Water Bottles durring Mass

[jc-servant]

Wow, I’m surprised at the number of singers/parishioners who can apparently speak for what the needs of other people might be. I personally have no idea about the bodily functions of others. I can only speak for myself.

I have discreetly placed a small water bottle in my purse before mass just in case my mouth dries out during the liturgy. I can discreetly dip down and retrieve it as the choir leaves the risers for the homily, take a couple of sips to swish around in my mouth while seated in a pew and then replace the bottle as we return to our places post-homily. However, after reading some of the posts, I guess I’m just a big baby who does not know my own bodily needs after more than 30 years of public singing and I should just offer it up and then move my lips for the remainder of the liturgy. Yeesh!

I doubt that there was no one in the universal church in the good ole days who required a sip of water, but of course I understand that people back then also walked uphill to school both ways in the snow. Or perhaps people were not so quick to judge others before the advent of anonymous internet forums.

 

[baltobetsy]

I have discreetly placed a small water bottle in my purse before mass just in case my mouth dries out during the liturgy.

The key here is that you do it discreetly. You have found a way to balance your needs with proper behavior in church. Plenty of people haven’t figured that out and contribute to a self-absorbed, disrespectful atmosphere which many find objectionable.

Betsy

 

[fcbv]

I think there’s no problem. I read that people can’t eat or drink anything one hour before the Communion except natural water which can be drunk at any time (even from the bottle ). If you think you will be thirsty during the Mass, take your water bottle from house! There’s no problem!

 

[Kanda]

I personally do not have a problem with it as long as it is not a distraction. This is not a practice that I do frequently, but I have done it before. During this pregnancy, I have some days where my thirst is unquenchable. Seriously. So, I take a bottle of water and keep it in my purse. I take sips when I am feeling distracted by my dry mouth and then put it back in. It isn’t like I make loud gulping or slurping sounds.

Besides, if someone is that thirsty, I would rather they have a sip from their water bottle than disturb everyone in their pew to get up and go to wherever the drinking fountain is.

 

[wannabee]

Come on folk - admit it - you cannot cope without something in your mouth !

Look at all the babies / toddlers being pushed around in their buggies - bottle of milk or water or juice in their wee hands - not to mention Mom swigging from her bottle while she pushes the wee one.

Look at the toddlers walking aorund with a bag of chips in their hands mom doing the same]

Look at all the sweeties / candy and things going to Church with the kids - as bribery to keep them quiet.

Remember how you were brought up - you got nothing between meals.

NOW - before I’m screamed at - yes there are folk who need to get drinks/ food regularly - I’m not making any comments about them - it’s the others who need their comforter - something in their mouth all the time.

This is something that has arisen during the last few years - let’s hope it dies soon.

 

[kim3260]

My Mama is quite sickly and does carry a water bottle because she needs it, ( she’s on 24 hr. oxygen).
I also seem others who may have missed Mass the week before (sick with cold) the following week, although better, use a water bottle for a lingering dry cough because they don’t want to use a cough drop because they want to Recieve.
But healthy folks NO! They can wait until after Mass.

 

[mrs_abbott]

I personally do not have a problem with it as long as it is not a distraction. This is not a practice that I do frequently, but I have done it before. During this pregnancy, I have some days where my thirst is unquenchable. Seriously. So, I take a bottle of water and keep it in my purse. I take sips when I am feeling distracted by my dry mouth and then put it back in. It isn’t like I make loud gulping or slurping sounds.

Besides, if someone is that thirsty, I would rather they have a sip from their water bottle than disturb everyone in their pew to get up and go to wherever the drinking fountain is.

Exactly! We have tons of people swarming the drink fountain in the back of church throughout the entire Mass. It’s distracting when they get up.

 

[AngelRose81]

We have refreshments after Mass in the Narthex but no food or drink is allowed in the sanctuary area or any worship space. I remeber during a meeting one night we had some hot cider during a break and some people held on to theirs and started to walk into the sanctuary area with it and one of the ladies made them all take it back out. She said that pre-Vatican II nothing like that was allowed in the church but she supposed that that may have changed by now.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Our society has become one of convenience and indulgence. For heaven’s sake, everyone, start depriving yourselves of useless clutter and distractions and pay attention to the Mass. It’s only one hour. Drink water before you come to Mass. And for that matter, use the bathroom before Mass, too, so you don’t have to run out at the consecration and allow everyone to hear you flush the tiolet.

 

[stinkcat_14]

Personally, I have never noticed this at mass. If I did, I would just assume that they had a valid reason and if they didn’t, well perhaps I should be thankful that they are at least attending mass. On the other hand, I imagine most people can go an hour without water.

 

[valient_Lucy]

I’d rather see a water bottle in church than a cell phone. A person with a water bottle may need the water due to an illness or some condition, but a cell phone is different.

I didn’t vote since the water bottle question doesn’t cover whether or not a person’s health. Perhaps the person just donated blood and needs to drink more water to prevent dehydration. Are we going to have people bring in permission slips from doctors to show to the ushers so that the ushers don’t collect them?

If a person is healthy, then no, they should not bring a water bottle into church. But since I don’t know everyone’s medical history, I have better things to do than to ask everyone why they have a water bottle in church.

