Too much noise and talking in Church

[pmoo]

I am so sorry this happens at your parish. Please let me offer the outline of at least one process that would brings results:

1. At the close of each Mass on any given Sunday just before the final blessing, the pastor gives a 5 minute lecture on the need to be quiet inside the church. If the pastor is not the celebrant, then he still needs to show-up to give this brief lecture.
2. Prominent but polite notice in the bulletin to please be quiet in the church, reinforcing #1.
3. Very visible signs on each door reiterating #1. Make them permanent.
4. Celebrant repeats the request (if needed) 10 minutes before each Mass from the ambo at each Mass as necessary.

If this process was tactfully, lovingly and diligently followed for 30-90 days, the culture would change in just about any parish.

Maybe you and some others could sit-down with your pastor and help him craft such a program? Offer to do all the heavy lifting…

I think I will ask Fr. about making a gentle announcement in mass. He gets very u pset at seeing the gum chewers and for New Year’s, he asked people to think about giving up gum in church - didnt command it, but just pointed out that the idea of chewing gum and receiving communion was not a good idea. Even our piano player, who is Jewish, quit chewing gum, so maybe our beloved priest could get our noisy ones to quiet down a bit.

 

[lovesMary]

Gum chewing is definately unattractive. I can’t imagine why someone can’t go an hour without chewing gum.

 

[Cat]

Gum chewing is definately unattractive. I can’t imagine why someone can’t go an hour without chewing gum.

Quite a few common meds (e.g., Detrol, Enablex) result in dry mouth as a side-effect. It can be quite severe, even painful, and the dryness may actually cause a person to start coughing. They may be unable to swallow the Sacred Host during Holy Communion because their mouth is too dry.

This may be why some people choose to chew gum during Mass and during other times that usually are gum-free (e.g., music concerts, plays, etc.).

lovesMary, I’m not just addressing you, but all the posters. Why not just mind our own business and allow everyone to follow his/her own conscience and trust that the priest and the Holy Spirit will rebuke others (and us) if they are sinning?

If during Mass, if someone is chewing gum or cough drops with the motive of providing a quieter atmosphere (no coughing or difficulty breathing) for others, or with the motive of comfortably partaking of the Lord’s Body and Blood, then that is a loving act and we shouldn’t condemn them.

I said it earlier in this thread and I’ll restate it: we need to work hard to ignore the shortcomings of others and isntead, seek an interior quiet so that we can worship the Lord anywhere under any circumstances. Be thankful for all the amenities of our U.S. churches–temperature-control, comfortable seating, sound systems, pleasant smells, no fear of violence around us (suicide bombers, arrest and imprisonment, rape, etc.), missallettes and hymnals, musical instruments, our priests and deacons, our friends surrounding us in the pews, the little children and babies, the teenagers, and above all, the Eucharist–in many situations (e.g., a martyr’s prison camp), all these wonderful things are only dreams.

 

[lovesMary]

You make a valid point, Cat. On the other hand, general behaviour in our society HAS deteriorated to such a low level that people don’t even know what respect or decorum is. That’s why it’s good for Father to gently remind everyone.

As far as gum chewing to counteract mouth drying meds, a lozenge would do the same in a much more discrete fashion. Not everyone is able to tune out their surroundings as well as some, by the way. Why shouldn’t other people at least make an attempt to be considerate?

I think that our leaders should be leading us to more holiness, which means gently correcting us when we are wrong. We are God’s children, prone to being self-centered and sinful. I’d like to see more instruction and correction from the pulpit, and less touchy-feely psychobabble.

 

[Senior]

I totally agree with you!!! I’ve made several posts earlier in this thread about how too much noise annoys me. Besides it annoying me, I do believe it’s disrespectful. Its incredible that while Fr. is saying the prayer to transform the wafer and wine into the precious blood and body of Christ, I can hear adults whispering.

My post was a response to an implication that Catholics are noisy, which is why the church is losing members.

