’s (at a different church) there is so much music and activity during the distribution of the Eucharist and then as soon as it stops, the priest begins making announcements and then says the final prayer. Music starts again and I have yet to have a quiet moment to speak my own words to Jesus and it is then that I really want to stay. That is when it is very frustrationg if others all around not only talk, but don’t leave the church to do so.
But I think all we can do at those times is pray the best we can and offer the distraction up for our sins and those of others.
Alice Von Hildebrandt was once was asked if we should admonish people if they are talking during Mass. She responded firmly. She said, “Oh no! That is when we must be extra reverent.” I think that applies here as well.
Unfortunately, that is not often the case. One priest who celebrates Mass where I sometimes attend Saturday morning Mass rushes to the point where I have not even gotten back to my seat after receiving the Eucharist, when he is starting the closing prayer.
On Sunday’s (at a different church) there is so much music and activity during the distribution of the Eucharist and then as soon as it stops, the priest begins making announcements and then says the final prayer. Music starts again and I have yet to have a quiet moment to speak my own words to Jesus and it is then that I really want to stay. That is when it is very frustrationg if others all around not only talk, but don’t leave the church to do so.
But I think all we can do at those times is pray the best we can and offer the distraction up for our sins and those of others.
Alice Von Hildebrandt was once was asked if we should admonish people if they are talking during Mass. She responded firmly. She said, “Oh no! That is when we must be extra reverent.” I think that applies here as well.
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Sr_Sally
Guest
Once again I offer a prayer for the wonderful priests of my parish! We try to arrive at mass a few minutes early to collect ourselves and pray before it starts. We usually sit near the front, so we have time as others are recieving for after communion prayers. It is not totally silent, as those behind us are moving to communion–but no one is chatting. We leave after the closing hymn and find that we have had enough time for quiet reflection.
Perhaps the OP can scout out the spot in the church farthest from the chatting–a corner or in the first few rows. Then he can pray and the talkers can chat as far as possible from each other.
Perhaps the OP can scout out the spot in the church farthest from the chatting–a corner or in the first few rows. Then he can pray and the talkers can chat as far as possible from each other.
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aboverubies
Guest
Yes you’re right - even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to seek a quiet place to pray. Guess I should withdraw out to the carpark next to the busy road to make my thanksgiving and leave the talking crowds in the church in… erm…peace.
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schautzi
Guest
Ha Ha! You are funny!!Yes you’re right - even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to seek a quiet place to pray. Guess I should withdraw out to the carpark next to the busy road to make my thanksgiving and leave the talking crowds in the church in… erm…peace.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Or you can do what a person of humility and patience would do, merely wait for the people to leave the church. After all, their goal is to head home or other places of destination.Yes you’re right - even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to seek a quiet place to pray. Guess I should withdraw out to the carpark next to the busy road to make my thanksgiving and leave the talking crowds in the church in… erm…peace.
Jim
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maryj
Guest
I find the beauty of this whole situation worded in your threads title. Thanksgiving after Mass - Am I alone with this situation? Here’s a thought- those people who “chat” with one another after Mass inside the church ARE giving thanks, they are just doing it in a different manner than you are. I love the feeling of community within the walls of my parish church. And are we not also supposed to give thanks to God and ask for His forgiveness, before Mass even begins. That is what the Liturgy is designed to do. Give thanks, ask (beg sometimes) for forgiveness, listen to His words to strengthen us, teach us, receive His body and blood that unites us to Him as one body, and then go “in peace to love and serve the Lord”. so are you alone in this situation? the answer is no you are not, some just do it differntly than you. God Bless
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hopefull
Guest
I kind of think we are still missing the point here. If someone kneels down in the middle of a supermarket and prays, they shouldn’t be surprised if people continue to talk and walk around them, and the pray-er becomes distracted. But it is after Mass that we are talking about, in the House of the Lord, when the Real Presence, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity is still within us, when we have each been made in our own bodies into a tabernacle of the Eucharist.
Some words of going forth don’t change that at all. Can’t we be reverent for a little bit to worship the God who has so condescended to come to us? Imagine how we would feel to embrace our spouse and have them turn away to have a conversation with a friend. If we but knew Who has come to us, Who has given His life for us, perhaps the discussion about the latest movie wouldn’t seem all that important.
For many who grew up in a quiet reverential church, the contrast is still greatly disturbing. And it does interfere with the conversation we desire to have with the Lord, not a day later in a visit to church (and for many of us, our churches are no longer open for visits), but right now, with the true Presence inside of us, witnessing to our belief in Who has come. Words about patience and humility are better addressed to those who intrude on such prayer.
To make the point, I commend to us all the words of Paul in
Rom 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
If we feel that we have not been able to make a proper thanksgiving to the Lord, which we feel we are called in conscience to do, then aren’t we caused to fall, and isn’t the burden on those who create such distraction? I don’t hear anyone saying that those who pray are a distraction to the social life of others in the church.
For additional evidence, consider Paul’s words in 1Corinthians:
1Cr 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Cr 8:10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
1Cr 8:11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1Cr 8:12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1Cr 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
Although this pertained specifically to meat, it is the larger example that is important, especially that the exercise of our freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. I admit to the weakness of needing some silence in order to pray as I feel called to pray. I hope that others can see that their secular conversation in the house of the Lord is a stumbling block to my worship.
For new converts being taught about the real presence, how can the secular buzz after Mass not be a stumbling block? If we truly believed that Christ is really present, some have asked, wouldn’t our behavior be different? To what are we really witnessing when we behave in ways that we wouldn’t even consider if the president of the US, or favorite movie star or sports figure were standing at the front of the church?
Some words of going forth don’t change that at all. Can’t we be reverent for a little bit to worship the God who has so condescended to come to us? Imagine how we would feel to embrace our spouse and have them turn away to have a conversation with a friend. If we but knew Who has come to us, Who has given His life for us, perhaps the discussion about the latest movie wouldn’t seem all that important.
For many who grew up in a quiet reverential church, the contrast is still greatly disturbing. And it does interfere with the conversation we desire to have with the Lord, not a day later in a visit to church (and for many of us, our churches are no longer open for visits), but right now, with the true Presence inside of us, witnessing to our belief in Who has come. Words about patience and humility are better addressed to those who intrude on such prayer.
To make the point, I commend to us all the words of Paul in
Rom 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
If we feel that we have not been able to make a proper thanksgiving to the Lord, which we feel we are called in conscience to do, then aren’t we caused to fall, and isn’t the burden on those who create such distraction? I don’t hear anyone saying that those who pray are a distraction to the social life of others in the church.
For additional evidence, consider Paul’s words in 1Corinthians:
1Cr 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Cr 8:10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?
1Cr 8:11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1Cr 8:12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1Cr 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
Although this pertained specifically to meat, it is the larger example that is important, especially that the exercise of our freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. I admit to the weakness of needing some silence in order to pray as I feel called to pray. I hope that others can see that their secular conversation in the house of the Lord is a stumbling block to my worship.
For new converts being taught about the real presence, how can the secular buzz after Mass not be a stumbling block? If we truly believed that Christ is really present, some have asked, wouldn’t our behavior be different? To what are we really witnessing when we behave in ways that we wouldn’t even consider if the president of the US, or favorite movie star or sports figure were standing at the front of the church?
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