Tourists disrespect the Blessed Sacrament

[mikew262]

But that would be TERRIBLE! Even when I go as a “tourist” to a Catholic site, part of the draw is making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament!

Better they should have sextons or wardens, with maces to whack people with (or at least politely remind them where they were).

No argument.

 

[NewGuyInChurch]

Umm, I visted Notre Dame d’Ottawa in November with my class. The tour guide invited us to come and sit in the choir stalls and afterwards the students were climbing about everywhere- and yes, again on the Bishop’s throne.

By the way, I did a small piece on that Cathedral last night on my blog. It is one of my favorites.

I’m very sad to hear that.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’ll post this while I’m still angry.

My spiritual director recently suggested that I stop for a prayer before the Tabernacle in the Cathedral here everyday to cultivate a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. I have been dropping by after school as the Cathedral is near my home.

Today as I approached this beautiful Basilica I saw a tour bus in the parking lot. As I was coming up to the doors I passed two young women, one of which remarked how sickening the building was with “all the starving people on the street”. Inside there was a large crowd of tourists, talking, walking around, snapping pictures without any thought given to the spiritual value of the church. I took my normal place kneeling in front of the side altar where the Tabernacle is placed now, and some people came up and stood in between me and the altar laughing and talking and posing for pictures. Nobody was genuflecting, there were people who had the nerve to wander around the sanctuary and posing for photographs sitting on the Cathedra itself. Disrespect everywhere. Then someone tried to play the antique pipe organ, obviously having never even touched one before.

I was sickened by these people. I couldnt concentrate on my prayers, and I was getting some strange looks when I knelt down to pray

I know that you may not have felt comfortable do so, but I would have gotten up and gone over to them and TOLD them to be quiet and respectful near the Blessed Sacrament. To get out of the sanctuary, that they were not permitted in there. And that the organ was off limits. This is an example if why Tabernacles in “Tourist” churches should be in a separate chapel.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Don’t they have signs up, Caesar, warning people of their conduct and why their conduct has to be circumspect?

I’ve toured the California missions and I’m happy to say that I’ve never seen such a travesty, even in La Purissima and Solano, which are run by the state and so do not have the Blessed Sacrament present. People are quiet and respectful (though once a man didn’t take his hat off). Also, Brompton oratory in London, England (Catholic) and Westminster Cathedral (Catholic), as well Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey (were Catholic, now Anglican). People were absolutely circumspect.

You should write the rector of the Cathedral, the bishop, and the tour company.

Especially the tour company.

 

[catsrus]

I would have probably told them all to “GET OUT!!!”
In imitation of Christ, I’d have driven them out the doors.
I have 0 patience with rude and vulgar people.

 

[1ke]

Inside there was a large crowd of tourists, talking, walking around, snapping pictures without any thought given to the spiritual value of the church.

If the church receives tourists on a regular basis, they should post guidelines or have someone act as a monitor.

Have you been to any protestant churches? Many use the sanctuary for social gatherings as well as church. Many non-denominational groups socialize and talk before services.

And, if the church is open to them, why would they not take pictures of it? I’ve taken dozens of photos of various churches I’ve visited.

I took my normal place kneeling in front of the side altar where the Tabernacle is placed now, and some people came up and stood in between me and the altar laughing and talking and posing for pictures.

Non-Catholics would have no idea what the Tabernacle was, that they were in front of it, or that you were in Adoration of any sort.

Nobody was genuflecting, there were people who had the nerve to wander around the sanctuary and posing for photographs sitting on the Cathedra itself.

Non-Catholics do not genuflect. And, how would they know what to do and not do if no one told them.

Aggrevating, yes, but you have not at all tried to put yourself in the shoes of a non-Catholic who is visiting the Church as an architectural or historical monument not on a spiritual pilgrimage. The Vatican is tolerant of millions of visitors a year-- can you not be tolerant of 50?

Disrespect everywhere.

In your opinion-- but again it may have been normal behavior to those who had no religious background or non-Catholic background. It was likely not on purpose.

Then someone tried to play the antique pipe organ, obviously having never even touched one before.

That is a shame. However, again having someone in the church to monitor tour groups would be a good idea.

I was sickened by these people.

That is a shame.

 

[Caesar]

I know that you may not have felt comfortable do so, but I would have gotten up and gone over to them and TOLD them to be quiet and respectful near the Blessed Sacrament. To get out of the sanctuary, that they were not permitted in there. And that the organ was off limits. This is an example if why Tabernacles in “Tourist” churches should be in a separate chapel.