Let me not be misunderstood. The Catholic Church is losing members because Catholics are too noisy in the Church. Ask the ones who attend the unapproved Tridentine Churches, the Greek Orthodox Churches, or many more who have left for non-Denominational Churches, or those who have left for the Evangelical Churches. You will most definitely get an earful. I have. And yes, I have effectively got many people to return to the Church as well as many who have never been Catholic to become Catholic. But I have also, sadly to say, have had to prepare them for what they are about to witness, so that it would not be a cause for them to leave. Their greatest turn off is the NOISE!!! Whether from adults who should know better, as well as from the children. In Europe, they tolerate the noise more then we do, but what is not said, is that the majority of the population there does not go to Church. We are heading in that same direction, if these concerns go unheeded.
I once left because I was turned off by the noise. Sadly to say, I got more out of the Mass listening on the radio, then in Church.
What do you tell your children when they say that they couldn’t learn anything at school because the class was too disruptive? “That’s ok son, just put on a Love Boat smile and be at peace.” Or do you lodge a complaint?

 

[catherineajt]

Let me not be misunderstood. The Catholic Church is losing members because Catholics are too noisy in the Church. Ask the ones who attend the unapproved Tridentine Churches, the Greek Orthodox Churches, or many more who have left for non-Denominational Churches, or those who have left for the Evangelical Churches. You will most definitely get an earful. I have. And yes, I have effectively got many people to return to the Church as well as many who have never been Catholic to become Catholic. But I have also, sadly to say, have had to prepare them for what they are about to witness, so that it would not be a cause for them to leave. Their greatest turn off is the NOISE!!! Whether from adults who should know better, as well as from the children. In Europe, they tolerate the noise more then we do, but what is not said, is that the majority of the population there does not go to Church. We are heading in that same direction, if these concerns go unheeded.
I once left because I was turned off by the noise. Sadly to say, I got more out of the Mass listening on the radio, then in Church.
What do you tell your children when they say that they couldn’t learn anything at school because the class was too disruptive? “That’s ok son, just put on a Love Boat smile and be at peace.” Or do you lodge a complaint?

Sometimes I think the Mass gets noisy because the buildings are so large. People think they can be loud in a large building because “nobody will notice–there’s so many people here”. That’s not the case! I think the only reason the Orthodox church I attended for a year was quieter during liturgy was it was a smaller building, with fewer people than in the large Roman Catholic churches, and so people took their kids out more readily, or were more aware of their own noise. The Byzantine church I attend now has about 15 parishioners total…we’re very quiet!

 

[FrCorey]

Let me not be misunderstood. The Catholic Church is losing members because Catholics are too noisy in the Church. Ask the ones who attend the unapproved Tridentine Churches, the Greek Orthodox Churches, or many more who have left for non-Denominational Churches, or those who have left for the Evangelical Churches. You will most definitely get an earful. I have. And yes, I have effectively got many people to return to the Church as well as many who have never been Catholic to become Catholic. But I have also, sadly to say, have had to prepare them for what they are about to witness, so that it would not be a cause for them to leave. Their greatest turn off is the NOISE!!! Whether from adults who should know better, as well as from the children. In Europe, they tolerate the noise more then we do, but what is not said, is that the majority of the population there does not go to Church. We are heading in that same direction, if these concerns go unheeded.
I once left because I was turned off by the noise. Sadly to say, I got more out of the Mass listening on the radio, then in Church.
What do you tell your children when they say that they couldn’t learn anything at school because the class was too disruptive? “That’s ok son, just put on a Love Boat smile and be at peace.” Or do you lodge a complaint?

AMEN!
we need some hellfire and brimstone nuns patroling
during mass. give me that old time religion again.

 

[ChooseLove]

It is called respect. Jesus at times got angry, and it too came from the mouth.

YES respect, IF THEY HAVE TO GRACE to see it. BUT they DON’T have the full amount that some due.
again, everyone is on a different spiritual level, and getting angry with someone if they are talking is not going to get them any closer to Christ.
but on the other hand, LOVING someone right where they are at in their spiritual walk will bring them closer to Christ

 

[ChooseLove]

And their response would be; "We are sinners too, but we don’t claim to have the real presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine. But we have enough sense to have a reverence for God when the Holy Spirit descends in power. You would think that Catholics of all people would realize that. Why do you think that we are on our knees crying over our sin before Almighty God when His presence comes down?”

and than your response could be… not everyone KNOWS this truth of the real presence and NOT everyone is on the same spiritual level. it is GRACE and only grace that gives this knowledge to some, not ALL who attend Mass.
Love the sinner, hate the sin…

