Unity at Mass in light of John 17:21

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Unity is one of the things that Jesus wanted so it seems that unity should be shown at Mass in the ways the laity participate. At a meeting I once attended the Carmelite nun talked about ways she has seen that showed a dis-unity. One was trying to be louder than others when giving responses of prayers or trying to be the first to start a response. She said this is a sign of not being humble and I had to think about all the things that we do to show unity in our faith. This is in light of John 17:21 which Jesus wants our unity. Does anyone else see these as a sign of disunity and that unity makes our offering at Mass more pleasing to Jesus in our worship ?
 
I’ve been bothered by people doing their own thing at Mass for a long time now. We have Rubrics for a reason; to have unity for one. And for the Priest to follow what it states so as to have correct form for the Liturgy. One of the things that bugs me is when people raise their hands to the Orans position during the Our Father prayer. Once their hands went up, it developed into holding hands. That should not be done. It’s wrong. But people don’t care about form and continuity. They don’t seem to care about reverence during the Mass. They just want to do what they want.
 
Unitity - to me - at church - is being like lambs.
I love when I see people sitting together -
Not just kids with their parents - lol
I see older woman - often close to one another - near the front.
I think of the rosary - the visitation - Elizabeth greeting Mary.
If we’re lambs - we should flock closer to each other.
It DOESNT happen -
It is part of bringing harmony - fluidity of spirit.
Like the apostles - in the book of Acts - Pentecost -

People who bring “disunity “
are usually, unconsciously, WILLFUL.
Now…I can see black sheep…coming into the flock…
But wolves in sheep clothing - no way.
We have to become white wool sheep - purified - sanctified - FROM SELF !
 
Yes, I wonder about the people who have to speak more loudly than anyone else, going faster or slower than the celebrant during the creed, etc.
I figure those people are just a bit kooky, and they probably have some kind of mental issue. I’m just glad I don’t have to live with folks like that.
 
Isn’t it ironic that a deacon is NOT allowed the orans position and must put his hands together in the praying position !
 
ProudPapa1988 said:
Prior to Vatican II and the overhaul of the Liturgy, one could be an English speaking Roman Catholic and attend Mass in Uganda, not speaking a word of the local dialect, but still be able to follow along with Mass because it would be in Latin.
Click to expand...
One could , could one ?

I know many a one who would not have been able to “follow along” .
 
Back in the day (sometimes today in some Masses), we used to be able to watch the deacon and the altar boys in order for us to know what we should be doing with our hands. But now a days, the altar boys don’t know how to stand and they don’t stand with their hands folded in prayer. And I’ve even seen a deacon stand with his in the Orans position during the Our Father. 😮
 
If the person “out of step” with others is trying to show off being first to answer or louder, etc then I agree with the sister.

But I think often it’s just a case of someone who is enthusiastic or has a different worship style. Or as someone else mentioned, a mental health issue or a social skills issue.

In convents, uniformity is stressed as a form of discipline and humility, taking the focus off the individual. It’s also a full-time job/mission for the sisters to learn to operate in community. In the outside world, nobody is training Joe or Jane Jones to be perfectly uniform with everybody else at Mass, so if they deviate slightly, it’s not surprising. If they do something extreme like wave their arms in the air shouting a prayer when everybody else is quietly kneeling and praying, then it’s a problem.
 
If one is trying to be louder or speak faster than others than that is a problem. I think some people don’t realize this or can’t help it. Some people are just loud talkers. Some people are old and can’t hear. Some people are just more frenetic than others and this could reflect in their spee. Ideally we should be in unison. Ideally people would be more aware of that unity. But I don’t know that it is always or even often done with awareness.
 
We actually had a pastor would told us at Mass to hold hands during “The Family Prayer” (Our Father). Even stretching out into the aisles–as a sign of unity. Some in the pews act as facilitators and attempt to enforce compliance. I know someone who was given a backhand to the mid-section by another who wanted him to lean forward to form a link. Strong-willed non-compliance earned him a scolding.
 
Our pastor likes to get fancy. He may say “The Lord Be With You” once at Mass in the style of William Shatner. So I respond in kind as everyone else runs their words together. Two kinds of unity–one with the shepherd–one with the sheep.
 
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