This is not usual though. Normally (in fact, every other time I have gone to the Cathedral outside of Mass) there is only a couple other people, if any, around- and they would be praying or going to confession. Most times when I go on my way home from school there is nobody around, and it’s a nice experience to be alone with Our Lord in this massive beautiful church. Although sometimes if I am lucky the organist (the REAL organist) will be practicing my playing some baroque pieces on low power- really sets the mood

 

[bluerose]

Funny thing is, go visit the Alamo in San Antonio. I’ve visited many times and the reverence and awe is exemplary. Of course, there are docents and signs everywhere asking men to remove their hats and reminding people that they are in a shrine and to keep their voices to a respectful level, no gum chewing, no flash photography.

Of course, it’s no longer a consecrated church and the history that took place there impresses the average non-Catholic far more than the spirituality of cathedrals being visited by tour groups.

Still, it should be the tour company’s responsibility to remind tourists (especially non-Catholics) to show proper respect and reverence in a sacred place.

 

[Chancellare]

It’s not clear to me if the Parish Office of your church has posted a notice at the entrance door that prescribes all the house rules, dress codes, proper decorum, etc for all visitors to follow. And normally, if the church is a regular tourist spot, the areas inside and around the church should have cord barriers to designate which passages and sections are open to visitors and which areas are off limits to non-worshipers. Did they do this?

 

[brotherhrolf]

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans has signs posted at the doors and heavy tourist traffic and they generally have an usher and/or docent on duty from what I’ve seen.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

If the church receives tourists on a regular basis, they should post guidelines or have someone act as a monitor.

Have you been to any protestant churches? Many use the sanctuary for social gatherings as well as church. Many non-denominational groups socialize and talk before services.

And, if the church is open to them, why would they not take pictures of it? I’ve taken dozens of photos of various churches I’ve visited.

Non-Catholics would have no idea what the Tabernacle was, that they were in front of it, or that you were in Adoration of any sort.

Non-Catholics do not genuflect. And, how would they know what to do and not do if no one told them.

Aggrevating, yes, but you have not at all tried to put yourself in the shoes of a non-Catholic who is visiting the Church as an architectural or historical monument not on a spiritual pilgrimage. The Vatican is tolerant of millions of visitors a year-- can you not be tolerant of 50?

In your opinion-- but again it may have been normal behavior to those who had no religious background or non-Catholic background. It was likely not on purpose.

That is a shame. However, again having someone in the church to monitor tour groups would be a good idea.

That is a shame.

i would strongly beg to differ. Anyone, regardless of their religious background should be aware that Churches are places where respect and humbleness should be observed, especially if they see people praying. Its like if you were to walk into a library filled w/ people reading books. Would you walk around, sitting on tables, talking and taking photos?

 

[Caesar]

It’s not clear to me if the Parish Office of your church has posted a notice at the entrance door that prescribes all the house rules, dress codes, proper decorum, etc for all visitors to follow. And normally, if the church is a regular tourist spot, the areas inside and around the church should have cord barriers to designate which passages and sections are open to visitors and which areas are off limits to non-worshipers. Did they do this?

Like I mentioned above, there are no signs or roped-off areas. The official tours are lead by volunteer guides who do not go into the sanctuary, the sacristy or the crypt.

 

[1ke]

i would strongly beg to differ. Anyone, regardless of their religious background should be aware that Churches are places where respect and humbleness should be observed, especially if they see people praying. Its like if you were to walk into a library filled w/ people reading books. Would you walk around, sitting on tables, talking and taking photos?

Certainly people should have good manners-- and those are in short supply in churches, libraries, and grocery stores across America. Again, what is deemed appropriate behavior in a church varies by denomination, so you can’t assume that everyone “knows” that you should be silent in a Catholic church.

But, it was more than just “manners” that upset the OP. The OP was upset becaues they didn’t genuflect and walked in front of the Tabernacle.

I disagree that a non-Catholic should be called “disrespectful” because they don’t genuflect and don’t know about the Tabernacle/walked in front of it. I also would not use the term “sickened”.

I’ve been to many, many Catholic Churches in the US and abroad. Notre Dame, St Peter’s, and other large tourist sites are definitely loud and yes, pictures are being taken.

And, there are booths set up inside Notre Dame where they sell post cards, pictures, film, etc. So, yes, they expect pictures and gawking tourists in there. They have a private chapel roped off for those who wish to pray and there is a large sign that says “private, for prayer only” or some such.

