Was it wrong for me to be upset?

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Shinobu

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I just got back from Mass and I was upset with how it was today. There seemed to be a lack of respect for today’s mass and lot’s of chatter. I can understand kids getting upset and making noise, they are children and they don’t know better. However with adults, who clearly know better it just upsets me.

Thru the whole service there was this man (who appeared to be a cop) who would stand at the back and occasionally walk back and forth and while doing so he would gossip with people and even sometimes laugh. He was not the only one doing this and they would even continue this during the Eucharist. Also people who were able-bodied did not bother to continue kneeling during the Eucharist, rather they sat. Also some people even got up to leave before the Priest and the alter boys/girls walked down the aisle to the front.

I’m not a Catholic yet but was this a display of lack of respect? Or am I just overreacting?
 
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Shinobu:
I just got back from Mass and I was upset with how it was today. There seemed to be a lack of respect for today’s mass and lot’s of chatter. I can understand kids getting upset and making noise, they are children and they don’t know better. However with adults, who clearly know better it just upsets me.

Thru the whole service there was this man (who appeared to be a cop) who would stand at the back and occasionally walk back and forth and while doing so he would gossip with people and even sometimes laugh. He was not the only one doing this and they would even continue this during the Eucharist. Also people who were able-bodied did not bother to continue kneeling during the Eucharist, rather they sat. Also some people even got up to leave before the Priest and the alter boys/girls walked down the aisle to the front.

I’m not a Catholic yet but was this a display of lack of respect? Or am I just overreacting?
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No, you are not over reacting. There are people that are not very reverent during the mass. Some of it is probably due to poor catechesis and some is probably due to not caring. It is sad that people can’t wait till the preist processes out before they leave, it is like they are in a hurry to leave. This is worse at some parishes than at others.

People should not sit during the Eucharist out of respect. They should wait until the tabernacle has been closed with the Eucharist inside.

Have you been to Sunday mass before? or only daily mass?
 
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jimmy:
No, you are not over reacting. There are people that are not very reverent during the mass. Some of it is probably due to poor catechesis and some is probably due to not caring. It is sad that people can’t wait till the preist processes out before they leave, it is like they are in a hurry to leave. This is worse at some parishes than at others.

People should not sit during the Eucharist out of respect. They should wait until the tabernacle has been closed with the Eucharist inside.

Have you been to Sunday mass before? or only daily mass?
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Forgive me, but is Saturday Mass always considered to be the Sunday’s Mass? I went to Easter Vigil last Saturday and they took it as an early Sunday service, I thought maybe it was only for that day since it started at 7pm.

I have been to daily before, but this was my second weekend Mass. The Easter Vigil was much more respectful, I don’t know why today was so disorderly.
 
It was the same thing at my Mass today. Yesterday I went to a Latin Mass and it was like night and day. EVERYONE kneeled through the entire Latin Mass and they were extremely respectful. I went to my normal parish today and I was frustrated at the lack of respect. Tomorrow, I’m going back to the Latin one even though it’s about 2 hours away.

P.S. It seems like everyone took advantage of Pope John Paul II’s kindness and completely embraced liturgical abuse. I hope the next pope is hard on us and returns to the traditional Latin Mass.
 
I have been to daily before, but this was my second weekend Mass. The Easter Vigil was much more respectful, I don’t know why today was so disorderly.

Because of the crowd that goes. There’s the devout crowd and there’s the “God’s forcing me to be here” crowd.
 
It seems to just depend on where you are. I hardly notice the stuff around me (what little there seems to be) I’m so focused on the Mass and my own responses, which is probably the best way to do it anyway. I have little time to be offended…I’m too busy worshipping. I don’t sit in the back…that’s not where the action is.
Pax vobiscum,

BTW, Saturday vigil Mass does indeed fulfill your Sunday obligation
 
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Shinobu:
Forgive me, but is Saturday Mass always considered to be the Sunday’s Mass? I went to Easter Vigil last Saturday and they took it as an early Sunday service, I thought maybe it was only for that day since it started at 7pm.

