The Noise Factor and Your Parish

[GloriaPatri4]

Here’s another noise level thread, I just remembered it. This one by Karl Keating.

Chatting before, during, and after Mass

 

[Bulldog]

I will say this in a certain POV … If your King was behind a curtain [several feet away], would you talk [away from Him] thus disrespecting Him and any of His attendants??? Would you not be quiet and respectful in His presence??
Most people don’t understand that the King of Kings is present right in front of them, He is in the tabernacle [the curtain]!!!

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

cheese_sdc:

No, you didn’t, but others did.

And scripture also speaks of “shout to the Lord” and “make a joyful noise”.

Gotta go.

P.S. I’m from Louisiana, too. Grew up in small town parishes where you could hear a pen drop. Moved to Baton Rouge and found myself in a wonderful parish where everyone talks. I grew to love it. I can function in both equally well, but to say one is more respectful than the other is just wrong.

Trust me, the conversations about hemorrhoids, beefs in the oven, pants that need to be hemmed, and other things are hardly “shouts to the Lord”. There is a time and place for socializing and it is outside, or in the parish hall, or at someone’s home, or the local diner. I’ve been in some parishes where I arrived 15 minutes early to pray, only to be disrupted by three women who decided to sit right behind me and talk about all the news of the day. There was nothing religious or spiritual in their conversation. This was hardly respectful of the Lord and others. As far as charity goes, I simply don’t buy the fact that those of us who wish to pray are being uncharitable for being annoyed with people who don’t care to spend time with the Lord in His house, rather than spending time with each other - to the distraction of everyone else around who is trying to spend time with the Lord.

 

[she_he]

I voted somewhat noisy,but it would fall more in between silent and somewhat.

when we first walk in there are always people talking outside the mass area (foyer) usually saying hello how are you,hows the person in your family that is sick etc,the Father will also offer hellos etc.
you see some of it in the mass area BEFORE the Father enters.
you dont hear about sams cow,or current events,its usually good mornings,or hows sam doing,etc
to me nothing i have heard was disrespectful, matter of fact the opposite,

and Babys crying in a mass are a fact of life,and I am sure jesus is smiling everytime he hears one shouting out to him in “baby language” when the babys quit crying in mass it will be a sad day indeed,and I most likely will be crying myself…
John

 

[grotto]

Remember when we enter the Presence of Our Lord to not converse with our worldly friends and take the talk time away from Jesus! All our other time is spent with worldly things and its precious little that we give to Our Lord.

If someone draws our attention to talk, make a small gesture that kindly says “not now, see you later” and direct your attention to the tabernacle.

Take the time later to approach the person outside and say something like “I didn’t want anyone to have to listen to me while they are trying to listen to Our Lord so I hoped I’d get to ask how are you out here”, something like that.

Babies make a joyful noise most of the time but if they start raising the roof, its time for Mom or Dad to start walking.

Somewhere along the way people have actually been told “its okay to talk in church. God doesn’t mind”. Who says? Why wouldn’t He mind waiting until we give Him our attention? What about distracting another who was speaking with Jesus and just when they were about to hear Him, they heard us?

 

[Katie1723]

For me personally, I try getting to Church about half hour or so before Mass. I enjoy the solitude and extra prayer time. This past Saturday, however, I was sorely tested(I had JUST gone to confession). There were a few women talking just inside the back of the Church proper…like they were home having coffee!!

For me, and I suspect for many others, Church is the one place for some “one on one” with the Lord. Talk outside or after Mass. What really is annoying are the “church whisperers” who think they can’t be heard after Mass is started…annoying like static on a radio.
~ Kathy ~

 

[msproule]

grotto:

Somewhere along the way people have actually been told “its okay to talk in church. God doesn’t mind”. Who says?

As far as I know, God has never told me directly that it was a good idea to be loud and disruptive prior to Mass. In such personal uncertainty, I submit myself to the recommendations of the Magisterium:45. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times. Its purpose, however, depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus within the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; but at the conclusion of a reading or the homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard; then after Communion, they praise and pray to God in their hearts.

Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner. (GIRM)

 

[Loboto-Me]

I was once visiting at a Church and the greeters were having loud conversation with those coming in. Kneeling at my pew, about midway inside, the sound was coming in loud and clear due to it being an old Church.

It became so loud that I got up, and told the greeters if it was possible to be a little quieter because the sounds are distracting.

The main greeter appologized and then mentioned that they’ve been asked before to keep it down as they do get a tad gregarious! I sure hope a second warning finally made the point.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

I still am a believer that one of the best contributors to turning the tide, is simply a sign.

Please…Sacred Silence

**Out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament

please refrain from conversation inside the Church.
Our Lord appreciates the time you give directly to Him while here
and the charity you have towards your neighbor
as he or she visits with Him
by socializing outside, in the vestibule,
in the parish hall, or at a mutual gathering place.