 

[asquared]

I’ll Today as I approached this beautiful Basilica I saw a tour bus in the parking lot. As I was coming up to the doors I passed two young women, one of which remarked how sickening the building was with “all the starving people on the street”. Inside there was a large crowd of tourists, talking, walking around, snapping pictures without any thought given to the spiritual value of the church. I took my normal place kneeling in front of the side altar where the Tabernacle is placed now, and some people came up and stood in between me and the altar laughing and talking and posing for pictures. Nobody was genuflecting, there were people who had the nerve to wander around the sanctuary and posing for photographs sitting on the Cathedra itself. Disrespect everywhere. Then someone tried to play the antique pipe organ, obviously having never even touched one before.

I was sickened by these people. I couldnt concentrate on my prayers, and I was getting some strange looks when I knelt down to pray

this is exactly why many churches have the tabernacle and adoration chapel in another location, and why the recommendation is made to do so in churches, basilicas, cathedrals etc. that are also “tourist destinations.”

the organ should be locked up that is why they had grilles in old fashioned churches (also bell towers were locked because it is quite possible to hang oneself by horsing around with the bell ropes).

 

[Marauder]

As I said before I am a volunteer at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. A major tourist spot and pilgramage location. By and large MOST people are very respectful. But it only takes one person in a group to spoil things for a lot of people or one group of rowdy people to spoil things.

The worse groups seem to be the large tour companies that seem to be on a tight schedule. They sometimes come in during Mass times and give people like a half hour to see the entire place and not tell anyone the courtesy rules before they walk in. Most people just walk right by the signs ignoring them.

At least I personally have never noticed anyone walking into the sanctuary sections but the National Shrine in the Upper Church has an altar rail at the front and ropes around the rest of it. The sacristy is either locked or when not locked a security guard keeps people out of it. Also the National Shrine for the upper church has the Eucharist in a side chapel and people “tend” to be respectful when walking by that due to the sign in front of the chapel. Things can get a little disrespectful in the Crypt Church since it also has a place for the Eucharist and has so many things to look at people tend to forget the Eucharist is reserved there.

IMHO, honestly by and large your “average” tourist tends to be better behaved then the “average” Christmas Eve Mass attendee. Usually the Christmas Eve Mass is where we usually see the rudest behavior.

 

[FrCorey]

intereting thou, if they did that in a muslim temple they would be dragged outside and killed.
look what happened when we accidentily knocked a flag over once. people should show respect in another’s religious place.

 

[havemercy]

I remember experiencing this at the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris in Old Montreal. Any and all reverence is absent from some people. Perhaps out of ignorance?

On a lighter note:

I remember praying before the tabernacle at St. Joseph’s Oratory, and a curious tourist decided to ask me what “that” was. “That is the tabernacle, where Jesus’ body and blood are contained”, said I. He said, “How did you get him in there?”

I should mention that this guy was a Sikh, so it would make sense that he didn’t know about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The poor guy probably thought that we went back in time, took Jesus down from the cross, and put him in this box behind a giant gate.

 

[1ke]

intereting thou, if they did that in a muslim temple they would be dragged outside and killed.

Well, I disagree.

I have been to the Mohammed Ali Mosque in Cairo. And there were hoards of people in there, Westerners and Egyptian school children too. Kids on field trips were running around being kids, rather loud, and many people gawking, talking, taking pictures, etc.

 

[mystified]

If it is tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?

 

[porthos11]

Were they without a doubt Catholic tourists?

I’ll post this while I’m still angry.

My spiritual director recently suggested that I stop for a prayer before the Tabernacle in the Cathedral here everyday to cultivate a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. I have been dropping by after school as the Cathedral is near my home.

Today as I approached this beautiful Basilica I saw a tour bus in the parking lot. As I was coming up to the doors I passed two young women, one of which remarked how sickening the building was with “all the starving people on the street”. Inside there was a large crowd of tourists, talking, walking around, snapping pictures without any thought given to the spiritual value of the church. I took my normal place kneeling in front of the side altar where the Tabernacle is placed now, and some people came up and stood in between me and the altar laughing and talking and posing for pictures. Nobody was genuflecting, there were people who had the nerve to wander around the sanctuary and posing for photographs sitting on the Cathedra itself. Disrespect everywhere. Then someone tried to play the antique pipe organ, obviously having never even touched one before.

I was sickened by these people. I couldnt concentrate on my prayers, and I was getting some strange looks when I knelt down to pray