 

[paramedicgirl]

I’d rather see a water bottle in church than a cell phone. A person with a water bottle may need the water due to an illness or some condition, but a cell phone is different.

I didn’t vote since the water bottle question doesn’t cover whether or not a person’s health. Perhaps the person just donated blood and needs to drink more water to prevent dehydration. Are we going to have people bring in permission slips from doctors to show to the ushers so that the ushers don’t collect them?

If a person is healthy, then no, they should not bring a water bottle into church. But since I don’t know everyone’s medical history, I have better things to do than to ask everyone why they have a water bottle in church.

There are very few medical conditions where someone would have to have a water bottle at Mass. The sense of sacrifice is gone from this generation. Personal comfort and convenience ranks high, though.

 

[netmilsmom]

There are very few medical conditions where someone would have to have a water bottle at Mass. The sense of sacrifice is gone from this generation. Personal comfort and convenience ranks high, though.

This coming from a Paramedic, BTW.

 

[Nohome]

What do you think? I can understand the taking of water prior to Mass. I can understand taking medications as directed. But should we be allowed to have our water bottles to sip from during Mass. Is this allowed? Or should it be allowed?

As a cantor, soloist and member of the choir, all I can say is no water, no voice. You try three Masses straight and see if you can even speak let alone sing. It has nothing to do with thirst, a dry mouth makes it impossible to sing. If I’m going to lead in song, I am going to do it in tune, crisp, clear and audible in every corner of the church.

That said, a little swig can be taken discretely and out of veiw without making a spectle of yourself. I doubt that many even see me do it.

So I’ll give up my water bottle, but you get my place at the mic!

Nohome

 

[boppaid]

I voted no problem. I don’t see the problem with it at all. Water is okay for the Eucharistic fast, and there’s nothing ‘slopping’ or distracting about drinking it, so I think it’s fine. Someone mentioned that we lost our sense of sacrifice, but sometimes I wonder if “sacrifice” is over-emphasized. Why the heck should we sacrifice water? It’s not bad for our bodies, our souls, our reverence, our relationship with Christ, our children, our Parish, etc. Why the need to sacrifice water?

 

[Beno]

I have sung as a cantor, soloist, and choir member and have directed singers. I am classically trained as a vocalist as well. I am well aware of the need for proper hydration for vocalizing. But, in all of my years of singing I have never once brought a bottle of water with me to church or on stage. Never felt I HAD to. Instead I made visits to the water fountain before and after. Yeah, I’d get those darn tickles in the throat that only a good cough would eliminate, but unless I was doing over 2 hours of singing in a climate controlled environment with normal humidity, I never felt the NEED to bring water with me. Yes, I would allow my choir members and cantors to bring water to Mass, but I insisted on discretion so as not to create a distraction. I think it is more of a social/cultural thing for an average healthy person to bring bottled water with them. I may be stepping on toes here but I think that cantors/choir members drinking bottled water at Mass seems to speak too boldly of the vocalist’s importance in their own mind.

 

[Mikel12]

We all know that water is important for our bodies, but Its not necessary for onee to take it during mass. It would take someone “as dry as the Karahari desert” to get lack of water related complications in the 1 hour that most masses last.

 

[anamchara]

A few weeks ago, I just got totally fed up with this, and I went through all the pews just before Mass was about to begin, gathered up all the unattended water bottles (people with their backs turned to their water bottles counted as “unattended” in this case, especially if they were yapping to their neighbor at the time instead of praying), took them out to the narthex, and put them in the lost and found drawer of the Hospitality Desk.

I haven’t noticed anyone bringing them into Mass, since. (Either that, or they’re hiding them on me, which works just as well, from my point of view.)

Now JM my friend, isn’t that stealing :tsktsk:

 

[paramedicgirl]

I voted no problem. I don’t see the problem with it at all. Water is okay for the Eucharistic fast, and there’s nothing ‘slopping’ or distracting about drinking it, so I think it’s fine. Someone mentioned that we lost our sense of sacrifice, but sometimes I wonder if “sacrifice” is over-emphasized. Why the heck should we sacrifice water? It’s not bad for our bodies, our souls, our reverence, our relationship with Christ, our children, our Parish, etc. Why the need to sacrifice water?

Are you serious? Why the heck should you sacrifice water??? Well, maybe, just because God gave up His life for you so that you could have the precious gift of eternal salvation. And you can’t go without water for one measly hour to show gratitude to God? And you think that even qualifies as a sacrifice? It’s not even a deprivation, for heaven’s sake. Do some reading on St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars to find out what true sacrifice is. Sheesh!

 

[JezuUfamTobie]

Are you serious? Why the heck should you sacrifice water??? Well, maybe, just because God gave up His life for you so that you could have the precious gift of eternal salvation. And you can’t go without water for one measly hour to show gratitude to God? And you think that even qualifies as a sacrifice? It’s not even a deprivation, for heaven’s sake. Do some reading on St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars to find out what true sacrifice is. Sheesh!

Your choice to go the extra mile in this particular aspect by giving up water during mass is commendable. Yet making a sacrifice that is not specifically stipulated by the Church is an individual decision not binding on anyone else. We are not permitted to place this kind of pressure or create rules for a person over whom we have no spiritual authority.

It is not a sin to drink water during mass, even if it may be seen by others as disrespectful or imprudent to do so in an obvious manner.