I have been to daily before, but this was my second weekend Mass. The Easter Vigil was much more respectful, I don’t know why today was so disorderly.
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A mass at 7pm on Saturday is a Sunday mass. A mass in the morning would not be a sunday mass.
 
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Shinobu:
Forgive me, but is Saturday Mass always considered to be the Sunday’s Mass? I went to Easter Vigil last Saturday and they took it as an early Sunday service, I thought maybe it was only for that day since it started at 7pm.

I have been to daily before, but this was my second weekend Mass. The Easter Vigil was much more respectful, I don’t know why today was so disorderly.
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The reason why I asked about the Sunday or daily mass is because I was curious what kind of crowd you were used to seeing.

I agree with nike, it is mainly due to the crowd that is going. There is the crowd that is truely devout and wants to be there, and then there are some who go because they feel they have to. There are people that go to for socialization. The guy that looked like a cop to you may fall into this category. It depends on what parish you go to. Some are very devout, and some are less devout.
 
Church Militant:
It seems to just depend on where you are. I hardly notice the stuff around me (what little there seems to be) I’m so focused on the Mass and my own responses, which is probably the best way to do it anyway. I have little time to be offended…I’m too busy worshipping. I don’t sit in the back…that’s not where the action is.
Pax vobiscum,

BTW, Saturday vigil Mass does indeed fulfill your Sunday obligation
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This is what I did. However, I cannot turn off my ears to the sounds around me. I sit in the back because I have Panic Disorder and in case I have an attack I stay close to the back so that I can go outside for a breath of air and not have to bother anyone with my stepping out. It is wonderful you are a faithful person however the way you said it made you sound a bit concescending in a way.
 
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Shinobu:
This is what I did. However, I cannot turn off my ears to the sounds around me. I sit in the back because I have Panic Disorder and in case I have an attack I stay close to the back so that I can go outside for a breath of air and not have to bother anyone with my stepping out. It is wonderful you are a faithful person however the way you said it made you sound a bit concescending in a way.
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I don’t think he was being condescending, just giving a suggestion so that you don’t have to worry about those who are not focused.

If you feel better in the back, then stay in the back. I don’t have panic disorder so I don’t know what it feels like, but for what its worth, I feel for you. I am sure it is tough, but we are all here for you.
 
Don’t discount the front pew. Most churches have a side door at the front. Sit in the front pew closest to the side door and breath easy knowing you have an escape hatch.

Sitting up front next to a window might help.

The noisest generally sit in back. I am always amazed how the last 4 or 5 pews clear out directly after Holy Communion.

Sometimes the earliest Sunday morning mass contains the quietest people…7am? 8am?..the parents with little children are usually still rolling out of bed…it is too early for them to get going.

At any rate know that you are in the same boat with many other but we don’t let that stop us from going to church.

Pray and ask God to help you find the right time and place for peaceful prayer.
 
I try my very hardest to kneel but I wiggle around alot even at my age…it was a commen punishment for me, offten accompianied by worse things…sometimes even sitting still in Mass is difficult…I try to offer it up but sometimes its too painful to kneel becuase my knee pops out of socket…but at first look I appear to be a teen who just dosn’t care…and especally if there is insence I am having a hard time with my astsma I will simply sit even when you’re supposed to stand. This has happened numerous times.
I know I wiggle but I try my best to sit still becuse even in the best of circumstances I have to put all my effort into Mass and still loose my place. I know I could be distracting, but I try my hardest to be inconspicuous. I was once asked if I wanted to be in Mass…after I had walked 2 1/2 miles that morning to get there…

Its easy to judge people…but you never know their heart
 
If all else fails…stay quietly alone in your pew directly after mass. Go directly up front and pray. People usually respect people who do this and quietly leave. Then enjoy your quiet time. Remember that Jesus had to fight for his quiet time too!!
 
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