 

[ChooseLove]

AMEN!
we need some hellfire and brimstone nuns patroling
during mass. give me that old time religion again.

and if this was the way things were, i can guarantee my reversion would NOT have happened… this attitude was what turned me off from the catholic faith. i know many who’ve also left for this reason. guess it would be the same as for the reason of too much noise, eh? it was only by the grace i received AND THE LOVE of those quiet catholics around me, that brought me back home. and i’ve seen MANY come back because of that loving quiet attitude.
when you take a discomfort (say the noise level) and offer it up quietly as a prayer, it is by far more of a prayer from the heart for the sinner there than getting angry and saying something. maybe even shake their hand, and while touching them, you can say a quick prayer for the grace of knowledge to be given to them regarding their noise.
here is a quote maybe we should all be living by on a regular basis.
“When it seems that God shows us the faults of others, keep on the safer side - it may be that your judgement is false. On your lips let silence abide… IF the fault really exists in a person, he will correct himself better, seeing himself so gently understood, and will say of his own accord the things you would have said to him.” Saint Catherine of Siena

 

[pmoo]

Let me not be misunderstood. The Catholic Church is losing members because Catholics are too noisy in the Church. Ask the ones who attend the unapproved Tridentine Churches, the Greek Orthodox Churches, or many more who have left for non-Denominational Churches, or those who have left for the Evangelical Churches. You will most definitely get an earful. I have. And yes, I have effectively got many people to return to the Church as well as many who have never been Catholic to become Catholic. But I have also, sadly to say, have had to prepare them for what they are about to witness, so that it would not be a cause for them to leave. Their greatest turn off is the NOISE!!! Whether from adults who should know better, as well as from the children. In Europe, they tolerate the noise more then we do, but what is not said, is that the majority of the population there does not go to Church. We are heading in that same direction, if these concerns go unheeded.
I once left because I was turned off by the noise. Sadly to say, I got more out of the Mass listening on the radio, then in Church.
What do you tell your children when they say that they couldn’t learn anything at school because the class was too disruptive? “That’s ok son, just put on a Love Boat smile and be at peace.” Or do you lodge a complaint?

Good analogy about school behavior. I teach high school and I do not allow my students to talk when I am speaking, nor are they allowed to chew gum. So, if it’s disrespectful and unacceptable to be rude at school, then the same goes for church.

It has nothing to do with minding my own business as another post said. Loud talkers do not have the right to ruin mass for the rest of us. It’s not being judgmental. It’s asking for the right to celebrate Jesus in His house! Perhaps we need a talking and non talking section?

 

[ChooseLove]

Perhaps we need a talking and non talking section?

BULLS EYE! but unfortunately our churches do not have this as most protestant churches do. if it came from the pulpit, than things would change… till than offer it up!

 

[Senior]

and than your response could be… not everyone KNOWS this truth of the real presence and NOT everyone is on the same spiritual level. it is GRACE and only grace that gives this knowledge to some, not ALL who attend Mass.
Love the sinner, hate the sin…

And their response would be; “and you sound like you are coming from a more liberal position and don’t really understand the definition of grace. Part of that same grace is saying it like it is. Jesus said it like it is and offended the Scribes and Pharisees, and when it was brought to His attention, He didn’t say; oh my, let me apologize right away. No, He was not concerned about how He made them feel, He spoke the truth and the truth for some was hard to hear.” What did you think you were reverting to? In case you didn’t realize it, you came back to the Catholic Church, not a movie theater. One of the teachings of the Catholic Church is to admonish the sinner, and sometimes it has to be done strongly; because for some, that is the only language they understand.
Just because something is said strongly does not mean a crime has been committed. It is sometimes necessary.

 

[ChooseLove]

yes it is sometimes necessary, but the PRIESTS take the role of Jesus… not us. It has to come from the pulpit to be heard.

 

[ChooseLove]

What did you think you were reverting to? In case you didn’t realize it, you came back to the Catholic Church, not a movie theater.

I came back to Jesus first, than by researching and receiving grace from JESUS, I came back into the catholic faith.
Everything is grace! Offer it up, why is that such a hard thing to do? Carry your cross, the noise seems to be the cross on this thread.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

This thread is closed. Thank you all.