(or)

To hear the Lord speaking in our hearts,
we must give him the opportunity to reach us.
How can we do this if we do not sit in silence
at least while we are in Church?
To hear His voice above all others,
we must take these precious few moments
before Mass, during and after,
to rest quietly in Him
and give to others the time that is meant for them,
outside of the Church.
If you care not to rest silently with the Lord,
please be charitable to those who come here to give Him their undivided attention
by not conversing in the Church.

.
**

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

sighs

I guess it is not possible for you to see that conversation is okay, and can be a good and holy experience.

If you choose to drive, then that is your choice.

It has been interesting having our little conversation this afternoon. God Bless!

I haven’t been able to spend but a few minutes each day, so I am just catching up to this thread.

At what point would you allow yourself, and others, to rest quietly with the Lord, so they can hear His voice above all the other noise in their lives?

Charity in Church extends itself to consideration for the many with chaotic, busy lives, who have little opportunity to reflect in such silence.

Prior to Holy Mass, people should be preparing themselves, and part of that preparation is an examination of conscience. When we say, “I confess to Almighty God…” we must know what we are confessing (and with firm intent to go to confession prior to Holy Communion should we find something grave).

Unfortunately, people see Christ as the Community, to the exclusion of Christ. When Jesus asked his apostles to “remain with me for this hour”, he chastized them for sleeping. How much more he would have chastized them for engaging in idle talk to pass that time.

Have people no time outside of Mass to greet each other, and to engage in time together? This is where true Christian charity begins is in the time we give OUTSIDE of the Mass to others. How many people, who are capable of driving, who chat their way to the beginning of Mass and all the way out the door, are willing to give up just one our of prime time TV to visit with someone who cannot come out, or to simply get together with these others in Church with whom they absolutely must converse before and after Mass while they are in the presence of the Lord? How many are willing to receive a visitor when their precious prime-time TV program is on? How many would want conversation going on outside of the commercials?

A hunter and a fisherman know that with silence they have a chance, and with noise they blow the opportunity. The Lord reaches for our hearts and he cannot do so when we are so busy and so “charitable” to others, as to neglect being silent so that He can hook our hearts. A business person knows not to hold idle chatter in a meeting so he can receive what is being conveyed. Yet, we do not enable ourselves to receive what the Lord is telling us because we remain “busy” and social immediately before and after the Mass, and in some cases, during.

Some people pay more respect to their computers, their video games, TV programs, shopping, hunting, their job, etc., than they do Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and the sacred silence needed for him to stir our souls to holiness.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Weekday Masses, Saturday evening Mass, early Sunday morning Mass, any other service such as Benediction or even just a visit- very quiet, very conducive to prayer.

10:30 AM Sunday Mass- PANDEMONIUM UNTIL ALMOST NOON.

 

[puzzleannie]

Lux_et_veritas:

All it takes is a couple people and a BBQ. People didn’t ask or hold meetings for weeks on end to plan it out. It .

nearby parish sells taquitos, donuts and other goodies after Mass, I think the ladies are raising money for CCD supplies, it’s always something different but always good. the selling is done outside, not in Church. Coffee and donuts in the parish hall is a feature of life where I come from (Cleveland-SIL drives all the way to the West Side for Krispy Kreme when it is their turn) but unknown here. I think because few churches have enough parking, but lots of Masses close together, no time for such socializing.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

puzzleannie:

I think because few churches have enough parking, but lots of Masses close together, no time for such socializing.

You bring up an important point. Our Masses are indeed spaced.
6:30am, 9:30am, and Noon. But, the 9:30 runs 1.5 hours. But, when people go to the hall, it doesn’t affect what is going on at the Church.

 

[Morning_Glory]

**Diane, and others who have a social after Mass:

How did this tradition start? Who started it? Who upkeeps it? Is it very expensive? How did people start to hear of it to start going?

It seems like something a lot of churches need and need some advice about.**

 

[Ace86]

I would just like to remind everyone what Jesus did to the gamblers and what-not at the Temple. Think about it. Do you have to talk at church? Or can you wait for one hour on a Sunday and pray to God?

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

**Diane, and others who have a social after Mass:

How did this tradition start? Who started it? Who upkeeps it? Is it very expensive? How did people start to hear of it to start going?

It seems like something a lot of churches need and need some advice about.**

I have only been at Grotto since May so I don’t know the history. I do know that we have one lady who likes to organize and she just does stuff. There’s not a whole lot of planning it is just spontaneous.

They had been offering boiled hot dogs in addition to donuts, which this lady picked up each Sunday. But, the maintenance guy decided to bring in a barbeque grill and he began grilling the hot dogs, hamburgers and sausages. As I said with her, it was spontaneous and continues today.

It’s advantageous that there is an elementary school on the grounds that was running until it was closed. But, we have one of the largest, if not the largest, homeschooling cluster in the state of Michigan. Kids come on Wednesdays for religious ed and phys ed, as well as for social time and other activities.